The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-16
ANTTO CITF or THE TELEPHONE
The Priests Ia India Ua,e Used "a for
Two ThOusnnd Years.


"The principle Of the telephone has
been known tor 1000 years in India"
WAS the rather incredible statement made
last night by Fred Amesbuiy, who has
Just returned To New York AFTER two
years soiourn in the land of striped
tigers aud wonderful fikirs. 81 do not
assert, mark you," continued Mr.. Ames
bury, "that they use the telephone as we
use it, or that they have any system OF
general communication. What do say
i, that the high caste people have a
method of Communicating with each
other by vibratory action on adiaphragm,
lust as we do, bat ~ IS cOpnued entirely
10 their temples, aud ITS existence has
renamed a secret until within very
few years.
at was in a town called PaUi, about
300 miles from Madras, and while there
became acquainted with Az Eugllsh 9TH
Ger named Harrington. who was prime
tavorite with the natives, because on one
I occasion he had saved priest from
drowning. He was a very genial, pleas
ant fellow, and had that peculiar mag
notism about him that made aud KEPT
friends everyw here.
at was through Harrington that |
was enabled To learn tho existence OF
telephone communication aud TO satisfy
myself OF It's antiquity.
There are TWO temple, IA the village
abont mile apart. Ia the interior aud
Oh the ground floor Of each IS a small
circular structure, which is guarded day
and night from the natives as well a.
from strangers, and is supposed 10 be the
abiding place of tue governing spirit,
but in reality is the terminus OF the tel
ephonic line. which is laid underground
from one building 10 the other.
"The superstitious natives regarded
this little structure with the greatest
awe and reverence, because they bad
seen demonstrated before their eyes-0r
rather ears-the power of this spirit 10
communicate with The other temple.
They were required to make their offer
ings in one building, and make known
their wishes aud desires. Then immedi-
ately repairing 10 The second temple
they would be Informed OF ali they had
said aud done, although neither priest
had left his post. Til, Was regarded as
demonstration Of the power OF the spirit.
1--WE were unable to determine the
composition OF the wire that connected
the two buildings. II was some kind Of
metal, but neither steel, copper nor
brass, although il closely resembled the
latter. The transmitter wss OF wood
and about the size of tbs head OF flour
barrel. aud Ia establish connection,
instead Of ringing a bell, the person
wishing to attract attention al the other
end stood close 10 the curious. looking
thing aud shouted, 'OOey ooey ooey "
This was answered 10y similar
shout, which, while faint, was distinct,
and could lie heard two feet away.
after Harrington and had gained
the confidence of the priests-or, rather,
after he had-we were given carte
blanche to do as we pleased, and we
talked 10 each other from one Temple 70
the other for more than au hour, and
were enabled TO make an incom plete
investigation.
1--WE learned that the telephone that
we saw had been used for thirty years.
The priests were very old men, aud they
remembered that the line of communI-
cation had been renewed only once dur
ing their incumbenoy.
"They showed MS the remains Of worm.
eaten transmitters and wooden conduits
that must have been hundreds OF years
old. They claimed that the system bad
been in existence since the creation, and
laughed at us when we told them that
the same principle has only been applied
in England and America within tue last
dozen years. In every part of India aud
in Burmah this system OF secret com
munication exists, although hundreds of
travellers have never suspected 1t. | be-
lieyo that it dates back fully two thous-
and years n-Atianta Consultation.