Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-17
SUPERSTITION, IN INDIA.
beliefs of Native Hindoos Which En-
.ls.a ~. kirN Turn tn Prnff


bciiefs of Native Hlndoos Which Fn-
$50 ~ KRIS Turn tn Profit.
81 Some few years ago n man whom
Know bought an estate near town of
some size, and Immediately OIL his talk
Ing possession was surprised to iind
that he had also taken OH Il strange
( responsibility. At The side of The rond
before his place was II gigantic pcepul
tree. such as the natives believe become
the residents of departed spirits in great
numbers. This is Moliammetlan
rs well as Brahman superstition.
The tree was In charge of a raScally
Old faliir, who was systematically OK
torting fine revenue from the people
Of the community by various devices,
principally vcntriloQuial cOnvcrsat tons
of departed ones with their friends.
lie had hut at the base of the tree.
The protrudinS limbs almost blocked
the roadway and were Il great nui-
sancc. and the nightly noises about the
faliir's hut were IL great annoyance 10
the now owner Of the property. lie
stood it as long as he could, and when
one day another fakir, who was also
ventriloquist and had Il highly trained
monkey, came by lie promised him IL
handsome fee to rid lin OF the fakir
OF the tree. AS long as the fukir was
there to prorhcsy what dreadful things
would happen IL one branch OF the
tree was cut OF broken any attempt TO
clear the roadway would mean n ma
tive revolt.
The second fakir secretly watched
the operations of the first for day or
two and discovered that the Worship
crs who came brought gifts of food,
money and jewels to lay before the
peer OF the tree, tho spirit in charge Of
their friends spirits. The worshipcrs
were then sent to the river to wash in
certain way by the old fukir and he
returned to the scclusion of his hur.
When the worshipcrs returned they
found him still III the hut, but the gifts
were all gone, consumed by the peer
OF the tree, tho fakir said. AS mat
ter of fact he had stolen out and got
them meanwhile.
The second faEir assembled into the
tree. the third day and posted the
monkey. so that tho instant the old
fnkir's back WAS turned the monkey
could swing by his tail and gather
mp all the gifts. This was done many
times till the old faIir was completely
mystilicd and nearly frantic over his
losses. Having secured large uuar-
tity OF booty. the second fakir took
the next step in his plan. He sent
tho monkey aloft on branch OF the
tree that was In plain sight, and when
IL company of wealthy ana influential
worShipcrs gathered to converse with
their dead the second falir by his
ventrlloquism made his monkey de-
nounce the old fakir. making him
laughing stock before the people. The
old man flew into rage. which was II
certain sign that lie WAS not holy, ANA
Mt that moment the owner Of the place
appeared with All ak to clear away
the limbs The old fnkir told him the
peer would strike him dead il he
touched IL twig, but the house owner
broke or Il handful. and when he was
not killed and returned to the people
hundreds ofrupccs' worth OF gifts they
had given the old fnkir, the people
drove the old man from the district
and allowed the house owner TO do as
he pleased with the pccpul tree regard
less OF the number OF ancestors Of
theirs which he glccfully and with
painstaking care chopped UP into bits
each time he trimmed it.-NIctropolitan
Magazine.