Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-19

ANhSuS AA1 Va TUT uttCS OI
north India, They are extremists In
religion and worship the horrid god
dess Kali Ia the form OF images. Their
rites are Interesting and bloody The
rohhing and numbering OF travellers are
taught as Il worthy and obligatory
deed by their strange religious code,
Their worship OF the three eyed god
dess Kali Is conducted so secretly that
no traveller has ever heretofore had
the honor or witnessing the ceremonies,
That distinction was reserved for my.
self.
While at Sakaranpur. between Del.
hi and khelat. ! used to explore the
jungle In every direction In the hope
Of learning something new about these
mysterious Phansigars.
One evening at twilight was max.
ing my way through u lockwood forest
when | came upon a deep circular de-
preston In an open space, in the cen
ter of which was rude stone temple
was sure that this was one OF the
temples of the Thugs, so concealed
myself In the underground to watch,
When the moon rose the depression
in the clearing was suddenly tilled with
hundreds of shadowy. swiftly gliding
forms, Then n door opened In the tenn
pie. exposing brightly illuminated
Image OF the goddess Kali. before
which white ROBBED priest began
barharous incautation. while the tribe
OF worshipers Frustrated themselvs
upon the earth.
! but what interested mo most was
the central eye OF the huge wooden
idol, ! could see by its flashing bril-
/ liancy that It was an immense Ola.
mond Of the purest wateE
After the, rites were concluded the
Thugs slipped away into tho forest as
silently as they had come The priest
stood for few minutes In the door of
the temple, enjoying the cool OF the
night before closing his rather warm
quarters, suddenly dark. 1.-THE shad.
ow slipped down into the hollow,
leaped upon the priest and struck him
down with glittering knife, Then
the murderer sprang at the Image OF
the goddess like cat and pried out
the glowing central eye Of Kali with
his weapon, Straight toward me he
ran with his royal prize. When he
was within two PAGES rose to my feet
and struck him with all my force be-
tween the eyes. He rolled over sense.
less and the magnificent Jewel fell from
his hand That Is the splendid blue
diamond you have Just seep-a stone
worthy OF n monarch's crown"
That's a corking story" said the re-
porter. THAT decanter Is exactly like
the one that John W. Gates always
sets out during an interview"
Pardon me-" said General Ludlow.
for forgetting hospitality In the ex
element OF my narrative. Help your
self"
Here's looking ut you." said the 70.
porter
what | am afraid of now" said the
general, lowering his voice, rs that !
may be robbed OF the diamond, The
Jewel that formed nm eye of their god
dess In their most sacred symbol. Some
how the tribe suspected me OF having
Il, and members OF the band have fol.
lowed me half around the earth They
are the most cunning and cruel fann.
tics In the world. and their religious
vows would compel them to assassin
ate the nnbelieyer who has desecrated
their sacred treasure
"Once In Lucknow three OF their
agents. disguised nv servants In hotel,
endeavored to strange inc with twist.
ed cloth Again, In London, two
Thugs, made up rs street musicians.
climbed into my window at night and
attacked me, They have even tracked
me to this country. My life IL never
safe. A month ago. while | was at a
hotel In the Berkshires. three OF them
sprang upon me from the roadside
weeds saved myself then by my
knowledge OF their customs"
How was that. general2" asked the
reporter
There was u COW grazing nearby
said General Ludlow, n gentle Jersey
COW ran to her side and stood. The
three Thugs ceased their attack, kneli
and struck the ground thrice with their
foreheads Then. after many respect
full salaams. they departed
Afraid the COW would hookf" asked
the reporter
mo: the COW In n sacred animal t.
the Phansigars. Next to their goddess
they worship the COW. They have new
err been known to commit any deed OF
violence In the presence OF the animal
they reverence"
ITS mighty interesting story
said the reporter. III you don't mind
I'll take another drink. and then few
notes"
II will Join you" said General Lud
low. with courteous wave OF his
hand
III were you" advised the reporter
"Id take the sparkler to Texas Get on
a COW ranch there. and the Pharlsees"-
"Phansigars." corrected the general
"Oh. yes: the fancy guys would run
up against u long horn every time they
made a break"