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turbed in my meditations by the loud sounds of a tom-tom.
Shortly after, I saw a procession of men, women and children,
followed by their cows and goats emerging from the huts and
preparing for a night religious festival. Upon perceiving a
stranger, they all gathering around me, and an old man came
enquiring from whence I had appeared. I told them I had come
from Benares, and was on my pilgrimage to the Nerbudda
sources, after which answer they all left me to my prayers
and went further on. But in about half hour, came one of
their headmen accompanied by two hillmen and sat by my
side, He came as a delegate to invite me to their huts. But,
as before, I refused the offer (for they were idolators). He
then ordered a large fire to be lit near me and appointed two
men to watch over my safety the whole night. Learning that
I used milk for all focd, the kind headmen asked for my
"kamandalu" (a bowl) and brought it back to me full of milk,
of which I drank a little that night. He then retired, leaving
me under the protection of my two guards That night I
soundly slept until dawn, when rising and having completed
my devotions, I prepared myself for further events " (Here the
autobiography ende.—T)