1803-07.

Nagpoor.

157

feet deep, and spreads into caves, beneath which, as he told
me many years afterwards, one of them entered as far as we
conld see through the water. The spring bubbles up in many
places at the bottom, but there is one place which appears to
be the great fountain, from which the water rushes up with
much strength. It throws out a great deal of gravel, which
does not spread over the bottom, but boils violently within the
space of about a foot, and appears to subside into the hole from
which it issues: particles of sand, however, rise with the
water, and are spread in very small quantities over the shallow
space beyond the opening. A great body of water issues from
the spring, and flows from the opening to the nulla in a
stream upwards of a yard broad, and about three or four inches
deep. There are flags and other religious emblems about the
place, but all of a coarse and cheap description. There were
several people round, who appeared to have come to worship.
Two Byragees appeared to have charge of the spring, and two
other fakeers (one of whom was an interesting figure) sat on
the bank. They were old men with long beards, they were
covered with ashes, and seemed in deep meditation, and in-
different to everything round them. The silent devotion of
an Indian fakeer would be very impressive, if our knowledge
of the vulgar ideas that occupy these devotees did not take
from our admiration of their austere lives and venerable forms.
Some of the bystanders at first reproached our guide with
having brought us there. He vindicated himself by saying
that we had pressed him, and that after all we would not steal
the spring. They made no objection to our putting our hands
in the water, and the promise of some money induced one of
the Byragees to dive into the opening, and bring some sand
from the fountain. It seemed common gravel, without any
appearance either of iron or sulphur. There were mixed with
it some cowries and some betel-nut, which the fakeers pre-
tend rise with the water, but they do not deceive even the
worshippers. They told us that the spring was hot by night,
and cold by day. On being asked if it ever smelt of sulphur,
they said it did a little. The diver says the caves extend but