They come to a desert whose sands are so hot that the wife faints. Harischandra bears his son in his arms, but in addition is compelled to bear Nakshatra (the Bráhman and tormentor) on his shoulders. They so pass amid snakes and scorpions, and receive terrible stings; they pass through storm and flood, and yet vainly does Nakshatra suggest the desired falsehood. Then follows the ordeal of Demons, which gives an interesting insight into Tamil Demonology. One of the company exclaims--'How frightful they look! Who can face them? They come in battalions, young and old, small and great--all welcome us. They disport themselves with a wild dance; flames shoot from their mouths; their feet touch not the earth; they move in the air. Observe you the bleeding corpses of human beings in their hands. They crunch them and feed on the flesh. The place is one mass of gore and filth. Wolves and hyænas bark at them; jackals and dogs follow them. They are near. May Siva protect us!' Nakshatra. How dreadful! Harischandra, what is this? Look! evil demons stare at me--I tremble for my life. Protect me now, and I ask you no more for the gold. Harischandra. Have no fear, Nakshatra. Come, place thyself in the midst of us. Chief of the Goblins. Men! little men! human vermin! intrude ye thus into my presence? Know that, save only the Bráhman standing in the midst of you, you are all my prey to-night. Harischandra. Goblin! certainly thou art not an evil-doer, for thou hast excepted this holy Bráhman. As for ourselves, we know that the bodies which begin to exist upon earth must also cease to exist on it. What matters it when death comes? If he spares us now he reserves us only for another season. Good, kind demon! destroy us then together; here we await our doom. Nakshatra. Harischandra! before you thus desert me, make the goblin promise you that he will not hurt me. Harischandra. Thou hast no cause for alarm; thou art safe. Chief of the Goblins. Listen! I find that all four of you are very thin; it is not worth my while to kill you. On examining closely, I perceive that the young Bráhman is plump and fat as a wild boar. Give him up to me--I want not the rest. Nakshatra. O Gods! O Harischandra! you are a great monarch! Have mercy on me! Save me, save me! I will never trouble you for the gold, but treat you considerately hereafter. Harischandra. Sir, thy life is safe, stand still. Nakshatra. Allow me, sirs, to come closer to you, and to hold you by the hand (He grasps their hands.) Harischandra. King of the Goblins! I address thee in all sincerity; thou wilt confer on us a great favour indeed by despatching us speedily to the Judgment Hall of the God of Death. The Bráhman must not be touched; devour us. The Goblin (grinding his teeth in great fury). What! dare you disobey me? Will you not deliver the Bráhman? Harischandra. No, we cannot. We alone are thy victims. [Day breaks, and the goblins disappear.]