DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.641#0136
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY, 129
But if these calculations are not beyond the truth, what
a horrible view do they present of the effects of supersti-
tion. Since the commencement of the bramhinical system,
millions of victims have been immolated on the altars of
its gods; and, notwithstanding the influence of Europeans,
the whole of Hindoost'hanu may be termed ' a field of blood
unto this day.' *
I must leave it to the pen of the future historian and poet
to give these scenes that just colouring which will harrow
up the soul of future generations: I must leave to them
the description of these legitimate murders, perpetrated at
the command and in the presence of the high-priests of
idolatry; who, by the magic spell of superstition, have been
able to draw men to quit their homes, and travel on foot a
thousand miles, for the sake of beholding an idol cut out
of the trunk of a neighbouring tree, or dug from an adjoin-
ing quarry;—to prevail on men to commit murders to sup-
ply human victims for the altars of religion;—on mothers
to butcher their own children;—on friends to force diseased
relations into the arms" of death, while struggling to extri-
cate themselves j—on children to apply the lighted torch to
the pile that is to devour the living mother, who has fed
them from her breasts, and dandled them on her knees.
To crown the whole, these priests of idolatry have persuaded
men to worship them as gods, to lick the dust of their feet,
and even to cut off lumps of their own flesh b, their own
headsc, as offerings to the gods.
k See vol. i. p. 150. ' See vol. u. p. 120.
VOL, II.
But if these calculations are not beyond the truth, what
a horrible view do they present of the effects of supersti-
tion. Since the commencement of the bramhinical system,
millions of victims have been immolated on the altars of
its gods; and, notwithstanding the influence of Europeans,
the whole of Hindoost'hanu may be termed ' a field of blood
unto this day.' *
I must leave it to the pen of the future historian and poet
to give these scenes that just colouring which will harrow
up the soul of future generations: I must leave to them
the description of these legitimate murders, perpetrated at
the command and in the presence of the high-priests of
idolatry; who, by the magic spell of superstition, have been
able to draw men to quit their homes, and travel on foot a
thousand miles, for the sake of beholding an idol cut out
of the trunk of a neighbouring tree, or dug from an adjoin-
ing quarry;—to prevail on men to commit murders to sup-
ply human victims for the altars of religion;—on mothers
to butcher their own children;—on friends to force diseased
relations into the arms" of death, while struggling to extri-
cate themselves j—on children to apply the lighted torch to
the pile that is to devour the living mother, who has fed
them from her breasts, and dandled them on her knees.
To crown the whole, these priests of idolatry have persuaded
men to worship them as gods, to lick the dust of their feet,
and even to cut off lumps of their own flesh b, their own
headsc, as offerings to the gods.
k See vol. i. p. 150. ' See vol. u. p. 120.
VOL, II.