New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-04
4 CRISIS on THE CANOES.

The recent alarm OF Impending revolution In
British India had ludicrous ending. II was
observed that the trunks Of many tres, es-
pccially manages, were smeared with mud mixed
with cows hair. This ominous more so
even than "chops and tomato sauce" Men OF
authority. well versed in IIlndoo lore. declared
the marks 10 be a popular summons 10 insurrec-
tion. They pictured the stcalthy emissarles OF
revolt gliding from tree 10 tree at midnight. plac-
ing upon the trunks the daubs Of mud and hair
Of a sacred cow which should serve az a fiery
cross to rouse the millions OF IIlndoo worship
pers to another and greater Mutlny 1t was a
plausible theory. and II set nerves a-tingling IN
Calcutta and inspired many an anxious and
solemn leader In the English press. But pres
emily some one discovered that the sacred but
surely non-mutinous herself the cause
Of the trouble: which. first lying or wallowing
I'm the mud rubbed her sides, is the wont Of
cattle. against tho tree trunks. and thus placed
thereon the dreadful tokens
Another and more real cause II not Of dis
quiet. at least OF thoughtful interest Is however
found in India to-day. which may pOrtend moth
ing Less than religious revolution For ages
the River Gauges has been accounted a sacred
stream. It's waters are regarded IA possessing
peculiar power OF publication. and It's banks.
consequently. are almost everywhere lined with
temples. Indeed the religion. philosophy and
cvon sociology ~ HindOstan have largely centred
upon Mother Gunga"; far more than those OF
Rome upon the Tfber or OF Egypt upon the Nile.
Yet the Ganges has had a rival IF never yet
successful at least a potential one. That rival IS
the Nerbud1a, the mighty stream which. rising
in Gundwana flows westward along the northern
border OF the Dcccan. t. the Arabian Sea. There
l. legend that lndra. the Lord of Light. with his
own hand made the passngeway. between walls
OF snowy marble. through which Its waters leap
down into the broad estuary ut Breach. and FOR
this reason It has ever been rcckoncd holy
stream. Moreover. about ii hundred years ago,
there arose and spread abroad through all the
land a prophecy that at a certain time the sane
tty OF the Ganges Itself should be transferred to
the Nerbudda and the latter become supreme.
The date. explicitly stated In this prophecy.
for which wide credence obtained. was the
year 1894 As that date drew nearer and nearer.
belief. or at any rate expectancy, grew steadily
stronger At the present time the tension is
almost indescrbable. Why the change Is to
occur. no tell: yet how 1t Is to be
manifested. whether by some stupendous cata-
clysm of nature, or by a revolution Of religious
sentiment Nor are there lacking especially
among the innumerable Gangeuc shrnes many
who dispute the correctness Of the prophecy. Yot
there is to-day such a state OF general unrest,
speculation and anxiety has not been known
I'm India for generations. Whether any move
ment OF tangible form will grow out Of II IL an
interesting question The major influence OF the
priesthood is. naturally enough. against any such
change that prophesed. The vast business.
social and political interests OF Oudh and Ben
gal, and OF Rajpootana and the Punjaub, are
also opposed 10 Il On the other hand scindia.