Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-15
AN AMERICAN FAKIR.
HE PRESlDES OVER THE HANuMAN TEMPLE IN THE HiMALAYAS.

Has Been Made High hMucl-a-muck Over
 Two Tribes of Sacred Monkeys-He De-
 tests Modern Civilization.
 Tho people hcrcabout, Britishcrs and na- tives, had told mo so much of tho fakir presiding over tho Hanuman temple on the summit of tho Jaiko, in the H Himalayas, that made ready tho other day to climb the 1, 800 feet to the mountain top in com pany of deyout Hindoo.
 We found him sitting in front of tho shrine contemplating tho ia, ,cinating pan oraina beneath him, tho fopes of the 'snow abode" with wGHlerful Simla, that has risen in the desert almost with tho rapidity of an American city, the green landscapes dotted hero and there with an oient ruins, small clumps of mango trees and lonely palms towering in their height, as if on sentinel duty. He is powerful man, in spite of his age and mode of liv- ing, with strong, almost naughty face. Around his hips he wore a white linen scarf, leaving his legs and feet free. A leopard skin was drawn over his shoulder and n turban on his head. Tho fakir an- swered our greetings in good English. He spoke slowly, but his words were we'll chosen.
 II am Charles William do Rousctte' D he said. My father camc from the south of America to Simln in 1885 and engaged in tho mercantile business I was born on board of sailing vessel flying tho stars and stripes. My mother, long since dead, came from the north of tho Union, but my father was of French descent. He was very successful in trade and gave mo tho benefit of what is called by you people an excellent education.
 Among our native house servants was a Sadhu (disciple) who had originally served tho venerable Brahman in this tenn . ple, and who afterward, upon tho death of tho fakir, became his successor. I loved this good man, and whenever had occa- sion to visit him staid for hours in and around his shrino. All cndeavors to in- terest mo in study and in tho life my par ents and friends wcro leading failed longed for the soclusion and freedom of tho hermit, and ono morning. after con sulting with tho holy man on tho noun tain, made good my escape and entered upon my novtiatc, with a staff and beg gar's bowl as my sole capital. became rover, mendicant, anything you choose to call 1t. The good religious folks fed me, and tho heavens were my cover for 12 long years, during which timo visited all the remote valleys and all the temples standing beside tho stupcndous glaciers until my soul was full of wonder and awe at tho work of God.
 ''Twelyo times I worshiped at tho holy sources of the Ganges then to return to Simla, strewn with ashes and clad in my locks, that during my wanderings never had felt shears. My father had died mean while, leaving mo independently rich. But what was money to mel I never went near tho 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. I be- came his disciple, and when he died, years after, he nominated mo his successor.
 ''I detest Europeans, not as individuals, but as members of degraded community. am better off here As far as nationality goes, cer9 9ainly belong to tho so called civilizedk world, but would rather dio and rot Is heathen outcast than submit to tho dQ dQtations and believe in tho teach ings of Lc lying, deceitful English clergy, devotedto all the vices and luxuries ever invented"
 The fakir's business Is to receive tho offerings from tho natives and divide them among tho apes after deducting his own share De Rousette told us the monkeys 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.
 You should see my friends preparing for their wapdering," said tho fakir "No English regiment that ever trod Indian soil moved in such splendid order. They march indeed as if drilled by tho Prus- sians, and iron discipline is maintained in the ranks, may their route bo ever so long"
 Ut is said in tho valley you possess pro gions," remarked.
 II nominate their king, said the fakir, smiling. His majesty does the rest But there they come Look for yourself" /"
 In an instant tho trees and bushes around tho temple were alive with whis- kercd monkeys, leaping from the branches or walking erect on their hind legs with staffs in their hands. Tho "gros' of the army remained on tho terrace of tho tenn pic, whilo ono monkey walked gravcly into tho sanctum. Tho fakir took my arm and led me in too. ''This is the 'Mahar- ascha Sahibk (kingl" he said, "who is privileged to eat in front of my own fire place. Tho prototype of proud dignity, is he not?'
 His majesty sat down on the furs spread upon tho stone floor and took from the hands of the fakir bowl filled with maize and wild ginger. Then he began to cat, slowly and deliberately, paying no atten- tion whatever to his audience. The kings general, called Kotwal, meanwhile kept order without. Ho was a big monkey, nearly as tall and weighty as the "Sahib" himself who stood head and shoulders above the rest of his tribe. The Kotwal marshalod his troops with imposing dis cretion, and only once in awhile was it necessary for him to use tho mighty club he carri9d -iE kis riSiO paw. Inoticed that he punished monkeys who endeavored to put away more than their sharo by send ing them "behind the front" Actual dis obedience was invariably punished by the stick. Not until all ordinary monkeys had been fed did the general receive his meal, which, however, consisted of the best mor- seis the fakiry afforded. When all had fin ished the monkeys ashamed goodby, to which tho fakir made answer, "Jao beta" (Go, my sons).-Simla (India) Cor. Chi cago Inter Ocean.