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Cr
urea-wrzyr
temple of Shiva) whither I proceeded to pass the night under
its walks. While there under the influence of bhang. I fell
fast asleep and dreamt that night a strange dream. I thought
I saw Mahadeo and his wife Parvati. They were conversing
together and the subject of their talk was myself. Parvati was
telling Mahadeo that I ought to get married, but the god did
not agree with her. She pointed to the bhar g. This dream
annoyed me a good deal when I awoke. It was raining and I
took shelter in the verandah opposite the chief entrance to the
temple, where stood the huge statue of the Bull-god Nandi
Placing my clothes and books on its back, I sat and meditated;
when suddenly happening to throw a look inside the statue
which was empty, I saw a man concealed inside. I extended
my hand towards him, and must have terrified him, as jum-
ping out of his hiding place, he took to his heels in the
direction of the village. Then I crept into the statue in my
turn and slept there for the rest of the night. In the morning
an old woman came and worshipped the Bull-god with myself
inside. Later on, she returned with offerings of "Gur"
(molasses) and a pot of "Dahl" (curd milk) which, making
puja to me (whom she evidently mistook for the god himself),
she offered and desired me to accept and eat. I did not dis-
abuse her, but, being hungry. ate it cll. The curd being very
sour proved a good antidote for the bhang and dispelled the
signs of intoxication, which relieved me very much.
Forests of Nerbuddah
After this adventure, I continued my journey towards the
hills and that place where the Nerbuddah takes its rise. I
never once asked my way, but went on travelling southward.
Soon I found myself in a desolate spot covered thickly with
jungles, with isolated huts appearing now and then among the
bushes at irregular distances. At one of such places I drank a
little milk and proceeded onward. But about half a mile
farther, I came to a dead stop. The road had abruptly dis-
appeared and there remained but the choice of narrow paths
leading, I knew not, where. I soon entered a dreary jungle
of wild plum trees and very thick and huge grass with no signs
of any path in it, when suddenly I was faced by a huge black
bear. The beast growled ferociously, and. rising on its hind
legs, opened wide its ?math to devour me, I stood motionless