Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-12

man who constantly waved a white
horse-tail brush as near Parhtta az hs
could reach.
1 asked the meaning of each figure
and received courteous answers but
did not ask about the brush for II
was past sundown and there We're nc
flies or mosquitoes and 1t seemed
ridiculous.
In front of the procession was 9
brass band with drum and now and
then they played strains Of Aud Lang
Syne.
Between the band and the shrine
were two other musicians. one with a
six stringed violin, the other with a
double drum which he gently thump-
ed with his hands and between these
walked dancing girl
We stopped often at which times the
girl danced and sang and often struck
Sarah Bernhardt's striking attitudes.
We marched to the river bank and
all sat down and an old man ana the
girl and her two musicians gave US
music and the old mans screams were
worse than tho Muezzins call to
prayer.
Then the shrine was unlashed from
the poles on which 1t had been carried,
placed on a boat. consigned to the
swift current and sunk while gods and
goddesses returned to their heavenly
homes for another year. when they Will
return and abide with these believers
for four days again. They call this
ceremony Pujah!
Next day l saw some of the trap
pings at the Tai a mile below. At sever
tonight a Brahmin is to pray and will
be given his sacred string which he
must never take off. When he is mar
ried three more strands will be added.
7 h@t Q
in substance the Lords Prayer OF the
Christian and the burden OF 1t is
give and thus the religions Of the
world makes us beggars. Give us this
day our daily bread should be sup
planted by Help me to earn my daily
bread for myself"
If these good Hindus have been
praying that prayer as they think for
1875, 800. 900 years no wonder so many
millions OF them are beggars today.
Mr.. Ghandi, tho an Impractical dream
er breaches the gospel Of work. but all
men and women cannot weave.
Tho trip from Benares to Agra is 372
miles and takes 16 hours by the best
trains because of bad connections. The
country Is nearly level and tho ielcs
are green with rice. jute and cane. while
the farmers are now doing their fall
plowing with their poor cattle and
crooked stick plow - In Egypt and
Palestine. Agra. tho Mecca OF all tour
lists to India shows very few changes
since / was first here II years ago.
The Agra Fort now shelters the Brit
ish soldiers but they have not desc
Grated tho Pearl Mosque nor any of
the palaces inside but are 4 protec-
ton to them. tho giving direct care
to the natives. The Tai is in tho hands
beautifully and most clearly.
There ara fwn f0Ynha nm each f1n0P
of Shah Jeban and Muntis Mahal the
wife for whom the Tai was built.
Hers directly under the center Of the
dome while by her side to tho west
lies the Shah in a larger one.
When the attendants have shown
patiatied on what is already obvious
they stand at the feet of tho sacrop-
hagus and make their plea for char
ity. Lay rupee or two on the stone
tomb silently and say you will give
no less whereas In tho crypt on the
lower floor where tho real bodies are
We're ono or more ten rupee notes.
prefer to wander around the place
alone. so I gave them, money and
waved them back. I climbed the north
west minaret and saw the sun rise and
went up again In the moons brightest
sunlight when all the carving. the
lacc-like screen and shadowy corners
moonlight l climbed the northeast
minaret where the winding stairs are
dark In tho day time while ut night
they are inky black and the chattering.
foul smelling bats Tapping your face
and scolding at your intrusion to-
gcthcr with the intense heat makes one
think OF the Christians hell. But when
you reach the top all thought OF hell
and hopes Of Paradise are lost in the
chaste. exquisite now.
No words OF mine can give your
readers tho falntest idea OF the sur.
roundinss as shown from that height
The stones and the marble pillars wcrc
still warm md gentle south wind
blew as sweet and comforting as a
mothers breath. Here nature and man
have cola borated and made "A beauty.
the like OF which Is nowhere else on
earth.
Facts. figures. dimensions. proper
tions. surroundings. environment
perspective all are swallowed In ~
I discovered by walking 81 steps from
the lily pond toward the Tai tho Pole
Star is exactly In tho crescent on top
OF the dome.
The IeI miles from Agra TO Delhi
took ten hours. The country Is rough
er and rocky. with moro irrigation. In
the woods were monkeys and peacocks
Delhi Ia tho capital city and His
Honor tho Vicsroy lives here. 1t shows
greater growth than any other city I
have thus far visited since l was In
India /, years ago.
Fine buildings In large compounds
have greatly increased. tho the native
shops are just the same. The great
mosque jana MusJid is still the same
and the thousands OF faithful conSrc-
cato daily.
The grain and cotton markets on tho
sidewalk outside are still the busiest
places In Delhi. The merchants arc
just rs persistent. Just as great liars
tho swearing by tho whiskcr Of Mo-
hammet fThcy only have one whiykor
now at the Mosque to show you'll
and their "fxcd price is sometimes
% per cent less than they ask you at
first
/ climbed tho south minare. of tho
great mosque and had n splendid view
from tho top. spent several hours in
the fort. among the palaces and in the
fesrl Mosque, Which was tho private
fuosuuo nj tho old Lt,0