The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-11-03
ignorance of Hindoo ideas as to tc
sacredneSS Of sacred animals.

f! Such riots as this are common
enough in India during tie winter
tourist season, and it is indeed mar.
Vicious that many Americans and Eng
lishmen are not slain. The trouble oc-
ours especially in Benares. the most
fanat:cal city in the empire, and pos
siDly in the whole world. The lIinIoo
| Mecca. as it has been called, is the
headquarters Of Brahmanism and the
chief stronghold Of the animal worship
which distinguishes that cult. There
are sacred animals all over India, but
nowhere else are there so many Of
them as in Benares, and nowhere else
are they held in so much reverence and
allowed so much license.
| Anglo-Indians are often contemptu-
GUS of natives and native superstitions,
but no Anglo-Indian would care to
strike sacred bull In Benares. Kim
did it In Lahore. In Benares it would
be exceedingly unwise even to swear
at the holy beast in the presence of
natives who might understand the
oaths.
1.-THE bulls are especially sacred"
wrote Professor James Ricalton In a
letter to the author Of this article, aft
er he had just returned from tour Of
India, in which he secured some ex.
tremely interesting photographs Of va
rious sacred animals. "They line the
sidewalks of the city, enter sweetmeat
and grocery stores and help themselves
to the choicest articles without him
drance. They enjoy the freedom Of
every city. If bullock chooses to lie
down in narrow lane where he oils
the entire space, no pious Hindoo will
pass that way while the sacred beast
is taking his rest.
1.-THE indulgence extended to these
zebu bovines is wonderful. They enter
the most sacred precincts Of the tenn
pies. They sre 50 pampered with
dainties and luxuries that they become
burdened with fat"
Although the Ordinance bull is the
most sacred animal i'll India, he has
many competitors. There are more
gods than worshipers in India. Beast
worship seems to be natural to the
Hindoo, and it is certainly one of the
foundation stones of Brahmanism. Fol
lowers Of the purer forms of that faith
may say that the sacred beasts are
only symbols and not gods, but re-
ligion must be judged by the effect
which it has on the mass Of it's
devotees. The monkey, the crocodile,
the crane, the ibis, the cobra and other
serpents are among the creatures that
share with the bull the reverence of the
people. if not their worship. Benares
is the headquarters Of all the numer-
GUS cults of Brahmantsm that especial
~ worship one or other of these sacred
beasts.
One Of the hottest places in Benares
is the Doorga Khond. or monkey tenn
pie. The monkey comes next to the
Brahmanee bull In order Of sanctity.
An English resident in the city assured
the writer that anybody who killed or
even Ill treated a monkey would run g
! very good chance of being torn to
pieces by the fanatical natives. That
Is not generally true of India, for I
| -" 'S CSSA AAAOAhCyo hlAACu lucIC WILL
out any trouble resulting, but believe
1t is true of Benares.
At the Doorga Khond hundreds of
monkeys are kept as pets by the
priests. They run about all over the
place just as they please and are never
Gagged or restrained in any way. AS a
consequence they are jolly, good TEN.
pered little fellows, quite unlike the
savage, sulky brutes you see in an
American zoo. It is mistake to sup
pose that monkeys nature is essen
TALLY vicious.
The temple is simply a large paved
yard surrounded by high walls or
which there are lot Of wooden boxes
and houses In which the monkeys live
There is a big tank for the monkeys te
drink from and swim in, II they choose
to do 30, and huge banyan tree givei
them all the gymnastic exercise they
want Visitors are welcomed, but they
Z, are expected to buy food for the mon
keys from the priests at an exorbitan
price. As soon as they get inside til,
monkeys mob them, climbing all Owe
Them, snatehing the food from theil
hands and then. scamperin9 Of to ea