Behind, and a little above this shrine, is the Kudainita,
a large iron stanchion let into a crevice in the rock, on
which, in former times it was customary, during the pilgrim
season, to fix the silver-handled umbrella which is now kept
at the Saraan Ddwal6 in Katnapura.
Standards, supporting from a series of spreading iron
branches circle above circle of big tin lamps, each threw
their cumulated glare in front of the shrine, and of the steps



ADAM'S PEAK. 201



which led to the foot-print ; and these were constantly being
fed with oil, and grease, and incense, the fumes of which filled
the air with a heavy and almost sickening . odour. Before,
these standards, tam-tams and doulas, and hordnawas were
beaten and blown without pause ; and a more demoniacal-
looking personage than one of the leading hor^nawa players
we never saw. One of his eyes protruded from disease ; his
whole face was pitted and seamed with scars from small-pox,
and his cheeks were puffed out like bladders blown to almost
bursting tension. If, as an ancient writer* has declared,
the foot-print is that of none of those to whom it is usually
attributed, but Satan's own, then in sober truth the Arch-
fiend could not liave chosen a worse or more truculent-
looking piper to render due musical honors to his mundane
mark.
