The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-05
THE FAKIR
HE PReSIDES OVER THE HaNuMAN
TEMPLE iNTfE HiMAlAYAS.
Has Penetrated Cccultism Sc Far That Ee
Has Been Made Eixh NucS-a-r"..k Over
Two Tribes of Sacred Monkeys-He De-
eests Modern Civilization.


Has Been Made Hixh ,Iucs-.-~-..k Over
Two Tribes of Sacred Monkeys-He De-
tests Modern Civilization.
Tie people hereabout. Britishers and na-
tivss, hao told NE so much OF the fasir
presiding over the Hartman temple on
tie summit of 5he Jait.o, in the Hi,nalsyas,
that / made ready the otter day TO climb
the 1, 500 feet &c the mountain top n COM
pany Of q desout Hindoo.
We found him sitting in front of the
shrine contemplating the fascinating pan
oraina beneath him, tho slopes of the
''snow abode" with wonderful, Simla,
that has risen in the desert almost with
the rapidity OF an American city, the green
landscapes dotted here and there with an
cient ruins, small clumps OF mango trees
and lonely palms towering in their height,
as il on sentinel duty. He is = powerful
man. IN spite of his age and mode of liv-
ing, with q strong, almost naughty face.
Around his hips he wore q white linen
scarf leaving his legs and feet free. y
leopard skin was drawn over his shoulder
AID turban On his head. The fakir an
sVvered our greetings in good English. he
spoke slowly, but his words were well
chosen.
i am Charles William de Rousette, -
ne said. Aly father came from the south
of America to Simla in 1885 and engaged
in the mercantile business. was born on
board of q sailing vessel flying the stars
and stripes. Ny mother, long since dead.
came from the north OF the Union, hut my
father was o. French descent. he was
c,.l il, 40
benefit of what is called BY you people an
excellent education.
among our native house servants was
a Sadhu (disoiple) who had originally
served the venerable Brahman in this tenn
pie, and who afterNard, upon the death of
the fakir, became his SUCCESSOR. 1 loved
this good man, and Whenever i had occa-
sion 20 visit him ] staid for hours in and
around his shrine All endeavors to in
terest me in study and in the life my paI
ents and friends were leading failed.
longed for thu seclusion and freedom OF
the hermit, and enc morning. after con-
sulting with the holy man on the noun
tain, / made good my escape and entered
upon my novitiate, with staff and beg
CARS bowl as my sole capital. / became a
rover, "a Inendicant anything you choose
to call it. The good religious folks fed
me-, and the heavens were my cover FOR i2
long years, daring which time visited al
the remote valleys and all the temples
standing beside the stupendo1s glaciers
until my soul was full of wonder and awe
st the work Of God.
Twelve times worshiped at the holy
sources OF the Gauges, then to return TO
Simia, strewn with ashes and clad in my
locks, that during my wanderings never
had felt shears. My father had died mean
while, leaving me indepe ndently rich. But
what was money TO ME! / never went near
the official administering my fortune.
After learning Of my fathers death pro-
ceeded at once TO this temple and took my
place at the feet OF the holy man. ! be-
came his disciple, and when he died, years
after, he nominated me his successor.
Il detest Europeans, not as individuals,
but as members Of degraded community.
L am better off here As far as nationality
goes, certainly I belong TO the so called
civilized world, but l would rather die
and rot as a heather outcGst than submit
to the dictations and believe in the teach
ings of the lying, Geceitful English clergy,
devoted 20 all the vices and luXuries ever
invented.
The fakir's business is to receive the
offerings from the natives and divide them
among tho apes after dcductipg his own
share De Rousette told Us the monkays
of the Simla region are divided in two
groups, living apart from each other in
different districts Of the forest, which they
leave only at the periods of migration, re-
curing every third year.
Il. :. -. a. -,
for their wandering" said the fakir. ''No
English regiment that ever trod Indian
soil moved in such splendid order. They
march indeed as if drilled by the PrUs-
SLAMS, and iron discipline is maintained in
the ranks, may their route he ever so long"
1T is said in the valley you possess pro-
digious influence over the four handed To-
gions," l remarked.
Il nominate their king" said the fakir,
smiling. His majesty does the rest.
But there they como. Look for yourself"
In an instant the tees and bushes
around the temple were alive with whis-
kered monkeys, leaping from the branches
or walking erect Oh their hind legs, with
stats in their hands. The ''gros" Of the
army remained on the terrace Of the tom
pie, while one monkey walked .gravely
into Jhe sanctum. The fakir took my arm
and led me in too This is the 'Mah1r-
ascha Sahib' tkingl," he said, ''who Ia
privileged to cat in front of my own fire.
place. The prototype OF proud dignity, is
he not?"
His majesty sat down On the fuTs spread
upon the stone floor and took from the
hands of the fakir "a bowl filed with maize
and wild ginger. Then. he began to cat,
slowly and deliberately, paying no etten-
ton whatever to his audience. The kings
d. general, F" called Kotval, meanwhile kept
order without Ee vas a big monkey,
nearly rs tall and seighty "a the "Sahtb"
himself, who stood head ana shoulders
above the rest of his tribe. The hotwaI
marshaleJ his troops with imposing dis
cro5ion, and only once IN awhile vas y
necessary for him 20 use tie nighty club
nc carried III MS right paw. Noticed that
be punished monkeys WHO enGeavored %
nut away mcs- than tneiF share by send
ing them behind the front =" Actual dis
obedience was Invariably punished - the
stick. Not uD.il all ordinary monkeys had
been fed did the general receive his meal
which, however. consisted Of the oest NOR
sells tie fakiry Afforded. When al had I'm
ished, the monkeys salasDed eooGby, 70
which the fakir made answer, Jao beta
jGc, my ons).-SiIala (India) Cor. Chi
caso late. Ocean