, 1886-01-16
EXTRAORDINARY FEAT.
EXHIBITION OF HYPoTisM ~ A
FAkiR IN INDIA.


stored To Lie.
Tn most extraordinary feat performed
by tho fakirs OF India Is, undoubtedly, that
OF being buried alive, an account OF which
WIS published recently in n Nicnnn paper
by DR.. Honigberger, former court physician
10 the rajah.of Lahore, and corroboratcl by
Sir Claudins Wade, English envoy resident
OF Lahore. This feat OF physical endurance
throws the forty days fasting Of DIR. Tanner
completely into the shade. The preparations
made by these fakirs when about TO subject
themselves to the dangers OF inhumation,
are thus described by the doctor:
"The first duty consists in the construction
OF IA tomb or cave from which the air and
light can be wholly excluded, 10 be entered
by a small door, which is walled up with
clay as soon as the fakir enters. This cave
is provided with n soft bed formed OF sheep
skins and cotton. In order to accustom him
self TO this abode, the experimental begins
by remaining here at first but a few hours
every day, increasing the time to several
days, or until no can almost wholly exist
without air. During this preliminary in
hnbitation of his tomb, he passes his time in
meditation upon the power OF divinity,
chanting his prayers, and counting the Bra
haInic chaplet until he is able 10 pronounce
O.bNO NOINh III itEH HAL IntANt htuAos lao
also accustoms himself 10 positions in which
the feet are elevated in the air and the head
hanging down near TO the earth, or the limbs
bent, doubled, and twisted into all sorts OF
contortions.
IN TRAINING FOR THE TRIAL
After this practice with the hinges Of the
body comes the training of the respiratory
organs, Beginning by holding his breath
for five minutes, he soon succeeds In holding
it twenty. He also practices the feat OF in
fating his lungs, allowing the air 10 escape
by degrees, until the power he acquires in
this direction is something marvellous. Then
follows the weekly missions OF the under
muscles Of the tongue, twenty-four OF which
are made, when this organ becomes sus-
ceptible OF being curved 80 as to completely
close tho opening OF tho larynx. To ac-
celerate this object the tongue Is frequently
treated with a~stringent oils, and rolled back
and manipulated by the fingers for hours
In addition to these special preparations, the
fakir observes tho rules of his caste, notably
that OF abstaining from all animal food
After having eaten, to remove all particles
adhering TO the coatings Of the stomach, he
swallows, at regular intervals, a narrow
strip Of linen, which he soon withdraws from
the mouth again. After the accomplishment
OF this severe course OF training, which re-
quires several months, the fakir is ready TO
undertake the trial OF Illumination.
The most noted OF the fakirs who had
passed through this ceremony was Harides,
whose burial was witnessed by DIR. Honig-
berger, and whose portrait is now in his pos
session.
On the day appointed, in the presence OF
OF the court and a large concourse OF peo-
pie, Harides appearedin their midst, and,
seating himself upon a white shroud, crossed
his legs and turned his face toward the east.
His couutenance was serene and his ex-
preston exalted. Centering his eyes upon
the extremity OF his nose, In a short space OF
time the magnetic ~catalepsy was produced.
The eyes gradually closed, and the limbs
became rigid. The servant Of the falir-
Harides being an ascetic of the highest order
hurried forward to close his eyes and plug
the appertures OF his nose with linen sat
urated with melted wax. Wrapping the
body In its shroud he closed IL over the IA
kris head, tying the ends firmly, after which
the body presented the appearance OF a filed
sack. This knot was sealed with the seal Of
the rajah, and the body, now inclosed in a
wooden box, sealed in like manner, was
placed in the cave, the door OF which was
closed, sealed, and walled in with clay This
tomb was guarded day. and night, and thou
sands Of pious Hindoos remained about the
spot, clarifying the saint who was believed
now to be enjoying the special favor OF
Brahma- 1t was a time Of great religious
exaltation-
oUs PROM HIS LONG sLEEP.
When the day agreed upon for Harides'
exhumation arrived the rajah and his court
appeared at the tomb. Ordering the dried
clay to be removed, and examining the seals
- a.. H. - a-l.-w ek.., tneuaf h.
caused the cave to be opened Nothing had
been disturbed; everything remained as
when the fakir entered upon his long sleep.
The doctor upon touching the shroud
found IL covered with moisture. Upon thu
servants removing the body from the box he
allowed it to stand upright against the cover
for some moments while he proceeded to
pour warm water over tho top OF the sack
Upon the removal of the sack the doctor re-
quested to be allowed to examine the body
before any attempt was made at resuscita-
ton. He found the legs and arms wrinkied
and stiff, the head resting upon the right
shoulder; no pulsation in the arms or legs
was discernible, nor In the region Of the
heart. The whole body was cold with the
exception OF the head, upon which the warm
water had been poured The servant was
now hurriedly occupied in bathing the body,
after which he vigorously rubbed the limbs,
arms, and body with coarse linen cloths
Applications OF warm cataplasms were made
upon the head, 10 be repeated as soon as
cooled. The linen plugs were removed from
the nostrils and the mouth opened, but the
fakir still remained inanimate, and the doc
tor began 10 doubt the possibility OF his re-
suscitation, although repeatedly assured that
such would be the case, Harides having sew
| .,r.I tfu.aa Iaf,ra taaoaai anfaa TINA In "a afata
OF suspended animation
A knife was now brought, and the tongue
unrolled and placed in it's normal position.
IL would not stay, and the servant was
obliged to use force for a time to hold Il in
place. The eyelids were rubbed with oil,
and the servant raised them. The eyes aps
psared CLASSY and staring. After several
applications OF the warm cataplasms upon
the Uranium the body was noticed to trpmble
slightly, the nostrils 10 dilate, the pulse 10
feebly move, and the limbs TO become more
pliable. Upon covering the tongue with oil
or butter again, IL was seen 10 move per
osptibly, and the eyes 10 partially recover
their brightness. The fakir was, indeed, rs
turning 10 life. For some moments he APP
peared engaged In collecting his wandering
thoughts, which, when accomplished, ha
turned to the rajah and calmly inquired;
@Do you believe in me nowF
The whole process OF resuscitation had 90
cupied somewhat more than an hours time.
Although weak and partially daned in his
conceptions, the fakir was carried TO the res
idence Of the rajah, where he was seated AT
the head Of the royal table, clothed with a
robe OF honor, g chain OF pearls placed about
his neck, and gold bracelets sncircling his
wrists. For SIX weeks he had lain in hi.
grave, and the feast was ordered in honor Of
his return to life.-foreign Letter.