The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-09-05
SOUND ASLEEP A WEEK.
An Indian Fakir Rests Seven Days in
Hypnotic Slumber


of India. These men go into a sleep
which lasts for meny 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 number of them visited
England and demonstrated their power
the British scolfed at them, though
some of the best physicians of England
vouched for the geinlineness of the
tests. Since that time, however, the
singular ability of the falirs has been
recognized, and they are no longer re-
garded as impostors.
During the recent Hungarian millen-
NAL exposition at Buda-Pesth fine OPP
pertunity was presented to learn as
much about the falxirs and their re-
markable industry as they will permit
anyone not of their own caste to know
The management of the 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 he transported
in that state to the exposition, where
he was to be awakened. He was to re-
main asleep week.
The preparations for the long sleep
were simple. The fal<irs sat down to-
gether to meal which consisted only
of little milk. That they drank in the
dining-room of the MOTEL, in the pres
ence of their attendants and others in
tercsted in the performance.
When they had drank the milk they
| began what at first seemed conversation
in their mother tongue. 1t soon deyel-
oped into 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 tie journey to Buda-Pestb was
begun withdrew from the room and ar
rayed himself in the garment which he
was to wear until he should again
awaken. 1t was a loose. flowing gar
ment Of light silk that enyeloped his
whole form and reached to his feet.
When attired in that he reentered the
dining-room and greeted those about
him in English
In niche in one corner of the room
rested a coffin made entirely of glass.
The glass was thick and heavy and cal
eulated to withstand the strain of the
journey. The top was removed from
the coffin, the falir entered it and
stretched himself on the bottom on his
back
One of the attendants wrapped the
fallir's legs about with a silk cover. The
fallir fixed his gaze on the tip of his nose
and continued to gaze in that direction.
1t made him appear cross-eyed.
At that point one of the other fakirs
stepped beside the coffir 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 the
journey.
The coffin containing the sleeping
fakir, with the attendants and all of
those interested, journed together from
London to Buda-Pesth. The fact that
that faltir was coming was well adver-
tised by the management Of the exposi-
ton, and consequently great interest
was manifested by the public. crowd
saw the coffin taken from the train and
followed il to the largest theater in the
city, where, it had been announced, the
fakir would be awakened.
Within few hours and in the pres
ence of great throng the coffin was
,, opened. A physician thrust needle
into the arm of the fakir 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 a 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
falsirs approached the glass case and
murmured something in his native
tongue which sounded like a prayer.
He explained subsequently, that his MUIR
murings were the suggestions that have
to be made for awakening one in the
cataleptic condition of his fellow-fakir.
AS the murmurinR continued it was
noticed that the chest of the sleeping
faltir 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 to a remarkable degree. The muir
muring by the other fakir went on
and the pupils grew slowly larger When
they had regained their normal size
the extreme rigidity had left the body.
The sleeper, not yet altogether out of
the condition in which he had been for a
week, groaned aloud. Then his lower
e Jaw began to move and by degrees he re-
a gained consciousness, and after awhile
was given a glass of milk.
e He complained of pains in the back
: and asked to be lifted from the glass
6 coffin. His request was complied with,
and it made him groan so that he could
r be heard all over the building. 1t was
2 fully hale an hour later before he was
r able to lift himself. He told the au-
4 dience that while asleep he had been in
e the other world, where he had heard
excellent music and felt extremely well.
= The name of the fakir who under
went the experiment is Bhim jen-Prat-
a lo,- He is % wears old and is n native