c'umstarice which shews their limited knowledge of the sëiënees, Both
of geography arid astronomy .
The• Gosein alluded to’ by the Regent, whose name is Pranpooree-,.
exhibited so éxtraoxdinarÿ^an iflstance ofïef%iotis peiaAeH that I cannot
resist the temptation of relating some particulars of his life.
Having been adopted by an Hindoo devotee, arid educated by him
in the rigid tenéts of his religion, he was yet young, when he coin-
menced the course of his extraordinary mortifications. The first v#wi
which "the plan of life, he had chosen to himself, indnêed him to make,
was to continue perpetually upon his;fegs, and neither to sit-down
upon the ground, nor lie down to rest; for the space Of twelve -yéârs.
All this time, he told me, he had employed in wandering- through
different countries. When I inquired how he took the indispensable
refreshment of sleep, when wearied with fatigué, he said; that at first, to
prevent his falling, he used to be tied with ropes, to'some treè nr post ;
but that.this precaution, after some tiine, became unnecessary, and-he
was able to sleep standing, without such support.
The complete term of this first penance being expired, the next he
undertook was to hold his bands, locked in each other, over his head,
the fingers of one hand, dividing those of the other, for the same space
of twelve years. Whether this particular period is chosen iri compliment
to the twelve signs of'the zodiac, or to the Indian cycle
of twelve years, I cannot decide. He was still determined, not to
dwell in any fixed abode; so that before the term of this last vow could
be accomplished, he had travelled over the greater part of the continent
of Asia, He first set out, by crossing the Peninsula of India, through
‘Guzeratq* h'e then passetfcby Surateto Bussorapajriti« hence to ConSlan-
flnople; from< Turkey^he’went';toVlsp^h£^^.akdf^j'e|ifned so long
among the^different Persian tribes,^ad-k)>obtafih«a/c0nsidetebfe’fenow-
ledge of thfedr'language, in which hdf'pS'ri'fliflediWith tolerable»ease,''In
his passage front."thence-towards '’RuM&J||f fell in with 'tfi“e Kus-
shucs ((hordes dfi Cossacs}' uponJ bordets’of,h'd iSpjspimvseaV^vbei’e
he narrowly escaped beirig cbndeihoed to^ffeSpetda'l'-sl^ef^rhapferigth
he Was suffered to pass on, and rc,achQd‘‘'M'ri'>roW-$' lle^llleri .travelled
rilong the northern’boundary ofi^thelfttoSshafe
beria arrived-at Pekin inv-Ohiria, fMriiry^hm^-h^dhrie^tHHTiigh rilioe,
by the way of Teshoo Loomboo, and’N'ip*a|r^3^fe^^fefeui-ra.*^*
When I first saw him at this phfee,«in the yeaM^^fehdSefep0rPa
piebaldTangun hors'e-fromBootan, and wore‘a-sltitikmbroidereddress,
given to him by Teshoo LariSh; of which he V?2s riot^-mtle ^ain*. * • was
robust, arid" hale; and his corriplexioii^Bhifasted with ahWIMsHyMack
-beard, appeared-'really florid. Pd^riot^sdjlposd tBSehe was then- fofty
years'of age. Two Goseins attended'him, arid'* assfetea- himdtf'riK^dic-
ing and alighting from his horsri'.' indeed he was indebted- to-tifem for
■ the assistance of their hands on"'every’oc^abibn'; hisi own being fixed •
and immoveable, in the position in whiehihd^hM-vpfeGed'-themp'^vere
of cburse~ perfectl^^dess. K
The circulation ' of blood; seemedhhhaVe forsaken his arms;I tfidy
were withered,-Void bf sensation, -and inflexible. Ye'tbespoke t<> me
with confidence; hf" recovering thri’- use of them',-* and mentidried^his
intention to take'thein' driwri the folfrivving year,- whe#fhe term bf his
penance would expins'.P -