All that
the poets have sung of the actions of men is now received as
revelation from heaven; though nothing can be more monstrous than the
actions attributed to the best incarnation, Krishna, of the best of
their gods, Vishnu.[6]
'No doubt', said Salamat Ali; 'and had they ever had a real prophet
among them he would have revealed better things to them. Strange
people! when their women go on pilgrimages to Gaya, they have their
heads shaved before the image of their god; and the offering of the
hair is equivalent to the offer of their heads;[7] for heads, thank
God, they dare no longer offer within the Company's territories.'
'Do you. Mir Sahib, think that they continue to offer up human
sacrifices anywhere?'
'Certainly I do. There is a Raja at Ratanpur, or somewhere between
Mandla and Sambalpur, who has a man offered up to Devi every year,
and that man must be a Brahman. If he can get a Brahman traveller,
well and good; if not, he and his priests offer one of his own
subjects. Every Brahman that has to pass through this territory goes
in disguise.[8] With what energy did our emperor Aurangzeb apply
himself to put down iniquities like this in the Rajputana states, but
all in vain.
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