Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-09-15

who Tasted ana iattened on the decay
ing flesh Of men and animals. This was
mythical parsonage, said modern en-
lghtenment; but today the nineteenth
century civilization must attest the rec
ord Of the cole as a realiiy-an actual,
living being, not in the wilds and noun
tain businesses Of Persia, but In that city
which for more than two hundred and
fifty years has been the stronghold OF
British control in India. Appu'Naidoo,
the agh0tc or corpso.cator, has made
bis appearance at Balasor.
lust west Of the Mouths OF the Gauges
Is what is known as Balasor Roads,
where, In i6l5, the agents Of the British
East India company sailed into the
estuary Of Twisting river, marked on the
maps by the native title Of Burabalang.
literally the Old Twistcr. Sixteen miles
up the river they went, bot only eight
miles from the scashorc as the CROW
flies, and located the little town Of
Pppli. In the midst OF country occu.
pied by a hostile and uncivilized people.
Generally they worked their way into
trade with the natives, forming the basis
OF British greatness In India, nourishing
In spite OF the opptcssivcness OF Mahomc-
tan governors. and when needIul assert
ing their claims to respect by force OF
arms. In I6i7 they established Balasor,
which now contains population OF
more than 20, ooo souls, and is directly
under British administration. The coun.
Try there may be classcd ia three divi.
sions! % The Sal, tract, along the
coast; (s) The Arabic tract or rice
country, (3l The Submontane tract, or
Jungle LANDS. In the Salt tract sluggish.
backish streams creep along between
banks u luud black mud occasionally
marked by sandhills carpelcd with
cfcepers aud wild convolvulus, Balasor
Is on the Arabic tract and inland the
country spreads out into prairies Of
coarse, long grass and scrub jungle,
which afford shelter and support lot
wild animals In plenty; and throughout
vast region there Is scarcely hamlet,
and only patches Of rice cultivation at
long inteyals-to the west north and
south.
Appu.Naidoo and his four pariah dogs
entered Balasor from the south In July
last His first appearance attracted
little attention, Tor there was nothing
unusual about him that was known. lie
proceeded to one OF the "ghurcstans"
outside Of town, where carcasses Of
diseased cattle and corpses OF those
dead from smallpox or cholera are dis.
posed OF by birds and beasts Of prey.
Soon the news spread that the "Saku,"
as he was called by the natiycs-lor he
claimed magic powers Of curing diseases
IN both sexes, and OF charming away
steriliy In women-was devoufing the
diseased copscs, and crowds gathered
to witness him engaged In the unholy
Tepast.
Ills reputation as a carfion-cater at.
tracted people TO him rather than other.
wise. Some respectable tOwnspeople,
suffering from liver or spleen diseases,
went to interview him, and submitted
10 his cure. This consisted OF being
anointed with human oil obtained from
boiling up diseased human flesh, and
eating a portion Of a swoctmeat first
bitten In half by the aghofe. In one
instance a well'io.do professional man
OF the town sent a conveyance IN order
TO bring the Sadu to his house TO see
his son aud cure him Of some disease.
Crowds OF people came to see Appu.
Naldoo disposing OF his CHASTITY meal
surrounded by his dogs. ARREST him.
said an Englishman, who was attracted
by curiosity aud was Disguised at the
sight "What IS tie use OF attempting
To arrest him, sir'' said q respectable
Bengal clerk In reply. "He cannot be
arrested save at his own will, ior he has
the power OF at once rendering himself
4 L.
where" Such IS the depth Of Orissa
superstition.
''lle is eating wholesome food and
pretending to eat carbon" was the
suggestion Of one observer. But no; he
had been seen In the dusk Of the even
ing carving up a human corpse Tor his
diet. Further, he had been observed
many times taking the flesh Of animals
that had died Of disease, and, having
prepared IL, had pariaken Of II as food.
lie was asked II he did not fear the
disease from such a source, and replied
that he secured immunity from danger
by amounting his body daily with human
oil, obtained by boiling human flesh
For years he had made his abode IN the
dire, dank chanelhouses OF India, feed
ing on Carrion Of the Vilest description
yet was strong and hearty, Here Is q
case for the explanation OF scientists
and authorities on gcrms-a case iol
health boards and sanltarians to ponder
over.
Though apparently healthy, this human
ghoul was by no means handsome, al
least from the Caucasian point Of view
lie was about IS years OF age, and OF com
plratiyely small stature. Dressed IN d
iuul walstClolh, and Ol Tepusiye iea'
lures, he wore the usual ilthy matted
locks OF the Hindu mendicant, reach
ing to his waist. Lac bangles adorned
his wrist, and on one arm he wore q
line boar's tusk as an armlet. VIII
hlackcned teeth, and black hairy body
and face, he seemed more devil thar
man
"Why interfere with me' want
nothing from YOU" said he to a Grove
who mubbed him upon the statement
that two corpses had disappeared from
Balasor and that Appu,Nlidoo haC
taken and eaten them, The supersti
tlous brought rice and native spirits tC
prOpliate him, but the better inlormct
were angercd. Though this human yul
ture was looked on by the ignorant anC
Credulous as a supernatural being, IN,
sentiment OF the more enlightened por
ton compelled the authorities to &C
Notwithstanding they had no jurisdiction
outside the town, and the ghoulish pro
ceeIiugs were revealed In a civilizeC
court.
Appu Naldoo was charged with steal
Ing Two human cofpses. The charge
WAS not sustained, Tor he had not siolef
q H. ~ D q.