Evening star., 1928-12-16

NHE pertlS OF ln0la nave ilttle W
do with the indigenous popula-
ton, for the inhabitants are
peaceful and kindly, show no
lust for slaughter, and have Tor
thousands of years been SUBJECT 10
strict rule. Apart from the passions
fomented by political fanaticiSm and
from the crimes resulting from revenge,
hatred and the craving for power, In
the greater part Of the peninsula Euro
pearl travellers are in no danger from
the natives.
The perils of India, its influences,
and its secret powers, belong to lati-
tude of existence very different from
that in which knife or pistol Is decisive
for veal or woe. India offers few dan
gers to any one whose demands do not so
beyond the preservation OF his transi-
tory life; but the daemonic spirit OF
India touches the very marrow OF the
soul where 1t is endeavoring TO salve
the great problems of existence and to
storm the heights of human conscious
ness.
with the incomprehensible tranquil
lity of its heavenly triumph, the ancient
spirit of the eternal realm Of God par
alvzes all the fierce zeal of struggle and
research, all youth fighting for knowl-
edge, and the vigor of all spiritual ac-
tivity.
What is, has been.
I was travelling in the jungle by the
waters of the Valarpattanam Lagoon,
accompanied by my Hindu attendant,
Panya. and my Mohammedan COOK,
Pasha. We had pitched our tent near
a village and I was asleep In the night
when & loud cry awakened me.
In the thick darkness outside OF the
tent, nothing was visible beyond the
tree stems close to the fire and reflect
ing its light. They cleaned with a
fantastic air of unreality, resembling
limbless monsters with shapeless neaos
formed by the foliage, crowd1ng into
narrow red-lighted room. Pasha was
beside the fire.
"A woman is crying out in terror Of
DEATH" he said.
Coming forth from the tent. could
see torches moving in the forest, and
could discern the dusky forms Of saw
ages. My heart was racked by wom-
ans wall. Rarely have heard so
piteous an expression of grief and des-
pair. It was an animal cry OF pain,
and vet voiced the misery of the hu
man spirit. I felt as If a ghost were
walking in the night, and had re-
peatedly to pull myself together to keep
my energies from being. paralyzed and
to avoid succumbing to a sense OF
horror.
Make light" shouted.
A CLOUD of yellow smoke enveloped
"A us, and then tall red column
fiickered in its midst.
A cluster of naked figures appeared,
timid and yet eager carrying recum-
bent form upon a stretcher improvised
out of branches. A woman with black
locks streaming across her face, gesti-
culating wildly, called to me something
unintelligible. Despite her intense eX-
element, despite the urgency OF her
errand, she did not venture close to me,
but could now make out that her ex-
preston was. one of mingled dread and
hope.
On the stretcher lay girl of IL or
13, scantily covered with parti-col-
ored strip of cotton. Beneath this her
slender form was contorted.
"The COBRA" said Panya. THE moth
er has come to you for help"
MY heart bled under the glances OF
the old woman, touching and pitiable
figure as she stood before me in her
pain and hideousness. Her lamenta-
tions had ceased, for now she was
dumb with expectation: craning for
ward she peered into my face, seeming
to believe that at my pleasure could
give death or life to her daughter.
With the other villagers, the girl had
been prowling around our camp to
catch sight of the strange man from
foreign world, from. world that lay
beyond the sea and was full of myster-
les and wonders. In her eagerness for
| the novel and the incomprehensible,
she had forgotten the caution that Is
| indispensable in the jungle, the caution
that had been impressed on her froua
| earliest childhood.
! Amid the gloom, she had felt the
| little prick which at the outset her
i heart would not believe to be the ter
| rible DOOM she had stifled her fears
Notwithstanding the sudden anguish OF