Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/284

 same time speaking angrily to the woman. "Do you not see," said he, "she is a leper? She is covered with spots, come away, I am very sorry she touched you." I gave her some ānās, and told her to go to the hospital—one established by the contributions of the gentlemen at the station, and supported by subscription. There is, also, an asylum for the blind, supported in the same manner.

If I remember correctly, in the course of six weeks after the opening of the Leper Hospital, it contained sixty patients. I have often walked my horse round the compound, during my morning ride, to look at the poor creatures.

The elephantiasis, called by the natives fīl-paī, from fīl, an elephant, and paī a foot, is sometimes seen in the Up Country, but is not as common as in Bengal; perhaps the chapāties, thin cakes of unleavened bread which the natives here eat, conduce more to health than rice, the principal food in Bengal. However that may be, it is certain so many miserable objects are not to be seen here afflicted with fīl-paī, as in that low, marshy, and swampy country.

Divine service is performed at Allahabad, either in the Fort or at the Circuit Bungalow, the resident families being unable amongst themselves to raise a sum sufficient to build a handsome church: nevertheless they are the most liberal contributors to all charitable institutions.

LACHHMĪ, THE GODDESS OF BEAUTY.

There is to be a raffle for an English imported chestnut horse. I have taken a ticket, but not without first invoking Lachhmī, the goddess of beauty and prosperity. She who is painted yellow, and dwells in a water-lily, the goddess of fortunate signs; she who holds the water-lily in her hands, she in whom all take refuge, the wife of H[)u]rēē.

If a man be growing rich, the Hindoos say, "Lachhmī is gone to abide in his house:" if he be sinking into poverty, "Lachhmī has forsaken him." If they wish to abuse a man they call him "Lachhmī-chara," i. e. luckless.

Vishnoo obtained this goddess of beauty from the sea, when