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"It is not permitted, Sahib; the gods have the matter in their lap. For a little yes, perhaps. It is the time of the pilgrimage to the shrine of Omkar at Mandhatta, and Bootea will make the pilgrimage; at the shrine is the priest that told Bootea of her reincarnations, as I related to the Sahib." A curious superstitious chill struck with full force upon the heart of Barlow.
Again Bootea spoke in a low voice to the priest, and he said: "Sahib, I go forth for a little, for there are matters to arrange. I see yonder the sixteen Brahmins who, according to our rites, assemble when one is to pass at the Shrine of Omkar to kailas."
And, besides, the Englay Raj would call thee accursed for breeding hate in the hearts of the Hindus through the sacrilege of an insult to the High Priest of the Temple of Omkar. This is the territory of the Mahrattas, and the English have no authority here." Barlow knew that he was helpless.
The road was thronged with people, and the village itself, from which a bridge reached to the Island of Mandhatta, was a town in holiday attire, for to the Hindus the mela of Omkar was a union of festivity and devotion.
On the fourth day, and now they were on a good trunk road that ran to Indore, and branching to the left, that crossed the Nerbudda River at Mandhatta, they were constantly passing pilgrims on their way to the Temple of Omkar.
"I have no wish to anger these people who are on a holy pilgrimage by going into their temples as a Moslem." "You are going to the shrine of Omkar?" the Gulab asked aghast. "Are you again?" Barlow parried. "Yes, Sahib, soon." "I am going with you," Barlow declared. Bootea expostulated with almost fierce eagerness; with a fervour that increased the uneasiness in Barlow's mind.
Higher up, approaching the plateau where were the ruins of a thousand gorgeous shrines, both sides of the pathway were lined by mendicants who sat cross-legged, in front of them a little mat for the receipt of alms cowries, pice, silver; the mendicants muttering incessantly "Jae, Jae, Omkar!"
No, this is the end, and Bootea will make offering of thanks marigolds and a cocoanut to Omkar, and sprinkle attar upon his shrine in thankfulness for the joy of the Sahib's presence. It is said!" and the girl nestled down against Barlow's breast again as though she had gone to sleep in content.
He smothered it, shoving it back into a niche of his mind, thinking he had locked it up had turned a key in the door of the closet to hide the skeleton. He temporised, saying; "Well, we'll see, Gulab; perhaps at Mandhatta I could wait while you made an offering and a prayer to Omkar, and then you could journey on to Chunda." To himself he muttered in English: "By God!
Then Jemla spoke of the matter that had engendered the troubled look Barlow had observed: "The Captain Sahib has intimated that the One" and he tipped his head toward the girl "would proceed to the temple of Omkar to make offerings at the shrine?" "Yes, she goes there."
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