The movement was placed under the special patronage of Kali and vows were administered to large crowds in the forecourts of her great temple at Calcutta and in her various shrines all over Bengal.

The religious character with which the leaders sought to invest the boycott propaganda showed how far removed was the _swadeshi_ which they preached from a mere innocent economic propaganda for the furtherance of native industries.

For a description of the Tantric rites connected with _Shakti_ worship I must refer readers to M.Barth's learned work on "The religions of India," of which an English translation has been published by Messrs Truebner in their Oriental series.

In its extreme forms _Shakti_ worship finds expression in licentious aberrations which, however lofty may be the speculative theories that gave birth to them, represent the most extravagant forms of delirious mysticism.

Yet such men as Mr.Surendranath Banerjee[7], who in his relations with Englishmen claims to represent the fine flower of Western education and Hindu enlightenment, did not hesitate to call the popularity of _Shakti_ worship in aid in order to stimulate the boycott of British goods.