The Washington herald., 1915-09-26
The Priest Of Buddha;;
A Tale Of Ceylon
By G. s. GOODMAN,

Last year. while on a visit to Ceylon
my cousin. who has lived in the East
Indies since he was boy. told me the
following strange tale:
Last month, having paid the coolies
upon the various sections of the main
road to Katichou. 1 returned the heavy
wooden cash box TO my headquarters,
and placing some 700 rupees due to con-
tractors at Mattagam in my breast
pocket, set out from Dibile on the bride
path which leads to that place. at about
) p. m. The total distance to Mattagam
was twenty-five miles. 1t was thus out
Of the question to reach there that even
ing. but I had determined to pass the
night at the Anbulam. a rough hating
place for travellers.
Surrounding the building on either hand
were several sheds with thatched roofs
and mud walls. built for the convenience
of the pilgrims. who at the various fes-
tivities travelled to worship at the famous
Dagoba OF Mattagam AS I approached.
the whole was flooded by the moonlight.
the sombre outlines of the Ambulam Civ
ing 1t forbidding and gloomy aspect. It
!, was a lovely spot in the heart of the
jungle. eleven long miles of continuous
trees between it and the cart road.
To my astonishment there were no
signs of my servants. whom I had sent
ON ahead 1t at once flashed upon me
that they had lost their way-an easy
mistake TO make among the many wind
ings and offshoots of jungle path.
Having tethered the horse in the stall
at the side assembled the steps slowly.
the corners, turned just in time to see
figure spring up from long, low stool
The mans sudden appearance gave me
a start. but upon my calling out to him
in Tamil he approached and stood in the
light of the moon. where I had a full
view of him. He was nothing but one of
the ordinary caste of Buddhist priests
one sees so frequently. with COM
pletely shaven head, snaky cleaning
eyes, and the vile cunning expression
which characterizes them all. He
salaamed deeply, but being a Sing
halee and not understanding my Ia
mil. / was unable to obtain any in
formation regarding my servants. even
; if he had chanced to know of their
whereabo
spread my bed in the corner most
remote from my unwelcome compan-
ion. his glittering eyes followed my
every movement.
Ian
tern and placed it above himself upon
the low wall. by the light of which
he was pretending to read. Our eyes
met. and his two sinister orbs drop
ped below the level of the top of the
book There was something in them
that made my skin creep: why, l
could not explain. Having taken a last
look at my horse. l arranged my
scant accommodate as well as cir
cumstances would allow, with my
back to the wall facing the priest.
Heavy clouds had swept up from
the horizon obscuring moon and stars.
and all without was inky darkness,
The priest sat in the center of a cir
Gle of light. which was vivifed by
the brightness of his yellow robe,
making an unpleasant contrast with
the b,ackness around and behind. A
dim, miserable light pervaded the rest
of the place
Ny wandering thoughts again be-
came attracted by the priest: the book
was slowly and cautiously lowered. !
and once more met the gaze above.
Again that something in it made me
shiver. Although he could not see
whether my eyes were opened or /
closed in my dark corner. his, Jet black |
pupils or their white grounds seemed |
70 be looking straight at and through |
them into my inmost being; the ra1s- !
ing Of the book was as the shutting
cut of binding light.
again lay watching the Pickering
shadow of the huge black cross-beams
aud listening to the impatient stamp
of the horse, the gentle falling and
splashing Of the water below, with |
its wavering irregularities, caused by |
the winds. the buzzing Of the insects. |
and listening to those distant sounds, |
until the fatigue Of the day overcom- |
ing me. my eyes closed with weari- |
ness. |
opened them again suddenly to |
find the priest sitting bolt upright. |
III evil gaze concentrated upon me \
with an intensity that held me SPELL |
bound I felt that I wished to shout |
but was powerless to do so. The place !
seemed hlled with a terrible atmo-
sphere Of silence great inexplica-
BILE ever-increasing silence. making |
the sounds without seem as though I
outside my consciousness. which seem
ed to have convereed into that yellow
circle from the center Of which gleam-
ed those taleful eyes.
I strove to hide them with my
Bba rds. but the slightest movement
WAS beyond my control. Terror gained
/ complete mastery: i distinctly felt
the hairs of my head bristling. The
No. At nrst the chief feature Of that
n,,Kntns stare. suddenly changed 70
: i6ok Of gratifed malignity such as
r,tcnt have lit up the countenance af
sorne ancient priest as his hendish
sr.tnS invented q new and excruciating |
torture for . special enemy.
He moved, just in time IT seemed