Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-11-15
EXTRAORDINARY SECT OF FANATICS
IN INDIA

From NE t'gittd Serrice 15prpaL
Esersruo have been IN India have heard of Il
class 81 Alnssulm1us lie disciples Of sect saint,
by name Shaihh RuIti wiz, IN order 10 impress the
unbrtyc,s with the truth Of The Mussnnan faith,
impaired to his followers the pbFcr OF pluDgIug
Swords and daggefs into thcr body, cutting of then
tongue, itJlng II, ard putting together agal1l, cut
ting oil the head and limbs, scoopng ont the eye,
aud, IN tuib, doing With their head aud body what
Snc'cr II pleased them Ia do; all Of which Colonel
d, Ia company with clergyman, Mr.. -
had scru, when the latter grew sick, and oil
the place, declaring ii was the power Of Satan,
which to tins day he believes, and the Colonel that II
Is done through the power ot the an magic, NJ Which
u course laughed, aud declared that - soon MS u
man oithe regiment (by name Shukh knrecn, one
q tie Rufni should return from Through would
witness the exhibition.
A Large leut was accordingly pitched, aud G1y
lamps furnished, and plates, full ofusruic, aud quan-
ues of plant of the tibc filled with a milky
juice, dtoput whchll hla yuur shln, bllsters II
and vast quantity OF the common glass bangles or
bracelets worn by the women, and daggcts, aud
things like thick steel showers, aud other hoIrd
looking weapons hike butchers steel, only with a
large handle covered with chains, aud about Ivy ouy
/ Rufus 10 beat all manner of drums aud when all
MAS ready about five al the officers left the mess ia
] bic with myself aud along with us about q hundred
sepoys crowded into the tent. When we were seat
| ed aud silence obtained. the work commenced hy Il
sort oil ehaant from helr sacred book the drum beat
At length both IN noise and velocity, until having
worked themselves into AN ecsiAcy, they seized hold
al Inc Instruments The body kept IN soft OF swing
my motion, some plunged the skewcr Instruments,
Que through each check, another though the
tongue, thnd through the throat. aud then com
menccd siahblug themselves with swords and dar-
gers AMI all sorts OF sharp instruments. Others cut
oil TIER tongue and having roasted il in the fire
pat IN hcr mouth again, when they Immediately u
hicd they eat the atsenc aud the blisierlnr milk
Ia Il ia.
though they we've The greatest dehcacles. Tins was
all done wllhn halt wand of my knees, for the,
came up close to me with many lamps, IN order that
msht see lhcte WAS no deception, and | do as
sure youit made me ecl SICK, and produo ed any
thing but an agiecblc sensation my niud, for to
Tins momentl know not whltto think oft. am no,
supetstltous, aud, although the colouel and man,
very respectable natives had declared to me that the,
did actually do these things, and that # sense
were to be in any manner trusted they had seen il
all done, | would. nevertheless, not believe IT,
was told beforehand, that it required fah and purt,
on the part oil tue performer, aud that then not i
drop of blood would follow. but that otherwise a few
drops OF blood would sometimes follow the lnstru
meuts, aud the performer would receive some sligh
injury.
On taking my departure from the tent happen.
cd 10 say, that should, NJ all events, think mon
honotably OF then prowess # ! saw them cXhbtee
IN The open face OF day, aud Invested of noise, mo-
uon, paraphernllia, Nc. Ga the following day
reading an English newspaper wlthouta servant or
4 soul near me, IN rushed their kazee (prest or
ludge) his hand tull of instruments, which, throw
ing upon the ground, he seized one, plunged il
through his cheeks the left side, another ON the
right, third through ms tongue upwards so that il
stuck INTO ms nose, another through his throat; lac
then stabbed himself with bright aud sharp cresse
winch entered his body about thtee inches not a
drop OF blood fell; he WAS going to oil his tongue
when begged HIM TO desst. was. IA truth, Icr-
! iccty nauseaed at the sight. The man was IN
a State of phrcnzy and really looked hightlul, his
face stuck full OF instruments, and stabbing and cut
/ tng himself with all his might. | sang out Tor some
people, aud TUNED HIM out.
| have now told you what have seen, and vet
"iIl not ask you To believe, tor know not myself
"ha' 10 think There are many persons OF very
s'rohg minds, IN otherrespects who firmly believe,
ana VINO do not hesate To declare then belief, that,
although driven out OF Christendom, demonoogy,
l"hcherait neciomancy and the entire list OF black
ana forbidden arts and powers. abroad and full
tehlstenfe ~ India. And must de clare that | will
ne'et again trust my senses If did not see all that
nave told you. ! examined the instrumental saw
lhem drawn out of lhe flesh, aud no scar or blood
or maih lett; l also a man eat and swallow
| three ounces OF arsenic, and crunch and swallow
siass bangles innnmetable; and yet although 'see.
ing IS achieving, ! can scarcely say that | believe
what before court OF justice, Iwoud swear had
seen.