The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
INSIDE ASIATIC LIFE
CURIOUS THINGS SEEN AND NOTED
BY An oRsERvAxT AMERICAN.
Nahomctnns as Bad az Christfans-
The Indian story OF the Garden OF
Eden-The sacred Monkey Riot.
New york Tribune.


gan haunting the Orient, and the habit
has grown upon him SO that now he finds
himself more at home almost anywhere in
India. Burmah, Siam, Ceylon, Japan or
China than he feels when in the United
States, the land of his birth The oft-fnen-
toned Fascination of the East is a real
1ty so far as he is concerned, and he be-
1ieves it likely to be operative upon any
Intelligent, observant and Hberal-minded
from the Occident who enjoys such
opportunities as he has had Of knowing In
Tinately the people Of Asia, mingiing in
their life and understanding their beliefs
and ways of thinking. Primarily, he was
a commissioned agent for Barnum & Bailey,
ueputed to obtain rare. strange and inter-
esting things for the great show. In that
capacity he had a wide range of experience
with all classes, from peasants to kings.
1t was he who secured m Burmah the fa-
1nous white elephant, and later the queer
representatives OF little-known races includ-
ed in Barnum's chronological Congress-"
But gradually he has gravitated into an
independent position. carrying on negotia-
tions for himself, and, with Cingalese
partner, doing nice little trade in wild
beasts, gems or almost any other product
or the East that commends itself to the
Hcumen of a shrewd American
As may be imagined, Mr. GAYLORD is
one OF the comparatively few travellers who
really see things as they journey-things
free from prejudces, racial or religious
mis- observations have been impartial and
particularly as recounted by him--are ex-
1ainity with which he started out seems
10 have been seriously damaged by contact
with Oriental philosophy, and If called upon
Tor profession OF faith now, 1t is probable
ne would wish to be classed as Buddhist
rather rather as an understanding believer in and
professor of nlodernized Buddhism, however,
He says, as result of his experience:
Al Il found in my dealings with them that
biggest percentage of liars and thieves
among them, were the Mahometans. They
are no better than Christians, and 1t is rare
ly, II ever, safe to trust them. The lowest
class of HindOoS are not much better than
the Mahometans and Christians They have
been oppressed and servile, by reason of
caste restrictions for untold generations,
and not much can be expected from people
las in their case-moral instruction and re-
1igious teaching have actually been for
hidden to them always. But when you get
to the real Brahmin you find a gentleman.
an honorable man. So, too, with the real
Buddhists, and with them goodness is not
the &c Hindoos for caste does not Il find recog
milton among the followers of Gautama
Buddha, who taught against 1t. say real
dhist by birth and not be a good Buddhist
just as one may be born nominally
Christian. yet not be good Christian.
BUDDHISM HAS BEEN MODIFIED.
And Buddhism has changed good deal
In modern times. especially in Siam. Prob
ably In an effort to popularize Buddhas
doctrines and to make his philosophy more
comprehensive by the ignorant multitude
much has been injected into Buddhism as
it is to-day that is fantastic, mythical, SUI
perstitious, almost wealS-minded, one might
say. But the best man in the world is the
one who lives up most closely to the great
Eakyamunrs teachings of right views, right
aims. right thoughts, right words, right be-
havior. right efforts and right ways Of
be just as good, but for his caste, which
makes him narrow minded But the Bud
dhist is liberal. He teaches the brother
hood of man. that we are all alike, children
of one father, and should help one another.
He tries to elevate those below him. Moth
Kindness and love. He will not take life,
even that of venomous serpents. He eats
butchers are Mahometans The best Bud
dhists are in Ceylon. In Burmah and Siam,
particularly the latter, the religion has been
ances, superstitions and inventions that the
pure faith is hardly discernible. India has
100000. which seems like a good many,
but ii is only a small percentage of the stu
Is q THAT Ras
tho birthplace of this religion. and, by the
way, in the legends of both Brahmlns and
Buddhists this island was the original Car
den of Eden.
THE GARDEN OF EDEN STORY.
az must say there are points about their
story of the Garden of Eden. and the events
connected Herewith, that make me like it
a good deal better than do the one we get
in our Bible. I don't say it is any more
probable-or perhaps, should say any less
lmprobable-but it puts our first parents in
a much better light, to my thinking. This
is the way of it, as I got it. The great
Brahm having created the world and made
khe island of Ceylon the most beautiful and
perfectly delightful spot in it, put the first
man and woman there ard told them to re-
main there and not so to the mainland.
which was plainly visible, fifteen or twenty
railes away; The man and woman went
ing nothing for awhile, but then they got
10 looking over at the forbidden mainland
and wondering what hat, Il was s., Ike. i was
good way inland, but. from the distance
as they saw it, seemed to their eyes green
and fair.
And Adam made UP his mind that he
wanted to get over there They strolled
a ure 'n neck Ino Of land that them conneetea
the island with the mainland and ADAM
that is the name they gave him, practically
called Heva, just like our Eve--Adami
was for going right over. But Heva said
where they were and she did not wish to be
disobedient. But Adami insisted and finally
took her on his back and carried her over.
The moment they set foot on the MAIN
hand there was terrible earthquake, an
upheaval and tossing and sinking of the
ground and the little neck of land they
had crossed on disappeared forever. They
were terrified by the awful commotion,
which was all a new experience to them
and Mortified to see what q barren, miser-
able country they had come to- away from
the perfect lovliness of the garden of Eden
Then the great Brahm appeared before
them and 1ectured them, telling them that
in punishment for their sin of disobe-
dience they would have to stay and starve
10 death in the wretched country to which
they had chosen TO come But Adami spoke
UP like a and said, Punish me III
you win, deserve IL. But do not punish
her, for she is not to blame. She did
not want to come and l compelled her
by my snsistence, so ! only am guilty.
Then the Brahm said. Very well, SO be
It. I will let you stay here and starve
hut the woman / will take back to the
garden. But to that Heva made answer:
should be punished, too. If he is to remain
here, TO starve and die, / wish to remain
and die with him. Brahm admired her
courageous affection and the mans honest
frankness and said: Seeing you are both
such good persons, will pardon you this
time. and put you back on the island,
which he did.
Now. to my thinking. that puts our first