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myself thus arrested, I had to make my choice to either climb
up still higher or descend. Reflecting what a height there was
to the sumit, the tremendous difficulties of climbing that
rough and steep hill, and that the hight would come before I
could ascend it, I concluded that to reach the summit that
night was an impossibility. With much difficulty, however,
catching at the grass and the bushes, I succeeded in attaining
the higher bank of the Nala the dry brook), and standin on a
rock, surveyed the environs I saw vothing but tormented
hillocks, highland, and a dense pathless jungle covering the
whole, where no man could pass, Meanwhile the sun was
rapidly descending towards the horizon. Darkness would soon
set in, and then without water or any means for kindling a fire,
what would be my position in the dreary solitude of that
jungle !
Temptation of Priestcraft
By dint of tremendous exertions though, and after an
acute suffering from thorns, which tore my clothes to shreds,
wounded my whole body, and lamed my feet, I managed to
cross the jungle, and at last reached the foot of the hill and
found myself on the highway. All was darkness around and
over me, and I had to pick my way at random, trying only to
keep to the road. Finally I reached a cluster of huts, and
learning from the people that that road led to Okhee Math, I
directed my steps towards that place, and passed the night
there. In the morning, feeling sufficiently rested and refreshed
I returned to the Gupta Kashee, whence I started the next day
on my northward journey. But that journey attracted me,
and soon again I repaired to Okhee Math, under the pretext
of examining that hermitage and observing the way of living
of its inmates. There I had time to examine at leasure the
doings of that famous and rich monastery, so full of pious
pretence and a show of asceticism, The high priest (or Chief
Hermit), called Mahant, tried hard to induce me to remain and
live there with him becoming his disciple. He even held before
me the prospect, which he thought quite dazzling, of inheriting
some day his lacs of rupees, his splendour and power, and
finally succeeding him in his Mahantship or supreme rank. I
frankly answered him that had I ever craved any such riches
or glory, I would not have secretly left the house of my father,