Ch. VI ]
 

The Great Sacrifice
 

57
 

and historic diamond ? Then, throw in the Koh-i-noor of the
Panjab !

The next immediate honour belongs to Brahmadesh. Go,
therefore, Dalhousie, and bring back that country under your
arm. The fire is strong and fierce; so, to accomplish the desired
end, throw in Burma too!

What is the throne of Shivaji doing at Satara ? You must
respect the right of precedence due to it. Go, therefore, ye
Feringhis, go and, relegating the kings on that throne to the
grave (where they may rule free), bring the throne quick! The
fire is fierce; so throw the throne of Satara in it on behalf of
the Mahrattas!

How can the Gadi of Nagpur alone be sufficient for this
sacrifice! Hence, bring ye with the Gadi all the palaces of
Nagpur, elephants, and horses, kings and queens, the jewels of
the queens, weepings and wailings, and whatever else ye can get
there. The fire is fierce; so throw in the Nagpur of the Nagpur-
wallas 1

Now the Kunda, the sacrificial pit, would look magnificent
and terrible. You want now a grand offering befitting this
grand fire. Where else can ye find an offering fiercer than the
fire except in Brahmavarta ? The fire is fierce, so throw in the
crown of Brahmavarta!

To make the presiding deity of National Anger appear, select
this next offering as best ye can! Yes, this honour belongs to
her essentially. That the flames of fire should reach the skies,
throw the lightning of Jhansi into the fire!

Behold, there rises, from amidst the flames, the crowned head
of the Goddess! Keep up the offering now, unceasingly! So,
throw the Nabob of Arcot in! Throw the Gadi of Tanjore
in! Throw in the Raj of Anguli! Throw in the provinces of
Sikkim! In with the crown of Sambalpur! And send the
Amir of Khairapore in!

But how can you count the loss of " Rupees and small change,"
innumerable to count? Impossible to count these offerings! It
would be difficult to find a fatter offering and a more innocent
victim than the Nabob of Oudh.    So throw him in!

What fierceness in the Goddess just appearing from the
tumult of the raging fire! Even the whole world appears small
for the jaws of this fearful deity! But it is not proper to stop
until the jaws have been still more sharpened. Lock, therefore,
the palaces of Delhi, drag down the Emperor from his peacock