The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-22
\ AMERICAN FAKIR.
|. ooespes OVER THE HANomAN
/ ,o,e INTHE HiMALAYAS.

penetrate"
=. Been Made High Mu'h.a-m'ox over
~ rrlDes of Sacred Monkeys-He De-
uodern civilization.
.on,o hereabout, Britishers and ma
TneNyst ,old me so much of the fakir
'e' ,, n"r over the Hanuman temple on
'ssl ummit of the Jaiko, In the Himaiayas'
es un'nd ready the other day to climb
al . l%" feet TO the mountain top In COM
~ devout Hindoo.
bny u md him sitting In front of the
We ,oOontemplating the fascinating pam
hrnc V Sonooth him, the slopes of the
ana Ohodc {" with wonderful Simla,
'DOT has risen in the desert almost with
.nidity of an American city, the green
,0 up dotted here and there with an
Du'. .ins small clumps of mango trees
sn, ,i '" nalms towering In their height,
pa 'Vn' :entinel duty. He is powerful
w., snjte of his age and mode of liv-
ah I 81 a strong, almost naughty face.
Va his hips he wore white linen
" leaving his legs and feet free. A
a u.,d akin was drawn over his shoulder
y o. turban on his head. The fakir an
~ MA our greetings in good English. He
Sts slowly, but his words were well
hOen, ,,,,,, !, p.... -
aid "My father came from the south
America to Simla in 1885 and engaged
,bo mercantile business. l was born on
,a,S Of a sailing vessel flying the stars
"a stripes My mother, long since dead,
So from the north of the Union, but my
'.bor was of French descent. He was
..r successful in trade and gave me the
sre0t Of what is called by you people an
,cellent education.
~Among our native house servants was
sadbu (disciple) who had originally
s,vod the venerable Brahman in this tenn
Ia and who afterward, upon the death Of
~ fakir became his successor. / loved
N. cood man. and whenever l had occa-
ian 10 visit him | staid for hours in and
Ound his shrine. All endeavors to in
crest me in study and in the life my par
rts and friends were leading failed. l
Onped for the seclusion and freedom of
he hermit and one morning, after con-
Milling with the holy man on the noun
ain. made good my escape and entered
mon my noyitiate, with staff and beg
mrs bowl as my sole capital. / became a
Ner mendcant, anything you choose
call it, The good religious folks fed
me- and the heavens were my cover for IL
Opg years, during which time Visited all
he remote valleys and all the temples
handing beside the stupendous glaciers
ntil my soul was full of wonder and awe
h the work of God.
Twelve times l worshiped at the holy
Uurces of the Ganges, then to return to
kimla strewn with ashes and clad in my
Ocks, that during my wanderings never
bad felt shears. My father had died mean
while, leaving me independently rich. But
what was money to me? l never went near
he official administering my fortune.
lier learning of my fathers death pro-
seded at once to this temple and took my
place at the feet of the holy man. I be-
ame his disciple, and when he died, years
piter, he nominated me his successor.
~ detest Europeans, not as individuals,
but as members of degraded community.
am better of here. AS far as nationality
goes, certainly belong to the so called
civilized world, but l would rather die
bnd rot as heather outcast than submit
10 the dctations and believe in the teach
ngs Of the lying, deceitful English clergy,
devoted to all the vices and luxuries ever
Invented"
The fakir's business Is to receive the
offerings from the natives and divide them
Pmong the apes after deducting his own
Fhare. De Rousette told us the monkeys
pf the Simla region are divided in two
groups, living apart from each other In
uiherent districts of the forest, which they
leave only at the periods of migration, re-
rurrng every third year.
You should see my friends preparing
lOr their wandering" said the fakir. mo
English regiment that ever trod Indian
fOll moved in such splendid order. They
larSA indeed as if drilled by the Prus-
sans and iron discipline is maintained in
'neranks, may their route be ever so long,"
III is said in the valley you possess pro-
oielous influence over the four handed le-
glons, | remarked.
Il nominate their king" said the fakir,
Emllng. His majesty does the rest.
oue there they come. Look for yourself. I"
Al an instant the trees and bushes
aiounu the temple were alive with whis-
Aereu monkeys, leaping from the branches
VI walking erect on their hind legs, with
sauS IN their hands. The ''gros" of the
army remained on the terrace Of the tenn
ple, while one monkey walked gravely
'u'o lhe sanctum. The fakir took my arm
auu leu me in too. This is the 'Mahar-
oSCna sahib' (king)," he said, 'who is
p,,Nneged to eat in front of my own fire.
S,aCc' The prototype of proud dignity, is
Ills majesty sat down on the furs spread
Spun the stone floor and took from the
aasus Oh the fakir a bowl filled with maize
s s,0 wiz ginger Then he began to eat,
tO WY ana deliberately, paying no atten.
on Whatever to his audience The king s
senerai called Kotwal, meanwhile kept
W. without. He was a big monkey,
Iiy as tall and wei9hty as the "Sahib'
~ who stood head and shoulders
Nv ~ 'he rest of his tribe The Kotwal
c ro.slaicd his troops with imposing dis
no Slon' and only once in awhile was II
no iF Tor him to use the mighty clul
bs s s"ii'u IN his right paw. Noticed thai
NM punished monkeys who endeavored t.
inc . 1""y moro than their share by send
obeN mem behind the front" Actual dis
stiot Nn " was invariably punished by thu
boon "' =. Not until all ordinary monkeys hat
Will i'E uiu the general receive his meal
sels ~ however consisted of the best NOR
| ishos ,"o iaGiry Afforded When all had fin
whit .ne monkeys salaamcd goodby, t.
"nich the fakir made answer ".Jao beta'