The sacred cow swarms along, too, and goes whither she pleases, and takes toll of the grain-shops, and is very much in the way, and is a good deal of a nuisance, since she must not be molested.
Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.

From a Hindoo statement quoted in Rev.Mr.Parker's compact and lucid Guide to Benares, I find that the site of the town was the beginning-place of the Creation.

It was merely an upright "lingam," at first, no larger than a stove-pipe, and stood in the midst of a shoreless ocean.

This was the work of the God Vishnu.

Later he spread the lingam out till its surface was ten miles across.