Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/496

432 his sword to add to his weight, got into one scale of a balance; the other was filled with gold, silver and jewels, until it weighed him down. These were divided with certain prescribed forms among the Brahmins who took his sins upon their own heads. The infatuated rajah believes that these men will suffer the penalty due him for his sins, and that he is relieved of their weight. The next day, when he was distributing gifts to a crowd of applicants, some of the scape-goats, contrary to the law which requires them to hide themselves from human gaze, with shameless cupidity came forward for more. The rajah, though not led to question the ability of these liars to bear his sins, was filled with rage at their effrontery, and drove them from his court.

For the three millions of inhabitants of the Mysore there is but one European missionary, beside those stationed in the city of Bangalore. Need we then wonder that, though Christ has been preached in the capital, the way of salvation is so little known and heathen idolatry so strong? Yet the whole country is completely accessible, and residence perfectly safe in any of its towns or villages.

Soon may the name of Jesus, as the true sa-