THE JEWELS OF JUGGERNAUTH. A True Tali of Vengeance.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 376, 12 June 1889, Page 4

THE JEWELS OF JUGGERNAUTH. A True Tali of Vengeance.

Undkk this title, l L*"F ' contributes to the ' Times of India ' a remarkable story told him by a iriend, for the truth of which he vouches. The facts have never appeared in any newspaper, nor are they to be found in any police lecord. The names have been altered, but to this day by the camp fires of the gieat fescival every year is told with bated breath, the terrible tale of the Jew els of Juggernauth and the vengeance of the god. • Many years ago,' said my friend, ' I was quartered at Fuzarabad, about 160 miles from the Madras coast. Unfortunately, gambling and betting were much in vogue, and many men came to grief over debts of honour. Of all that gay company nobody was more popular than young Fitzioy; but, unfortunately, he lqat mon&y at the races, got into the hands oPthe Manvarrecs, and deeper and deeper into the mire of debt. At length he said he intended to go to England to* raise money. ' Will you come away with me?' he asked. 'Give out that we have taken ten days' lea\e for shooting, and see me down to the coast. If I go oft alone, I shall be stopped by those Alarwairees.' After some hesitation I agreed He sent in his application for leave to Europe on private aftaiis, and I gave out I that I was going for ten days' shooting. ' A week later we had started for the coa&t, where my young friend hoped to pick up a steamer tor Europe. On the second day out we met crowds of people tramping along. We weie told they were returning from the great fpstivalof .lugcrernauth, at Vuri, three clays' journey fiom where we were. The tonga-wallah kept u& interested with a graphic description of the fesihal and of the great god, which was esI pecially remarkable for the wonderful jewels it possessed — two emeiald eyes of inestimable value, its lips formed of the finest rubies in the world, and a necklace of priceless pearls. The sun was sinking as we neared Puri. Halt a mile the other side of the town stood the Travellers' Bungalow. A more uncomfortable meal I never ate than dinner that evening. I was thanktul when the lad said he would go oft to bed. My own room was on the other side ot the bungalow, and I sat smoking on the veiandah. The moon was rising, when I thought I saw the figure of a European stealing along the wall of tho compound. Strange I thought, and wondered what other European could be here. An idea struck me, and I went to my companion's room. There was nobody in it, the bed was undisturbed. I rushed out into the moonlight.' He could not see the young officer ; but ran on until he reached the temple courtyard of paved stone, on which were lying a ! number of priests, their white garments wrapped round their heads and bodies. 1 In the very centre stood one solitary shrine raised on three separate flights of steps, and inside I could see the great black god on i three other smaller flights. The rnoon- | beams shone on the god and lit up the emerald eyes and ruby lips, while the pearl necklace glowed on his huge black bosom. To my horror I saw my companion walking right across the courtyard. I daicd not shout. A ghastly horror took hold of me. I saw that my poor friend intended to save his honour by robbing the idol. Speechless, I saw him mount step after step, and enter the sacred shrine across the threshold of which no other foot but that of Brahmin has ever passed. Nine steps led up to the god. I tried to shout, but no sound would come. He raised his hand to the pearl necklace. It was above his reach. His foot thon touched the seventh. Oh, God ! In the moonlight flashed out two arms covered with a hundred— nay, two hundred — daggers, and clasped the daring . youth to the black god's breast. At the | same moment tho sound of a gong broke the stillness of the night, and in one moment the priests were rushing to the shrine. Two minutes later 1 saw the horrified priests carrying out the lifeless body of the dishonoured Englishman, and I fled. 1