Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/322

278 abounds, and iniquity is rampant; where idolatry brings forth its true fruit in all manner of unholiness. Trivatoor, but twelve miles from Wandiwash, is such a holy place. Yet even into such seats of heathenism the missionary may enter, and freely preach the gospel.

While at Wandiwash, we had been advised not to come hither, as the cholera was prevailing in the town, but we did not feel justified in turning aside. As we drew near the temple, we learned, from the report of guns and the music of discordant tomtoms, horns, and other instruments, that the natives were trying to propitiate the goddess of cholera. This fearful disease is supposed to be the malicious diversion of a cruel deity; and by these methods they seek to persuade her to withdraw the infliction. In going through the streets, we passed beneath cords hung across from house to house, and strung with a particular leaf for the same purpose. Over the doors these same leaves were hung, and all things showed the presence of this disease, so fatal, and, to the Hindus, so terrifying. In our morning walk through the streets, we met a procession going with offerings to appease the angry goddess; while from time to time the loud, mono-