Page:Southern India (F.E.Penny).pdf/48

 mosque. The Hindu merchant with his bales of cotton goods did pujah at the temple in Myliapur close to Triplicane, and passed up the road on his way to the big towns of the north. Under the shade of the old trees, where the deer now feed, sat the orange and banana sellers, the vendors of betel-leaf and areca-nut. Weary travellers rested on their journey, and shifted their loads on to the raised stones set up for the purpose by former philanthropists.

The high road ends abruptly against the wall of the park, where the Wallajah road cuts it at right angles, and conducts the traveller into the Mount road. This spot has been the haunt of generations of wandering ascetics, who are venerated by the people and regarded with superstitious awe. Long before the advent of the English they sat at the cross road ready to be consulted and willing to receive alms. In receiving alms an ascetic, who has performed vows and acquired merit, confers a favour. With the gift the donor passes on his sins, and the Sadhu takes upon himself the consequences of the evil-doing of the giver. He is the scapegoat; but his stock of merit is so great that he escapes punishment and goes scathless.

If there is no necessity for a scapegoat, the