“The superstition of this country is of such a complicated kind, that I can say nothing with certainty about it, at present. Almost every person has a different idol; or a different account of the same idol; and the objects of their worship are innumerable. A circumstance that took place yesterday morning, may help to shew you the folly of their worship: its wickedness, in some respects, cannot be named. The fort of Chunar (in which I live) is a fortified hill of about two miles in circumference; the ramparts command an extensive view on all sides, and most mornings I take a walk upon them before sun-rise. It seems, that the first founder of this fort and his tutor are both canonized, and are supposed to preside here still, and are worshipped as tutelar deities. Yesterday morning, at the south end, most remote from the guard-house, I found the firelock, turban, and sacred drinking-vessel of one of the sentinels: a brahmin was placed by the sentry-box, and was observed by me below. I passed on. As I returned, he spoke; but I did not stop. Thinking afterwards that he might be ill, I called a servant, and sent him to see. Now observe. He said that, at three in the morning, he had seen two figures of men approaching, that he challenged them, and that they immediately flew upon him, beat him unmercifully, and, after he was stripped, kicked him off the rampart, ten feet at least (the ramparts were certainly seven feet high). The Jemadar (a native officer) who, with others, was come to his assistance, was very angry with him, and said these figures were the identical founder of the fort and his tutor, who dwell in this part of the fort, and have thrown two sentinels over the parapet for interrupting them: this the brahmin before mentioned believed, and this opinion was current. I asked how this god came to beat him, a brahmin, so sacred a man? He readily answered, That the tutor is not a good, but a bad spirit; and they worship him to keep him from doing them injury. I said to some others, that it was quite plain that even a brahmin himself was not beyond the power of these demons; how then could they expect the brahmins to defend them? They were silent; but evidently not convinced, as they offer goats in sacrifice, and pour out wine in libations, which they fancy the demon eats and drinks. I told them not to be so profuse in their offerings, lest Bhyzoonát should become so wanton as to destroy them all.