The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
A STORY FROM INDIA.
Nobody Compelled to Believe It--A Feat of
the Fakirs.

the FakIrG,
A traveller from India relates the following
trick of the falcirs which, il true, out-Jioudin-
ICES Houdin. 1t is told, SO to speak, from the
front side of the gibeciere
A faiIir makes o wager with some skeptcal
person or persons, generally officers of the Brit
ish army, that he viii allow himself to be
buried in the earth from "eoI1i to corn - n
period Of about six months. Whom tho ar
rangements are completed the fakir betakes
himself to his family, probably for the purpose
Of going through course Of treatment. He is
then broughtforth dressed i'll the flannel which
is the chief article OF apparel among his class
Every one who desires is permitted to witness
what occurs from this point.
The man is then laid upon the ground by his
brother fakrs, and his tongue is thrust upward
and backward into his throat and there Sc
cured. This is probably demo, physicians
think, to prevent the flow OF saliva. His knees
are then drawn up and his head thrust down
between them, bringing him into as small a
compass as possible. In this position he il al
lowed to remain until such time as he becomes
unconscious and his respiration imperceptiblc.
1T is supposed that unconsciousness is produced
by tho position OF the tongue. He is then
placed in arubber bag TO protect him from all
moisture, and the bag is scaled up BY that
time, physicians claim that he has passed
through the comatose state and into a state Of
COMA only one remove from death.
The persons wHo have made the wager arc
then allowed to select the spot in which thoJ
WISH tDe DDdJ Durlcu, lnefe DtiuB DHb one re-
striction imposed upon them, which is that
they shall select place slightly elevated above
the surrounding country in order that the wa
ter or moisture may not settle about the buried
fakr. lie is buried in plain view ofall. Over
him the ground Is narrowed, and corn sown
and reaped.
In one instance where this trick was per-
formed the officers who laid the wager kept
two sentinels, who were relieved according to
regular military custom, pacing over the body
OF tho buried falSir both night and day from
the time he was inferred 10 the time he was
e1humed in their presence. When the six
months or theTeabOuts had expired the body
was dsinteTed and laid upon tho ground in
tie presence Of considerable audience. After
q short time the rubber bag was removed, care
being taken to keep the body always on its
right side, and another interval occurred.
Then the flannel covering was loOsened, and
shortly after the tongue was brought back 10
its proper position. The body was then raised
% a standing position and carried about be-
tween two falsirs until it's limbs became capa-
bic Of motion. These demonstrations were
continued but a short time before the fakir, to
the stupciaction Of his audience, walked up
aud down several times unaided before them,
and then departed alone TO his home 10 be
cared for By his family
Medical men who were present ~ this eXpe-
riment and were allowed TO examine the fakir
when cShumcd, asserted that they we're una
BE to detect tho slightest evidence Of circula-
ton By feeling OF the pulse Of the heart. IL is
known that tho best European chemists arc
unable 70 teach chemistry 10 tho learned men
Of India, aud that they have failed as gignally
wherever they have Attempted TO dose, rs they
have la ihoir endeavOrs 10 reproduce certain
Indian dyes. especially Tyrnan purple. And
IL is not impossible that the east may be ahead
Of the west IN othoF lines Al well.--Boston
Home journal.