THE JEWELS OF JUGCERNAUTH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2683, 8 June 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE JEWELS OF JUGCERNAUTH.

A TERRIBLE STORY. Undkr this title "L**F" contributes to the Times of India a remarkable story, for the truth of which he vouches. He says that it was told to him by a distinguished officer of the Madras Army. The facts have never appeared in any newspaper, nor are they to be found in any police records of the presidency. For obvious reasons the names have been altered, but to this day, by the camp fireß of the great festival held every year, is told with bated breath, and listened to with rapt attention, the terrible tales of the Jewels of Jugggernauth of the vengeance of the great god, " Many years ago," said my friend, " I was quartered at Fuzarabad, an important military station about 150 miles frou. the Madras coast. Unfortunately, at the time I was there, gambling and betting were much in vogue, and many men plunged and came to grief over their debts of honour. Of all that gay company nobody was more popular and better liked by both men and women than young Fitzroy; but, unfortunately he lost money at the races,, tried to recover himself at the whist table, but failed, got in to the hands of the Marwarrees, and got deeper and deeper into the mire of debt. At length he told the narrator that he intended to go to England to raise money. ' Will you come away with me?' he asked. 1 Give out that we have taken ten days' leave for some shooting, and see me down to the coast. If I go off alone, I shall be stopped by those cursed Marwarrees.' After some hesitation I agreed. He sent in his application for leave to Europe on private affairs, and I gave out that I was going on a ten day's shooting expedition. " A week later, with a couple of tongas, we had started on our long aud wearying journey to the coast, where my poor young friend hoped to pick up a steamer to take him to Europe. On the way out we met crowds of people tramping along. In reply to inquiries we were told they were all returning from the great festival of Juggernauth held at Puri, now only some three days' journey from where we were. The tongawallah kept us interested with a graphic description of the festival and of the great god, which was especially remarkable for the wonderful jewels it possessed—two emerald 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 at last we neared the town of Puri, and we could see the pinnacles of the temples rise above the trees which surrounded the place. Half a mile tho other side of the town stood the Travellers' Bungalow, where we intended putting up for the night. A more uncomfortable meal I never ate than the dinner which was served np to us that evening, and I was quite thankful when the poor lad said he was dead beat and would go off to bed. My own room was on the other side of the bungalow, and I took my pipe and sat smoking on the verandah. The moon was just rising whea I thought I saw the figure of a European stealing along the wall of the compound. Strange, I thought, and wondered what other European there could be here at the same time. An idea struck me, and I went across to my companion's room. There was nobody in it, the bed waß undisturbed. I threw down my pipe and rushed out into the moonlight. A few seconds later I was out in the road aud turned instinctively in the direction of the temple. He could not see the young officer ; but ran ou until he reached the wall of the temple compound —an enormous courtyard of paved stone on which were lying a number of priests theirwhite garments wrapped round their heads and bodies. "In the background was placed temple after temple but in the very centre stood one solitaryshrineraised on three separate flights of steps, and inside I conld see the great black god raised on three other smaller flights of coloured marble steps. The moonbeams shone directly 011 the god and lit up the emerald eyes and ruby lips, while the pearl necklace glowed on the huge black bosom. To my unutterable horror I saw my companion walking right across the courtyard. My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. I dared not shout even if I could have raised my voice. A ghastly horror took hold of me as the idea struck me that in his madness my poor friend intended to save his honour by the greater dishonour of robbing the idol. Speechless I saw him mount step after step, and the next moment I saw him enter the sacred shrine across the threshold of which 110 other foot but that of the Brahmin has ever passed. Nine steps led up to the god. He paused. I tried to shout but no sound would come. He raised his hand as if to tear off the pearl necklace. It was still above his reach. His foot then touched the seventh step. Oh God ? can I ever forget the sight ? Iu 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 the sound of a gong broke the stillness of the niirht, and in one moment the priests had cast off their coverings, and were rushing to the shrine. Two minutes later I saw tho amazed and horrified priests carrying out the lifeless body of the dishonoured Englishman, and I turned and fled."