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2

WARS OF THE RAJAS.

[Chap. 1.

2. After some time[1] this lake, called Bucca Raya Samudram became so full of water that the two (maravas) sluices did not suffice, and were rushing in a flood. When the (āyagāndlu) petty village officers and the townsmen came and beheld this, a [goddess] possessed a woman: and she exclaimed I am Ganga-Bhavāni. If you will

feed me with a human sacrifice, I will stop here: if not I will not stop.

While (1) the villagers[2] and the elders took counsel about making the sacrifice, (9) Ganga Devi possessed (8) a girl, (7) not yet grown up, named Musalamma; she was the (6) seventh and (5) youngest daughter-in-law of (4) Basi Reddi (3) who dwelt (2) at Bukka Raya Samudram: [the goddess (11) said to her] (10) Become thou the sacrifice.

She accordingly was prepared to become a sacrifice: she adorned herself [as a bride] with yellow and red paint: wearing a pure vest and holding a lime in her hand. She set out [in procession] from [her] home, and came up on the embankment. She adored the feet of her father-in-law, Basi Reddi, and did homage to the townsfolk. She said I have received the commands of Ganga-Bhavāni: "I am going to become a sacrifice." Thirty feet from the "Embassy, sluice" there was now (gummada) a gap: between which and the bank a chasm had opened. She went through the chasm and stood therein:[3] and they poured in earth and stones upon her (lit. upon the bank): so the bank stood [firm and safe][4]

3. The following day this Musalamma who had thus become[5] a Sacrifice, possessed the females of the village: she said "Make a

  1. ↑ Page 2.
  2. ↑ The numerals here placed shew how the words are arranged in the original.
  3. ↑ Literally, by her going and standing.
  4. ↑ This is one of many stories that go to prove the rite of human sacrifices in ancient days. Among bramins such practices have always been denounced as crimes: but the local petty deities or pariar gods are honoured by slaughtering goats instead of human sacrifices, to this day.
  5. ↑ Such a sacrifices, as also the burning alive of a widow, was always represented as a voluntary and meritorious suicide.
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