The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-11
A HINDU DEPUTATION.
Two Brahmins and Rajput Studying
Our Mechanical Process.
(copyight 1891


Copyright, 1897
NEW YORK, June S.-The most start
lingly gorgeous spectacle that has been pre-
sented in many day to the frequenters of
Park Row, was witnessed about o'clock
one evening a couple of days ago. Three
Hindus-two Brahmlns and a Rajput-in
astoundingly brilliant oriental garb, de-
scended from a carriage at the door of 81
Park Row--the building in which the
office of the Theosophic journal. the
Path, is located-and entered there,
followed by a curious throng of
hundreds, VINO rushed in after them from
the street and packed the hallway as far as
the elevator. The taller oil the three, gold
colored man, though not more than five
and a half feet in hight, hal a countenance
OF such dignity, intelligence and authority
that ne presented @ very imposing appear
ance, which was heightened by his very ef-
fective gstume. He was dressed in fine
creamy white cashmere, deliberately
trimmed with exquisitely delicate dark
brown embroidery in silk, and wore
pointed shoes, entirely covered with
braided gold, and the yellow turban of the
SannavasSis, an order of ascetics. As
subsequently ascertained he was high caste
Brahmin, named Swami Bhaskura Maud
Saraswati A second Brahmin, Ganesh
Ramchendra Mendkey, shorter and
stouter man, of light brown color, wore a
heavy white turban strangely piled in
many small rolls, ald long red flowing
coat which seemed to be literally covered
with an infinite number of small circles of
solid gold braid. The Rajput, Narain
Singh, representative of one of the proudest
and most warlIke tribes of India. also a
shorter man than the Brahmim leader
and Of chocoIdt az lat complexion, was
he hill Io1a L.
color effects of the three. He wore blue
and white turoan, done up in the effective
Rajput style; heavily gold embroidered
shoes, vest and tight pantalooas of snowy
white adorned with a wealth of costly gold
embroidery aud a military-looking cape
made of changeable green and gold silk, a
material that was fairly dazzling in its
shifting refractions of light as the rays of
the setting sun fell upon MIN.
The three Hindus walked through the
crowd with apparent Inconsistencies that
they were not quite alone, entered the ele-
vator and disappeared in the Office of the
Path, where, before leaving, they inscribed
their names upon the visitors register. In
addition to writing them down in English
that might be called plain if it were not
quite so professional in the case of the two
Brahmins, the leader wrote his name in
Sanscrit. in which it is about four inches
long and made uD of many small composite
characters, each of which looks ike a
Chinese puzzle.
w. 0. Judge, editor and proprietor of
The Pt5th, and also head of the Theosophic
organization of this country, upon being
asked about his Hindu visitors said:
They constitute a commission sent by
Maharajah of Jodpore, to acquire knowl-
edge of the most advanced processes and
machinery applicable for the development
of the natural resources of his territory,
mainly ia mining and manufacture of tex
tile fabrics. Gold and gems are found in
Jodpore, and much cotton is grown there,
but the pc lple are far behind the age in
what we call the pcacticalti Of civiliza-
ton, and the inaharajah has a noble
purpose Of advancing their welfare
by encouraging, aiding and directing
naive industries He first sent these gen
| tlamen 10 England, with letters Of inoro-
! duction to Lord Mort book and Lord Lvt-
ton, but III that country they meJ with a
cool reception, little encouragement and no
assistance. 1t is not the policy of the
English TO encourage native Indian enter
pllses, and besides, the Eaglish have an
amiable way of looking down upon the
Hiolus as "a sort of niggers anyhow, you
know 81, by further instruction from
the maharajah, they have come to the
United States, hoping to find here a more
liberal and friendly spirit They ask no
favorS but to be permitted 10 learn and
adopt our ways. buy here such machinery
as tAey viii req lire, add probably engage
practical Americans 10 Superintead the CO !
templated works. Their leader, S xami
B ask ira Ma d SaraswaSi, who is a Braa-
min Of gea5 learning aad mortal power
and ear est purpose, mad met NJ re. BIavat-
sky in Madras aud renewed the acquaint-
ance in London. When their mission failed
| there, for the reasons L have stated, she
| gave them a letter TO me, requesting that
shoad solicit for them the good offices of
our Theosoohic brethren i'll America, to
| direct, counsel and forward item in
| their good work, winch we shall
| be most happy 10 do Their visit to me to-
| day was one of ceremony, upon formal
| appointment, hence the gorgeous display
they maGs suitable, from their pint of
view to the occa non. Tomorrow they will
| 60 to Philadelphia where they will be
! form ally received Ivy the 'Nrishna' branch
| of the TheoSoplical society and where
arrlngeme It's have already been made for
/ tnem by Mr.. SanbOrn, of our society e.
| r. Mendkey viii enter the university to
| perfect ce tain studies in tn English
| llngua ge, while his colleagues go
| to work in the acquisition of chronological
| k2owlldge in orher directions. They have
! brogg with them a fine Sauscrit library
| Tor their recreation, and Will remain i'll this
| country probably year. the naharajah
| pays all expenses, on The most liberal scale,
as he can we'll afford to do, his income being
about Sl,0J0,001 per annun, as I under
st and. They viii not conhne themselves to
residence in Philadelphia, but viii travel as
the interests of their business here may
| seem 10 require.
1t is noteasy for Americans to appreciate
tho sacrifices the two Brahmins make in
| coming here. The very fact of their
going TO sea makes the m outcasts from their
caste, which is TO than sacred thing of
Infinite importance and that offease against
the laws Of caste is heightened infinitely by
! the necessities OF their intercourse with
the world, in many ways. Wnen they
! go bacS, they may-Ghrough certain puri-
| ticaIory ordeals and ceremonials, after a
! tinle-be again received in their caste. But
they may not. That depends upon others,
and they may be held as outcasts all their
lives. Nevertheless through patriotic love
for their people they have taken that ritk.
j. Fl. CoNNELY.