A number of villagers, come to see the foreigner, were clambering like monkeys over its roots, which "writhed in fantastic coils" over half an acre.

Their village was hard by, a poor array of mud houses; the teak temple to which we were conducted was raised on piles in the centre of the village.

The temple was lumbered like an old curiosity shop with fragmentary gods and torn missals.

Yet the ragged priest in his smirched yellow gown, and shaven head that had been a week unshaven, seemed to enjoy a reputation for no common sanctity, to judge by the reverence shown him by my followers, and the contemptuous indifference with which he regarded their obeisance.

He was club-footed and could only hobble about with difficulty--an excuse he would, no doubt, urge for the disorder of his sanctuary.