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

as hfHANAhAAE ~ hNAAAh AAA AhNANNA 80 AAA
who feastcd and iattened on the decay.
Ing flesh Of men and animals. This was
a mythical parsonage, said modern en-.
lightenment; but today the nineteenth
century civilization must attest the rec.
ord Of the goie as a reali,y-an actual,
living being, not in the wilds and moun-
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 agh0te or corpse.eaior, has made
his appearance at Balasor
lust west Of the Mouths OF the Gauges
is what is known as Balasor Roads,
where, In 1855, the agents OF the British
East India company sailed into the
estuary Of Twisting riveImafked on the
maps by the native title Of Buabalang.
literally the Old Twister. Sixteen miles
up the river they went, but only eight
miles from the seashore as the crUw
flies, aud located the little town Of
Pippli, in the midst OF a country occu.
pied by a hostile and unciyilzed people
Generally they worked their way into
trade with the natives. forming the basis
OF British greatness in India, ilourishing
In spite OF the oppressivenCss OF Mahome.
tan governors, and when needlul assert
ing their claims TO respect by force OF
arms. In i6l2 they established Balasor,
which now contains population OF
more than 40, ooJ souls, and Is directly
under British administration. The coun.
Try there may be classcd IN three divi.
siOns: (f) The Sal, tract, along the
coast; l7) The Arabic tract. or rice
country; (5) The Submoniane tract, or
Jungle LANDS In the Salt tract sluggish,
backish streams creep along between
banks Of iutid black mud, occasionally
marked by sandhiIls carpetcd with
cfeepers 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 Tor
wild animals In plenty; and throughout
a vast region there Is scarcely hamlet,
and only patches Of rice cultivation at
long intervals-to the west, north and
"cuih.
Appu Naidoo and his four pariah dogs
entered Balasor from the south In July
last. His first appearance attracted
little attention, ior there was nothing
unusual about him that was known. lie
proceeded to one OF the "ghorcstans"
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 natiyes-lor he
claimed magic powers Of curing diseases
In both sexes, and Of Charming away
steriliiy In women-was deyoufing the
diseased copscs, and crowds gathered
to witness him engaged In the unholy
repast.
His reputation as a cariion-cater at
iracted people TO him rather than other.
wise. Some respectable townspeople,
suffering from liver or spleen diseases,
went to Interview him, and submitted
to his cure. This consisted OF being
anointed with human oil obtained from
boiling up diseased human flesh, and
eating a portion Of a swcetmeat FIRST
bitten In half by the aghofe. In one
instance a well.to-do professional man
OF the town sent a conveyance IN order
TO bring the Sadu to his house to see
his son and cure him OF some disease,
Crowds OF people came to see Appu'
Nlldoo disposing OF his CHASTITY meal
surrounded by his dogs. Arrest him"
said an Englishman, who was attracted
by curiosity and was Disguised at the
sight. "What is the use OF attempting
TO arrest him, sir2" said respectable
Bengal clerk in reply. "lie cannot be
arrested save at his own will, for he has
the power OF NJ once rendering himself
Invisible aud OF transporting himself else
where Such Is the depth OF Orissa
superstition
''He 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 partaken Of 1t as food.
He 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 chanel.houses OF India, feed
ing on carton Of the yllest description,
yet was strong and hearty Here Is a
case for the explanation OF scientists
and authorities on germs-a case for
health boards and 3anltarians to ponder
over.
Though apparently healthy, this human
ghou was by no means handsome, at
least from the Caucasian point Of view.
lie was about IS years OF age, and Of COM
paratiyely small stature. Dressed In a
ioul waislcioth, and OF repulsiye lea.
lures, he wore the usual filthy matted
locks OF the Hindu mcndicant, reach
ing to his waist. Lac bangles adorned
his wrist, and on one arm he wore a
fine boar's tusk as au armlet. With
hIackcned teeth, and black, hairy body
and face, he seemed more devil than
man.
why interfere with me' want
nothing from YOU" said he to a crowd
who mobbed him upon the statement
that two corpses had disappeared from
Balasor, and that Appu'N1idoO had
taken and eaten them, The supersli
tious brought rice and native spirits TO
propitiate him, but the better informed
were angered. Though this human vul-
ture was looked on by the ignorant and
Credulous as a supernatural being, the
sentiment OF the more enlightened por-
ton compelled the authorities to act
Notwithstanding they had no jurisdiction
outside the town, and the ghoulish pro-
ceedlngs were revealed in a civilized
court.
Appu Nadoo was charged with steal
Ing Two human corpses. The charge
was not sustained, Tor he had not stolen
thu, Dos tt,. k,l,.- 81 $40. 1910