Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

401

rated to an obfcene god, called Gopalfami. He is carried fbmetimes in procellionthrough the ftreets, and fometimes into the fields near the town. They allow hima coach, becaufe he cannot walk, and he has always above a dozen of clergymen toaccompany him in his coach. Around his temple, and on the coach, are carvedfigures of gods and goddeffes, in fuch obfcene poftures, that it would puzzle theCovent-garden nymphs to imitate. One of his company in the coach has a flick abouttwo feet in length, and one end is carved in fhape of a Priapus . The flick is placedbetween his legs, and the end flicking out before him, and all virgins and marriedwomen that never had children, come and vvorfhip the flick, and the priefls beftowbleffings on them to make them fruitful. The woods produce timber for building. Itis very heavy, but the flrongeft wood I ever faw, though not lafting. They aifo pro-duce bees-waxand flicklack, and pretty good iron. And the inland countries manu-facture cotton into feveral forts of cloths, both fine and coarfe, all fit for exportation.The feas produce many forts of excellent fifhes, and the rivers the beft mullets ever Ifaw. In November and December they have great plenty of feer-fifh, which is asfavoury as any falmon or trout in Europe . I have feen them bought for three half-pence per piece, each above 20 lb. weight. Wild geefe and ducks are plentiful andgood here, and antelopes are fold for fifteen pence per piece.

Ciiap. XXXI. — Treats of the Sea-coaft and fame inland Countries in the ancient Kingdom

of Orixa, by tlse natives called Orta; with an Account of the famous Temple of

Jagarynat .

IN the year 1708, I had occafion to travel from Ganjam to Ballafore, by land’which gave me an opportunity to fee more of the countries through which I travelled*than mofl others could have who travelled by fea. About three miles to the eaflwardof Gangam is lllure, at the end of a ridge of mountains, that divide the ancient king-dom of Golcondah from Orixa . Its end runs within piflol-fhot of the fea, and therewere three or four fentinels to demand a tax on every head that paft out of or intoOrixa . I had feventeen fervants to carry my palanqueen and baggage, and all thetax amounted to about three fhillings flerling. Proceeding farther, I came to Mani-kapatam, where there is a great inlet from the fea ; but about a mile from its mouth,it divided itfelf into many channels, which made many fmall illands. The Mogul hadan officer there, who examined from whence we came, and whither we were bound.Our anfwers were fatisfatlory, and he prefented us with fome poultry, rice, and butter,and gave us a place to lodge in. And,, although we faw plenty of fifh in the rivers,yet money could not purchafe one of them, becaufe there is a pagod on a little hillbuilt of iron-coloured Hone, where all the animals of the watery element are wor-shipped. And water-fowls are fo facred, that they mull not be killed.

Our next llage was to the famous temple of Jagarynat, which, in clear weather,may be feen from Manikapatam. In our way we faw great numbers of deer and ante-lopes, fo tame that they would not move out of our way, till we approached withinlive or fix yards of them. Water wild fowl were alfo numerous and fearlefs, for nonedares kill them under pain of excommunication, which cannot be removed but byfound fums to the church. Poultry there is plentiful, but cannot be killed by thePagans , becaufe they worfhip them ; nor can ftrangers purchafe them, only the Ma-hometans, who make no account of their canon laws, make bold to facrifice them, and-&lh too, as we do in Great Britain.

Vol. viii. 3 F

In