The Golden Temple, in the center of the city, is a miieh
more interesting pLice. It consists of a large gronp of tem-
ples dedicated to different gods. The principal one, devoted
to Si'\'a, has a dome and tower covered with idates of
beaten gidd, very thin of course, and yet apparently genuine.
The worship is carried on beneath, access to which is denied
all unlielievers. The pirivilege of looking through a small
opening in the stone wall was given, and re^'ealed a strange
scene of heathen activity and devotion. This grouj) of tem-
jjles is approached only by narrow, dark pjassages. Here was
a temple to Krishna, one to the monkey god, another to the
sacred bull, and so forth through a long list.
This is one of Satan's headquarters. Here he holds undis-
puted sway amid a countless throng of willing A'otaries. Being
alone, I felt uneasy, as I was jostled about and often glared
upon by priests and fanatics, until looking behind, I saw a
policeman following. In the center of this nest of Hinduism,
the conqueror Auraugzeb erected a Mohammedan mosque,
doubtless as an insult to the Hindu faith. It may be a ques-
tion as to which are the more uncomfortable, the mosque peo-
ple or their uncongenijil ireighbors.
Perhaps the most sacred of all these sacred spots is the
holy Well of Wisdom where Siva is said to live. This well
is about twelve feet in diameter and twenty feet in de}ith.
The Avorshipers are constantly throwing into it ofierings of
rice and marigolds. The putrid water, thick with decaying
flowers and rice, is prized as the nectar of the gods. The
pjlace is a hot-bed of cholera.
