Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14

strips OF linen, which he swallowed ana
afterward drew out through his mouth. On
the appointed day an immense crowd as
sembled. Surrounded by his disciples and
attended by the Rajah and his court, Harides
advanced solemnly toward his chosen
grave.
DEATH-LIKE TRANCE.
"There linen shroud had been stretched
on the ground, and on 1t he placed himself,
and turning his face toward the east eros ed
his legs in the attitude Pamadzan-that is
to say, in the attitude of Brahma seated on
the lotus. Then he rolled his tongue back
into his throat, fixed his eyes on the tip of
his nose and remained motionless. Pres
emily his eyes closed, his limbs became
stiff and 1t became apparent that he was In
sort of lethargic catalepsy. 1 propose to
call this death-like trance thanatoeidis,
from the Greek word signifying death and
appearance The epithet lethargic' does
not signify apparent death, as we under
stand the phrase, but "a deep, pathological
Sleep as can be seen from the derivation of
the word. Anabiose also seems to me an
improper word In this sense, as it signifies
loss of life, whereas suspension of life is
ali that really takes place.
"The followers of Harldes then hastened
to close his eyes and nostrils with linen
plugs, their object doubtless being to protect
him from insects. Above his head they
Joined the four corners of the shroud and
tied them firmly together. The Rajah's seal
was placed on the knots and the body was
then shut up in wooden casket four feet in
height by three feet in width, which was
closed Theoretically and was also stamped
with the royal seal.
SIX WEEKS IN. A TOMB.
rha - ri of
exactly the same dimensions, which had
been constructed for the purpose, three feet
under ground. The door was then closed,
sealed and completely surrounded with
earth. Thenceforth the tomb was guarded
day and night by chosen sentinels and was
an object of veneration to thousands OF
Hindoos, who had hocked from all direc-
tions, as though on a pilgrimage, to the
burial place of the holy man.
"At the end of six weeks, which was the
time fixed for the opening of the tomb, an
immense mass of spectators gathered and
waited to see what would happen, and first
the Rajah caused the earth which walled up
the door to be removed and was satisfied
that his seal had not been broken. Then
the door was opened and the lid of the
casket, on which the seal also was untouched,
was raised. a..
'Dr. Honigberger noticed that the shroud
was covered with moist substance, and
naturally attributed it to the humidity of
the grave. The body of the recluse, still
wrapped in the shroud, was removed from
the casket by his disciples and propped
against the lid; then, while the shroud was
still around him, they poured some hot
water over his head. Finally they released
him from the shroud, after they had verified
and broken the seals.
REMARKABLE REsUSCITATIoN.
''Then DR.. Honigberger examined him
carefully. The mans attitude was the same
as on the day of the burial, except that his
head now reposed Oh one shoulder. The
skin was wrinkled, the limbs were stiff.
All the body was cold, except the head,
which had been sprinkled with hot water.
OF pulse no trace could be found, and the
utter failure to discover any sign of motion
in the heart seemed to be a clear indication
of death. The raised eyelids revealed eyes
glazed and spiritless as those of corpse.
''The disciples and servants washed the
body and began to rub the limbs. One of
them placed on the skull a mass of hot
wheaton dough, which was renewed several
times, while another removed the stoppages
from the ears and nose and opened the
mouth with knife. Still, Harides re-
manned as a statue of wax and there was
not the faintest sign of lite in him.
"After opening his mouth the disciple
caught hold of his tongue and replaced il
| in its natural position. Thus he held it for
some time until its tendency to fall back on
| the larynx was overcome. Meanwhile the
! eyelids had been rubbed with grease and a
final ointment of hot dough had been
placed on the head. Just then the body
was seized with trembling, the nostrils
1.
began to beat slowly and the limbs became
mobile A little melted butter was poured
on the tongue, and after this painful scene,
the result of which had appeared so doubt
full, the eyes regained their pristine bril-
liancy.
A SECOND ENToMBMENT.
"The resurrection of the Voghi was ae-
complished, and as his own eyes met the
Rajah's he said to him simply, Now do you
believe me?' Half an hour sufficed to re-
vive him and in another half hour, though
still weak, he was sitting at the royal table,
clothed in a rich garment and decorated
with necklace of pearls and bracelets OF
gold. Some time afterward, doubtless be-
cause the Rajah had paid no heed to his
teaching, the Voghi caused himself to be en-
tomDed second time, and on this occasion
his grave was six feet under ground. Earth
was piled around his coffin, the grave was
walled in, more earth was spread over it
and in this earth barley was sown. Ae-
| cording to the same eye witnesses Harides
remained for four months in this tomb and
at the end of that period came back to life
| in the same manner as on the former occa-
sion
"These achievements are as m uch at vari-
ance with all that physiology teaches us
about the ordinary conditions of human lie
that one cannot refrain from saying: yes,
these strange things may be true, but I'd
| like to see them
SHOWS THE POSSIBILITIES.
''Still, as the writer, from whom 1 bor-
rowed this story remarks: 1T would be rash
for us, simply because we cannot yet ex-
plain them, to assume that such facts are
impossible could tell you Of many other
marvellous deeds of a similar nature
achieved in India, but think have said
enough, at any rate you can see that Succi
is vet far from being the equal of Harides,
/ though it is quite possible that by rigid
training and the exercise of that will power,
with which he is unquestionably endowed,
he may ultimately arrive at the same re-
suits.
"Whether he does or not, the examples
which have cited prove, 1 think, that Pc
culiar powers which are apparently at vari-
ance with all laws OF physiology, may be
acquired by training and that just as men
can become boxers, runners, swimmers and
morphine maniacs, so, too, men can become
adopts at fasting. ALI they need Is to grad
ually acquire the habit until it becomes, as
it were, their second nature"
Apr rur nocToRs cRrMrN IrARrE3