Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-10-20
Credulity in India.


An amusing anecdote, related by Bish-
op Heber, gives US q good idea of the
foibles and Ignorance of one of the petty
princes of India and the meanness of the
minister who managed his affairs. The
fondness of the king for mechanics, says
the bishop, led him to try some expert
ments, in which he fell in with Mussul-
man engineer of pleasing address and
ready talent, as well as considerable,
though unimproved, genius for such
pursuits. The king took so much de-
light in conversing with this man that
the minister began to fear a rising COM
petitor, as well knowing that the mean
ness of his own birth and functions had
been no obstacle to his advancement.
He therefore sent the engineer word that
if he were wise, to leave Lucknow.
The poor man did SO, removed to a
place ten miles down the river, and set
up a shop there. The king, on inquir-
ing after his humble friend, was told
that he was dead of cholera, ordered a
gratuity to be sent to his widow and
children, and no more was said. Some
time after the king sailed down the river
on his brig of war, as far as the IAace
where the new shop stood. He was
struck with the different signs of neat,
ness and ingenuity which he observed
in passing, made his men draw in shore
and, to his astonishment, saw the engin-
Ger, who stood trembling, and with
Joined hands, to receive him. After a
short explanation, he ordered him to
come on board, and turned in high
anger to Lucknow, and calling the min
lister, asked him again if he was certain
that such man was dead. "Undoubt-
edly," was the reply. "I myself ascer-
tanned the fact and conveyed your maies-
ty's bounty to the widow and children. u
Harumzada, said the king, bursting
into fury, look there, and never see
my face any more" The vizier turned
round and saw how matters were circum.
stanced.
With terrible glance, which the king
could not see, but which spoke volumes
to the poor engineer, he imposed silence
on the latter then turning round again
to his master, stopping his nose, an6
with many muttered exclamations oI
"God be merciful !" "Satan is strong 7
"In the name of God keep the demon
from me p he said, "I hope your ma ies
ty has not touched the horrible object p
"Touch him." said the king "tht
sight of him is enough to convince me-
of your rascality." Istufirallah l' sale
the favorite, and does not your majesty
perceive the strong smell of dead car
cass ?" The king still stormed but his
voice faltered, and curiosity and anxiety
began to mingle with his indignation
at is certain, refuge of the world" re
sumed the minister, that your maies
tys late engineer, with whom be peace
is dead and buried but your slave know
eth not who hath stolen his body from
the grave, or what vampire it is who nov
inhabits it to the terror of all good Mns
sulmans. Good were it that he was rul
through with sword before your maj
esty's face, if it were not unlucky to shet
blood in the auspicious presence. pra,
your majesty to dismiss us l will Sc
him conducted back to his grave-it ma,
be that when that is opened, he may en-
ter it again peaceably." The king, con
fused and agitated, knew not what to sa
or order. The attendants led the terri
fled mechanic out of the room, and tn
vizie-, throwing him purse, swore wit
horrible oath, that eff he did not pu
himself On the other side of the country
frontier before the next morning, if h
ever trod the earth again, it should b
as vampire, indeed" This, thinl
no bad specimen of the manner in whic
an absolute sovereign may be persuade
out of his own senses.