The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-10-07
ACCOUNT OF A MAN WHO SUBMITTED ~
BE BURIED ALIVE, FOR MONTH
At Jaisniuer and dug out aipe at tie erp'raf'0"
that period. tst
COMMUNICATED BY II. NJ. TwEDELL, ESQ.

thar peri0d. ~
COMMUNICATED BY II. NJ. TwEDELL, Esq
II have juss witnessed singular circumstance, OF
which had heard during our stay at this place, but
iii NOTHING about il BEFORE the time for its accom-
pIishment not being completed; this morning. however,
the fll month was over, and who had buried all
that time, on the bank of Tank near our camp, was
dug out alive ia the presence OF sur La one OF the
minister's Of the Mnhrawal. of Jaisumer, on whose
account this singular individual was voluntarily en-
tered a month ago. He is young man, about 80
wears of age and his native village is within five kos
Of Kurnaul but he generally travels about the country
10 Aimeer Kotah, Endor, &C., and allows himself to
be buried for weeks or months, by any person who will
nav him handsomely for the same. In the present In
stance the Rawu put this singular body IN reqnsitlon
under the hope Of obtaining heir to his throne, and
whether tho remedy is ecacious or not, it certainly
deserves to be known. ,
The man is said, by long practice to have acquired
the art OF holding his breath by shutting the mouth
and stopping the interior opening OF the nostrs with
The tongues he al so abstans from solid food for some
days previous to inerment so that ne may not De IN
conyenienced by the contents OF his stomach, wnie
mt mn in his narrow grave; and moreover, ne IS sewn
nm in bar of CLOTH and the cell is lined with masonry,
and foored with CLOTH that the white ants and other
insects may not easily be able TO modest him. The
place in which he buried, at Jalsulmer IS small
building about IL feetby feet built OF stone, and IN
the floor was a hole about three feet ny. two and
half feet WIDE and the same depth, or perhaps yard
deep, in which he was placed In a sitting posture,
sewed up in hs shroud, with his feet turned inwards
towards the stomach, and his hands also pointed in
wards the chest. Two heavy slabs OF stone, hve or
six feet long, several inches thick and broad enough
TO cover the mouth Of the grave. that he could not
escape were then placed him, and believe IL
tie earth plasteed over the WHOLE so as to make
the surface of the grave smooth and compact. ~ 9
door of the house built up, and people placed
outside that no tricks might be PLAYED, deception
practced. At the expiration Of full month. that is
10 saw this morning, the walling up OF the door was
broken, and the buried man dug out OF the graves
vans moonshe only running there In time to see
the ripping open ofthe bag in which the man had heen
incosed. He was taken out in perfectly senseless
state his eyes closed, his hands cramped and power
less his stomach shrunk very mnch; and his teeth
damned so fast together that they were forced to open
his mouth with iron instrument to pour little wa
ter down his throat He gradually recovered his
senses and the nse of his LIMBS and when we went to
see him, sitting up, supported by two men. and
convesed with in low, gentle tone OF voice, say
ing, that might bury him again Tor atwelvemonth
if we pleased" He told Major Spiers at Ajmeer. Of
his powers, and was laughed at as an impostor; but
Cornet Macnaghten put his abstinence to test at Pok
hur by suspending him for thirteen days shut up in
wooden chest, which, he says, is better than being
buried under ground because thebox, when hung from
the ceiling, IS open 70 Inspections on all SIDES ana me
white ants Sc can be easier prevented from getting
at his body, while he thus remains in state OF lnsen-
sibty His powers Of abstinence must be wonderful
to enable him 70 do without food for so long tlme nor
does shar grow during the time he remains hurled.
really believe that there is no mpostnre IN the case,
and that the whole proceeding is actually conducted in
the way mentioned above.
This letter was written by Lieut.. A. Fl. Boileau, of
the Engineers, first assistant Great Trgonometrical
surveyor who at that time was employed IN the survey
of that part Of the country. The gentlemen whose
names are mentioned in the letter, are Capt Trevelyan
ofthe Bombay Artillery, and Cornei now Lieutenant
IL m Of the 9Th regimen. OF light cavalry
pootanah.
conversation, with Lieut. Boileau. and which noted
down. Lieut.. Boileau. was unacquainted with the
mans nae or caste; he believed that he had taken up
the life Of Fukeer he understood that the man had
been buried six or seven times, but whether for
period longer than month he knew not; he did hear
he the man discovered his powers. or when he COM
menced to practise them. Lieut.. Boean arrived at
Jaisulmer after the interment and the place de-
scrbed in his letter, in which the man was uried.
There was guard Of four or FIVE Chupraises. in the
employ of the Muharawul, as he understood, who
the watch, to prevent any lntere.e nce or I'M
position The process Of burying and dsinteresting
was CONQUERED in the presence Of Esur Lal. one Of
the ministers of MuhaIawul. The day fixed for the
disinterm= Mt known to Lieut.. Boileau, but not
the exact hcur.-Captdin Trevelyns moonshee who
h, d set forth to give intelligence when operations
were TO be commenced, arrived only in time to seet the
people ripping open the cloth, shroud. in which he
h7 been inclosed. The mconshee Immediately start
ed of to inform his master and Lieut. Bcileau, who
in their tents, at distance OF ABOUT H-ne fur
longs.
They waited a few seconds to apprise Lieutenant
-Macke sop Of the l4th regiment, NJ l. British Agent
70, the navigation Of the Indus, (who had decF ed to
accompany them,) and repaired to the spot quickly
as possible. Perhaps quarter of an hour had eaps
ed since the opening of the grave, before they arrv
ed The people had thrown clean cloth over the
man, two Of them supported him; he presented APP
pearance of extreme emancipation and debility; but
weak as he was, hi, spirit good, and his conf
ence in his powers undated, as in to Lieut..
Boeaus and Captain Treveyn's inquiries, he said,
that me might bury him again for t,OelremonM If ue
pleased. Lieut.. Boileau examined, and n ensured
with his walking stick, the grave in the floor of the
chamber in which the man had been buried, and also
the two slabs of stone which had been used to cover
the mouth of the grave For seven or eight days pre-
ceiling the burial; the man lived entirely upon milk.
regulating the quantity to sustain life whilst
nothing remained to give employment to the excretory
organs. In that state he buried. He confesses
to have great dread of the white ants Several folds
Of the cloth were spread the bottom Of the grav We,
to protect him from their attacks On taking nonrish
ment after his release, he said TO be in anxi
civ until he has ascertaned that the powers Of his
stomach and intestines not impaired. Lieut.. Boil
eau saw nothing If the man; he understood that
he reganed his strength, and for time in at
tendance the dubar Of the Mnharawul, in the hope
f ,ace his promse reward and that tired of Wait