The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-12

Of my state visit to bis court II was one
Of q pair that had been presented to the
Nshsrsiah's ancestor by the priests Of the
great temple at Jagroon for saving their
sacred edifice from destruction In war.
The Maharajah told me that II ever
showed the moonstone to any priest OF his
religion 'ha would rescue and befriend me.
After the Princess and myself had land
ed In Calcutta wa dressed ourselves in ma
tive fashion and organized caravan OF
native attendants. We hired camels, ma
tive servants and an Interpreter. Then we
started On our wanderings, travelling far
from the railroads and the places fire.
Queated by Europeans.
One OF the FIRST places we visited were
the caves Of Chandrakootra, hidden in the
depths of a dense forest near the banks
Of the Ganges. These caves are inhabitedH
by some Of the most remarkable devotees
Of the Hindu religion, who by coneentrat-
Ing their thoughts on the higher mysteries
have learned to exist entirely without
sleep.
Day and night these mystics spend IN
contemplation and religious exercises.
Their caves have been occupied for more
than a thousand years and the people be-
lleve that they live to an Incredible old
age. go 30
suspected that the ,dsyotees took some
peculiar food or drink that gave them their
supernatural powers, and l was very GU
rious to taste OF these myself.
The devotees were In the habit of ad-
hitting Hindu men Of wealth and APP
proved reputation to their caves to spend
q certain period In silence and contemplh-
ton. But they had always made 1t an
absolute rule never to permit q woman to
set foot across the entrance OF the retreat.
The presence Of our sex within the mys-
tic caverns, 1t was supposed, would have
destroyed the supernatural powers pos
sessed by the devotees, have thrown them
into alterations Of ecstasy and despond-
ency and cut short the apparently eternal
liz enjoyed by them.
How then could We two women enter
that place? thought out a plan. dis
missed all my attendants and with only the
Princess as companion and an interpre-
ter requested admission. The priest at
the entrance met me with impassive face
and coldly told me to go.
then declared that l was the high
rriestess OF a new religion In n land be-
yond the ocean.
I'VE have found new ways by which the
mind can control matter" I said. 1--WE
cure disease by fixing our minds upon It.
We send messages 70 the most distant
parts Of the world without physical agency
We have changed the nature of women SO
that they no longer distract men from the
study OF the higher philosophy.
Il wish to share our knowledge with you
and to join with you In the contemplation
Of the eternal truths"
My friends tell me that can act q part
with great impressiveness, and this time
] certainly impressed the Alndus. After
consultation they admi;tsl Me on the
same terms ~ Distinguished ma1 guests.
Rerieaee vi my eIentful life, bays and
nights passed away a. In an enchanted
palace. We lived on ths slmplset kind of
native toed, but with this they bPouyht US
three tinas 2 day Z cup Of strange drink
II was this drink which worked such Won
derfuI sfects In myself and tho dayotees
! had no opportunity to learn anything
about It's composition. 1t may have been
. concoct!on of opium, hashish and a score
OF other Oriental drugs, each contributing
soue stimulating effect, hut so combined
that the reactiaR Of each one was avoided
had no desire 10 move OF act, hut every
moment wsa hllai With oslm, perfect han
pinsss. My MAD was wonderfully s,itpu-
lated SO that ! displayed learning I did NIT
possess At ordinary times, and wsa Skls to
make sood my claim that could hapsTt
new knowledge.
The candle-lighted walls Of the esysya
seeped delightful TO me, newer sX-
pshenced the need OF sleep, and day and
nisht were the same 10 ne, fslt thai |
could llnger In this snchSntsd cavern Tor
ever. thausAt, indeed tAst could never
tear myself sway,
Then | hseams aware that . great dan
ger threatened me- Ny senses had become
wonderfully acute, 80 that I could see In
the dark and understand What was happen
lag beside same walls. became vaguely
aware that these devotees were not such
strangers TO women as they pretended 20
be and as the common DeOple believed