The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-01-27
MANA sAHIB.
Strange Belief Concerning Hin Among the Su-
perstltlOus Hlndus.

BGknuBe belloL COuCeEniuk lAm AinVhs thO Oa-
perstltlOus Hlndus.
Many of the Hindus still think, strange
as it may seem to uR, that the leader Of
the sepoy rebellion, Mana sahib, is still
alive and that he isin AmeriCa-s region
as vague to them as the dominions of
Preston John were to the medi@valists.
Although his death was announced
twenty years ago, the truth or falsity Of
it was not then, nor has it since been as
certained. But public opinion long since
settled upon the belief that he has since
ceased to exist. He might be alive as
far as age goes, for he would not now be
more than sixty years old. In many
resi- eCts he was remarkable man. Very
little is known of his anteCedents. He is
said to have been the son of a Brahmin
from the Deccan and his real name is
Dhundu. He was adopted while child
by Bsiee Ros, Expelshwa of Poona, &C.
quiring by adoption, according to Hindu
law, most of the rights of a legitimate
SOD. He was educated as native noble.
man. He learned English and had as
soCistions with the British army and
civil officers. Tie government of Cal.
cutta having decided that it could not
recognize the right of adopted persons to
pensions or indemnities, the continuance
Of Nana's pension of eight lacs of rupees,
previously paid to Bsjee Rao, was then
withheld. This, in connection with
various sights from young Englishmen,
is supposed to have angsred him greatly
He was still permitted to retain some of
the state belonging to his rank, keeping
a retinue of 200 soldiers, with three field
pieces, and a forfeited residence near
Cawnpore. When the mutiny of 1857
had broken out there, he offered to aid
the English in its suppression, but sud.
denly put himself at the head of the
rebels, as they were called. The British
trooL were induced 10 surrender to Mana
on his promise, as it is alleged, that they
should be safely sent down the Ganges.
They had but fairly got on board of two
transports when two guns were unmask.
ed and hot fire opened upon them. The
Sepoys were ordered to shoot the men
but to spare the women and children,
who after their husbands and fathers
had been killed were removed to a house
at Cswnpore. After Sir Henry Havelock
had marched to their assistance from
Allahabad, and defeated the enemy in
two engagements, Mana, driven to des
peration, Ordere1 that all women and
children should be slain, and the bar.
barous order was most faithfully exeCut.
ed. A long struggle ensued, in which
the Hindu Chief was generally worsted,
though he exhibited extraordinary reso.
luton, intrepidity and command of re-
sources. He was finally driven beyond
the British frontier into Nepaul, and al
ter that all definite trace of him was lost.
The Hindus, many of them at least, have
faith that he will yet return and enable
them to throw off the yoke under which
they have so long but secretly groaned.
His name is still a name of terror in Hin.
dustan, and the story is told of him,
which has been go often told of other
leader, thpt the English women hush
their crying babies to slumber by whis.
pering "Nana Sahib."-N. Y Times.