Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-10-04

Belicfs Of Native HindooS which Fn-
KRIS Turn To- Profit.


Beiicfs Of Native Hindoo~ Which Fn-
KRIS Turn To PROFIT.
Some few years ago man whom I
know bought an estate near town of
some size. and Immediately on hi, talk
ing possession was surprised % aud
that he had also taken ou "a strange
responsibility. At thc side 81 the road
before his place was "a gigantic pecpul
tree. such as the natives believe become
the residents Of departed spirits iu great
numbers. This Is Nohammclan
as well as Brahmau superstition.
The tree was I'm charge OF raScaily
old fakir who wJ> syS;cmaucauv OK
tortiEg "a uuc revenue from the people
OF the community 10y various devices.
principally ventriloQu.al conversations
Of departed ones with their friends.
He had a hut az the base of the tree.
The protrudug limbs almost blocked
the roadway and were great uui-
sance, and the nightly noises about the
falIir'S hut were a great annoyance 10
the now owner OF the property lie
stood IL as long as hC could. and when
one day another fakir. who was also
n vontriloQuist and had highly trained
monkey. came 10y hc promised him a
handsome Zee 10 rid him OF The fakir
OF the tree. rs long rs the fakir was
there 90 propheSy what dreadful things
would happen if one branch of the
tree was cut or broken amy attempt 10
clear the roadway would mean a ma
tive revolt
The second fakir secretly watched
the operations of the first for day or
two and discovered that the worship
ers who came brought gifts OF food.
money and jewels 10 lay before the
peer of the tree. the spirit in charge OF
their friends spirits. The worShipcrs
were then sent 10 the river TO wash in
certain way by the Old faklr and he
returned 10 the sccluSiou of his hur
When the worShipcrS returned they
found him still i'm the hut. bur the gifts
were all gone, consumed 10y the peer
Of the tree the fakir said. As mat
ter of fact lie had stolen ont and got
them meanwhile.
The second fakir ascended into the
tree the third day and posted the
monkey. 50 that the instant the old
fakir's back was turned the monkey
could swing 10y his tail and gather
UP all the gifts. This was done many
times till the old falSir was completely
mystifed and nearly frantic over his
losses Having secured large guam
tity Of booty, the second fakir took
the next step in his plan. lie sent
the monkey aloft on branch of the
tree that was In plain sight. and when
company OF wealthy and influential
wOrShiperS gathered TO converse with
their dead the second fakir. 10y his
ventrilOQuiSm. made his monkey de
nOunce the old fakir making him a
laughing stock before the people. The
old man flew into a rage which was a
certain sign that he was not holy. and
ut that moment the owner Of the place
appeared with an AK 10 clear away
the limbs. The old fakir told him the
peer would strike him dead if he
touched a twig, but the house owner
broke OF handful. and when he was
not killed and returned to the people
hundreds Of rupees worth OF gifts they
had given the old fakir. the people
drove the old man from the district
and allowed the house owner to do as
he pleased With the pcSpul tree regard
less Of the number of ancestors of
theirs which he g,oefuuy and with
pamstaking care chopped up into bits
each. time lac trimmed -MetrOpolitan
Magazine