The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
FAKIR AND GOROO.
characteristics OF 1Iindoo and Mos.
lem MendicantSs

takes up his abode. Generally he selects
for his residence some deserted tomb,
which, built upon Il crag or some emf
nence, commands o good view of the
road. Agra is the great Mohammedan
city of the Northwest. With its multi
tude of mosques and glittering minarets,
it is q city to which thousands of Mo-
hammedans from all parts of the Moslem
world make pilgrimage. The roads and
by. roads which lead to the city are many,
and along their sides have been built in
long gone days of Mohammedan power
many Il grave containing the remains of
some noted warrior or chief. Several Of
these graves have been kept white as
when first made; several arc still adorned
every morning with fresh garlands Of the
golden colored marigold, and the trees
that have been planted around them are
still waterc6. But these evidences of a
watchful care are only bestowed when
descendants of the deceased still revere
/ his memory but most of these tombs are
forlorn and deserted a general tumbling
down of brick and mortar. 1t is when Il
building has fallen into complete ruin,
that the Mohammcdan beggar takes
possession. He generally defends him
self against the effects of wind and water;
and thus having secured accommo datlon
begins his livelihood.
At first he presents a pitiable object.
Emaciated and dirty, his hair long and
matted, his eyes wild and staring, and
his body given over to vcrnin, and his
terrible rasping cry of "Allah-il-Allahi"
wailing by n ght and da7 for food and
money, he is not only a loathsome but a
fear-inspiring monster. This is his cry:
"Behold, We who walk by the road
side, arraycd in your white and golden
colored clothes and scarlet trappings,
with your bespangled, shoe-covered feet,
your linen recovered head. your eyes full
of pride and heart full of wickedness,
your minds bent or money.makIng; and
ye also who 60 by on the trotting camel
and the feet horse, and in the sun and
dust shaded carriage, beware of the
power of the gcnii Of this place, beware
of his wrath and his anger, for I, his SER
want, am here through his bidding to
light here a fame made from oil and
wick, to appease the evil one who is
causing his spirit torment, and driving
it abroad by night, and by day; and if
ye appcase not this spirit by money and
by flame, he will cause unto you evil.
and if |, his servant, am not supplied
with the things which he most Graves,
then will he at nighttime and at daytime
cast his eyes, glazing with wrath and
anger, upon you, and yon shall not
prosper, neither il your business, nor in
your families, and his curse shall be on
you. and that which you esteem the
highest shall soon die. Hear and trem-
bic, you wicked, for such is the order Of
Cod"
Now, the Mohammcdan, passing by
the deserted tomb, sceingit suddenly oc.
cupied, and by so distressful and m;ser-
able an object, is touched with compass
sion; and when he hears the terrible de-
nunciation that is to follow, should he
not subscribe toward aiding a suffering
and departed counlryman's soul, whose
lowering spirit might, peradventure, do
him some harm, he, in fear and tremb-
ling, drops into the extended gourd his
%farthing, and hurries away, fearful lest
be should be overtaken by some mishap.
Suppose that self.same Mohammedan.
hurrying away from the dreadful tomb,
with eyes blinded by fear, should STUN
BILE on a stone, and hurt himself; he
would certainly exclaim that Allah was
the cause of the trouble. His donation
was too small. He generally would re-
turn and increase it. and thus by his viii
lingness and contrition propitiate the
deity. Should good fortune attend him
through the day, and in his every care
be be generally successful, the poor wit
less fellow would assuredly ascribe his
luck to the &C ion Of an over-pleased
god: and he would most assuredly pay
another toll when repassing the tomb
Soon the devotee makes no pretencc of
hard living. lie explains away this by
stating that the appeased spirit wishes
no longer that his attendant should wear
the garb of q miserable mendicant; but
that he should appear as the servant of u
prosperous and pleased god. AS time
grows, the tomb and the mendicant be-
come holy. Valuable cures arc said to
be effected by those who have paid lib
orally to the keeper of the shrine, and
soon, from being a wretchcd beggar, this
astute individual has risen to a powerful
healer, saint, prophet and fakir.
The Hindoo religious begger, or Co.
roo, is a fanatic of the worst type; o
fanatic who pays no regard to pain when
once imbued with the idea that it is nee
essary for him to undertake some cruel
modification. in order to glin the de-
lights of paradise, or to save from pun
ishment some beloved relative. He has
no compunctions of conscience, no fear,
no trembling, when he once undertakes
a self-sacriticc. lie will burn of his
hand without moving a muscle Of his
face; and he is of so determined a ma
ture, when he fancies he is in the right,
that no danger and no prayer will turn
him from his purpose. A mans son is
dying; all hope that the life will be
spared has gone. Appeals are made to
the goroo, or priest in attendance.
IF you perform some terrible self
sacrifice and become a goToo, God will,
perhaps, spare to you this life" he says.
The wrctchcd father runs over several
tormenls and finally elects that of hold
ing up his right arm forever should he
survive, and should he die, to visit the
most sacred shrine in the High Hina-
laya.
"You must begin new,' says the
goroo; 'show your zeal at once; nor
must you in anger drop your arm should
your son die"
"Nevcr," groans the unhappy man,
and forthwith holds up his arm.