The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
THE ORDEAL ~ BAMBOO RODS.
An Extraordinary Indian Ceremony
for Their Catching.


From the Madras Weekly Mail
The following extraordinary narrative
of facts as they occurred. and which, we
are informed. were witnessed and can be
testified to by members of three house
holds occupying a large house in Bentinck
street, Calcutta are so remarkable that it
is worth the while of any scientist TO test
them personally, as this can be easily
done on the occasion Of any theft by do
meStcs in a house It may be added that
every servant in Calcutta is a lively be-
lever in its efficacy, and, if a thief at
once confesses. A Brahmin is the worker
of these marvels. lie is well known in
Calcutta, and does not profess to work out
his method of theft detection for money,
but leaves ii to those who employ him
to reward him II they think fit. IT is
said that this is readily done. and that he
makes a good thing out of it. A cook in
the service of a family in the locality al
luded to intrusted his nephew with a large
sum Of money to keep in deposit The
nephew alleged that he placed the money
in an earthen pot, which he buried. The
location of the exact spot was confided TO
a friend. Shortly after this the cook was
informed by his nephew that the pot and
money had disappeared. With the neph-
ews consent the Brahmln was sum-
moned to discover the thief and the fol-
lowing is a bare narration of the extra
ordinary procedure he adopted, and usu-
ally adopts, in all such cases. Accompa-
MED by an aide, he comes TO the house,
provided with two bamboo rods, about six
teen feet long and an inch and a half in
diameter He also has with him number
of fresh peepul leaves, a cocOanut some
rice and some vermilion ana coWries;
fresh earthen dish has 10 be provided by
the person who summons him, as well as
a stool.
All the servants in the house are sum-
moned, they are made 10 stand In haf
circle, and their names are written or each
leaf, and these leaves with one painted
with the vermiiion are placed in the dish,
which in its turn Is placed on the stool.
TWO utter strangers are then made TO hold
the bamboo RODS, one in each hand, opDo-
site each other, with their elbows far be-
hind their hips, so that they can have lit
tie or no influence in turning or bending
the rods. Now comes the strange part Of
the proceedings. At the Brahmin's call Of
each name the bamboo rods la the FIRST
instance rise together and form n semi
circle below, gradually come together pick
UP the leaf containing the name called out
and throw 1t out of the dish. This strange
process is repeated tin the name Of the
thief, as alleged, is called when they both
seize the leaf, hft it up and only olsen
gage 1t at the call of the Brahmin, who
cntreats the rods 10 let the leaf 90. TO all
appearance the two men who ho.d the rods
make no effort whatever The thing is
uone IN such an extraordinary fashion as
to exceed belief In fact, reasonable hu-
man being cannot believe 1t tin he has wit
messed II, and when he has done so his
amazement is all the greater. Here is, in
deed, a marvel for the scientific TO puzzle
over. The two rods bend, come together,
and seize upon the rGhC names as they
are called out, and then throw them aside
except IN the case Of the thieI. In this in
stance the nephew Confessed 10 the theft.
and a number of his relatives who had
come from up-counry to witness the or
deal made restitution.