The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-01-10
CONCLUDED FROM LAST PAGE J

taught as 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 of 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 l was max
ing my way through teakwood forest.
when l came upon 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 l concealed
myself in the underground to watch.
when the moon rose the depression
, in the clearing was suddenly filed with
hundreds of shadowy. swiftly gliding
forms. Then a door opened in the tenn
pie. exposing brightly illuminated
image OF the goddess Kali. before
which white robed priest began a
barbarous Incarnation. while the tribe
of worshipers Frustrated themselvs
upon the earth.
But what interested me most was
the central eye of the huge wooden
idol. could see by its flashing bril-
liancy that it was an immense dia-
mond of the purest water.
AFTER the rites were concluded the
Thugs slipped away into the 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 seen-a stone
worthy of monarch's crown"
That's 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 at you." said the re.
porter.
"What I am afraid of now said the
general. lowering his voice. us that
may be robbed of the diamond. The
jewel that formed an eye of their god.
dess Is their most sacred symbol. Some
how the tribe suspected me of having
1t. and members of the band have fol.
lowed me half around the earth. They
are the most cunning and cruel fana.
ties in the world. and their religious
vows would compel them to assassin.
ate the unbeliever who has desecrate0
their sacred treasure.
/, Once In Lucknow three Of theil
agents, disguised as servants in hotel
endeavored to strangle me with twist.
ed cloth. Again. In London. two
: Thugs. made up as street musicians,
climbed into my window at night and
attacked me. They have even tracked
me to this country. My life Is never
safe. A month ago. while I was at
, , hotel In the Berkshires. three of them
sprang upon me from the roadside
weeds. I saved myself then by my
knowledge of their customs"
How was that. general?" asked the
reporter
There was a COW grazing nearby"
said General Ludlow. "a gentle Jersey
cow. ran to her side and stood. The
three Thugs ceased their attack. knelt
and struck the ground thrice with their
foreheads. Then, after many respect
full salaams, they departed"
Afraid the COW would hook?" asked
the reporter
mo: the COW is sacred animal to
the Phansigars. Next to their goddess
they worship the COW. They have new
er been known to commit any deed of
violence in the presence Of the ANNA.
they reverence"
ITS mighty interesting story"
said the reporter IF you don't mind
I'll take another drink. and then few
notes"
Il will join you." said General Lud-
low. with a courteous wave of his
hand.
IF l were you." advised the reporter,
I'D take the sparkler to Texas. Get on
a COW ranch there. and the Pharisees"-
"Phansigars." corrected the general.
"Oh. yes; the fancy guys would run
up against long horn every time they
made break"
General Ludlow closed the diamond
case and thrust 1t into his bosom,
THE spies of the tribe have found
me out In New York." he said, straight
ening bis tall figure I'm familiar
with the East Indian cast of counte-