"In consequence of this, a fight took place in which the Muhammadans had the worse ; but in , revenge, they threw down a pillar called the Lat — or Mohadeo’s staff, held in reverence by the Hindoos as sacred. This pillar was about forty feet high, and covered with ancient carvings. It had originally stood in the Hindoo temple, destroyed by the Emperor Aurungzebe. A Muhammadan mosque had been erected on the site of this temple, enclosing this antique pillar ; but for a share of the offerings, the Muhammadans had winked at the idolatry of the Hindoos, and for long permitted them to go in to reverence this object of their devotion. The Hindoos had a tradition, that the pillar was gradually sinking, it having, according to report, been once twice its present height, and it was also prophesied, that when its top should become level with the ground, all nations should be of one caste. The throwing down, therefore, of this pillar was regarded as most ominous and dangerous to Hinduism. The whole Hindoo population, headed by the Brahmans and devotees, rose in fury on the Mussulmans, and attacked them with every sort of weapons within their reach. One mosque was pulled down, and they determined to destroy every other in the city ; but the civil authorities, with all the military force that could be collected, interposed, and by putting guards to defend the mosques, succeeded in saving them. It was difficult indeed, to trust to the native soldiers ; hut they did their duty well, for though many of them were Brahmans, they kept guard manfully on the mosques, in fidelity to their military oath, though doubtless it would have been more agreeable to their own feelings, to have joined in pulling them down. Yet they kept .off the Brahmans, as well as others, at the point of the bayonet. Two Brahman soldiers, keeping guard where the pillar was lying prostrate, were overheard thus conversing on the subject ; “ Ah !” said one, “ we have seen what we never thought to see Sheo’s Lat has its head level with the groupd. We shall all be of one caste shortly ; what will be our religion then ?” “ I suppose the Christian, answered the other — for after all that has passed, I am sure we shall never become Mussulmans.” A sagacious remark, as persecution and voilence are never likely to produce conviction, either of the truth or goodness of the religion of the persecutor, though it may occasionally lead to a temporary, or false profession of it on the part of the persecuted, to be changed into the most virulent opposition, whenever an opportunity is obtained."