The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-12
SOUND ASLEEP A WEEK.
An Indian Fakir Rests Seven Days. 4
HypnOtic SIumbef.

An Indian Fakir Rests Seven Days In
Hypnotic SIumber.
To the student of hypnotism and
Iuto- suggestion there is no more inter.
esting study than the sleeping fakirs
of India These men go into a sleep
which lasts for many days. For years
their ability to do it was doubted by
all Europe, where the fact of the
strange accomplishment was first made
known in a general way.
Even when q number of them visited
England and demonstrated their power
the British scofied at them, though
some of the best physicians of England
| youched for the genuineness of the
tests. Since that time, however, the
singular ability of the fnkirs has been
recognized, and they are no longer re-
garded as impostOrs.
During the recent Hungarian millen-
NAL exposition at Buda-Pesth fine OPP
much about the falsirs and their re-
markable industry as they will permit
anyone not Of their own caste to know.
The management of tho exposition en-.
gagged three Of them.
The fakirs were in London at the
time Of their engagement, and arrange.
ments were made with one of them
to enter the cataleptic sleep before
leaving London, and to be transported
in that state to the exposition, where
he was to be awakened. He was 70 re.
main asleep week.
The preparations for the long sleep
were simple. The fakirs sat down to-
gether to a meal which consisted only
OF little milk. That they drank in the
6ining-room Of the hotel, in the pres.
ence Of their attendants and others in
terested in the performance.
When they had drank the milk they
began what at first seemed conversation
In their mother tongue. It soon devel.
oped into a monotonous singing. When
through they addressed the guests
about the table. proposing toast in
good English.
Then the one who was to go to sleep
before the Journey to Buda-Pesth was
begun withdrew from the room and ar
rayed himself in the garment which lie
was to wear until he should again
awaken. It was q loose, flowing gar
ment o. light silk that enveloped his
whole form and reached to his feet
When attired in that he reentered the
6ining-room and greeted those about
him in English.
In q niche in one corner of the room
rested a coffin made entirely Of glass
The glass was thick and heavy and cal
culated to Withstand the strain of the
journey. The top was removed from
the coffin, the fakjr entered It and
stretched himself on the bottom on hi.
back.
One of the attendants wrapped the
fakir's legs about with silk cover. The
fakir fixed his gaze on the tip of his nose
and continued to gaze in that direction.
1t made him appeer cross-eyed.
At that point one of the other fakirs
stepped beside the coffiE and laid his
hands on the forehead of the one within.
The eyes Of the fakir in the glass coffin
began to stare, and in about two min
utes he was in deep sleep. Then the
coffin was closed and prepared for tie
journey.
The coffin containing the sleeping
f.kir, with the attendants and all 81
those interested, journed together from
london to Buda-Pesth. The fact that
that fakir was coming was well adver.
tised by the management of the exposi.
ton, and consequently great interest
was manifested by the public. A crowd
saw the coffin taken from the train and
followed it to the largest theater in the
city, where, it had been announced, the
falSir would be awakened.
Within few hours and in the pres
ence OF great throns the coffin was
opened. A physician thrust a needle
into the arm of the faltir without elicit
ing any sign OF life on the part of the
sleeper. Several other tests, not so Sc
we're, were made to ascertain If the Hin
doc were really in cataleptic state or
only shamming. The entire company
was agreed that there was no shamming
about it.
When the means employed had failed
TO arouse the sleeper ono of the other
salSirs approached the glass case and
,nurmured something In bis native
tongue which sounded like a prayer
BE explained subsequently, that his muir
murings were the suggestions that havo
TO be made for awakening one in the
oataleptic condition of his fellow-fakir.
AS the murmuring continued it was
noticed that the chest of the sleeping
fakir began to heave. Then he was
found to be breathing. though the respi-
ration was so irregular as TO be spas
modic. At the same time the arms and
legs were still rigid.
The pupils of the eyes could not be
seen at that time. they having contract
ed 70 a remarkable degree. The muir
muring by the other fakir went on
and the pupils grew slowly larger. When
ley had regained their normal size
ihe extreme rieidity had left the body.
The sleeper. not vet altogether out Of
the condition in which he had been for
week. groened aloud. Then his lower
Jaw began 10 move snd by degrees he re-
eained consciousness, and after awhile
vas given glass of milk.
lie complained Of pains in the back
end asked TO be lifted from the glass
coffin. His request ~as complied with,
and IT made him groan so that he could
oe heard all over the building. IL was
evlly hale an hour later before he wss
able to lift himself. He told the au-
c;enee that while asleep he had been in
che other world, where he had heard
excellent music and felt extremely well.