WHAT AN INDIAN FAKIR CAN DO.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1278, 27 August 1886, Page 4

WHAT AN INDIAN FAKIR CAN DO.

The most extraordinary feat periormed by the fakirs of India is un•doubtedly that of being buried alive, an account ot which was published recently in a Vienna paper by Di Horn's pei-rrer, former Court physician to the Rapih of Lahore, and corroborated by Sir Claudius Wade, English Envoy resident of Lahore. This feat of physteal endurance throws the 40 days’ fasting of Dr Tanner completely in -the shade. The preparations made by these fakirs when about to_ subject themselves to the dangers of inlmmation are thus described by too doctor :

IN TRAINING.

The first duty consists in the contraction of a tomb or cave from which the air and light can be wholly exeluded, to ho entered by a small door, •which is walled up with clay as soon as the fakir enters. This cave is provided with a soft bed formed of sheep* skins and cotton. In order to access tom himself to this abode the experi. raentalist begins by remaining here at first but a few hours every day, increasing the time to several clays_ or until he can almost wholly exist without air. During the preliminary inhabitation of his tomb ho passes his time in meditation upon the power of divinity, chanting his prayers, and counting the Brahmic chaplet until he is able to pronounce 6000 words in less than 12 hours. He also accustoms himself to positions in which the feet are elevated in the air and tho head hau"ing down near to tho earth, oi the limbs bent, doubled, or twisted into all sorts of contortions.

After this practice with the hinges of the body comes the training of the respiratory organs. Beginning by holding his breath for five minutes, he soon succeeds in holding it for twenty. He also practices the feat of inflating his hums, allowing the air Jo escape by degrees, until the power he acquires in this direction is something marvellons. Then follow the weekly incisions of the under muscles of the tongue, of which are made, when this organ becomes susceptible of being curved so as to completely close tbo opening of tho larynx, To accelerate this object the tongue is frequently treated with as.ringent oils, and rolled back and manipulated by the fingers for hours. In addilion to these special preparations the fakir observes the inks of bis caste, notably that of abstaining from all animal food. A her having eaten, to remove all particles adhering to the coatings of the stomach, he swallows at regular intervals a narrow strip of linen, which he scon withdraws from the mouth again, After the accomplishment of this severe course cf training, which 'required

several months, the fakir is ready to undergo the trial of inhumation. The most noted of the fakirs who had passed through this ceremony was Harides, whoso burial was witnessed by Er Honiberger, whose portrait is now in his possession, THE BURIAIi CEREMONY, On the day appointed, in the presence of the Court and* a large conn course of people, Harides appeared in their midst, and, seating himself upon a white shroud, crossed his legs and turned his face towards the east. His countenance was serene and his expression exhalted. Centering bis eyes upon the extremity of his nose, in a short space of time the magnetic catalepsy was produced. The eyes gradually closed and the limbs became rigid. The servant of the fakir (Harides being an ascetic of the highest order) hurried forward to close his eyes and plug the apertures of his nose with linen saturated with melted wax. Wrapping his body in its shroud he closed it over the fakir’s head, tying the ends firmly, after which the body presented the appearance of a filled tack. The knot was sealed with the seal of the Kajab, and the body, now enclosed in a wooden box sealed in a like manner, was placed in the cave, the door of which wae closed, sealed, and walled in with clay. This tomb was guarded day and night, and thou sands of pious Hindoos remained about the spot, gloryifying the saint who was believed now to be enjoying the special favour of Brahma. It was a time of great religious exaltation, RESTORING LIFE. When the day agreed upon for Harides* exhumation arrived, the Rajah and his court appeared at the tomb. Ordering the dry clay to he removed, and examining the seals of the door and finding them intact, he caused the cave to be opened. Nothing had been disturbed; everything remained as when the fakir entered upon his long sleep. Tho doctor, upon touching the shroud, found it covered with moisture. Upon the servant removing the body from the box, he allowed it to stand upright against the cover for a few moments, while he proceeded to pour warm water over the top of the sack. Upon the removal of the sack, the doctor requested to be allowed to examine the body before any attempt was made at resuscitation. He found the legs and arms wrinkled and stiff, the head resting upon the right shoulder; no pulsation in the arms or legs was decemable, nor in the region of the heart. The whole body was cold, with the exception of the head, upon which the warm water had been poured. Tho servant was now hurridly occupied in bathing the body, after which he vigorously rubbed the limbs, arms, and body with coarse linen cloths. Applications of warm cataplasms were made upon the head, to be repented as seen as cooled. The linen plugs were removed from the nostrils and the mouth opened, but the fakir remained inanimate, and the doctor began to doubt tho possibility of his resuscitation, although repeatedly assured that such would be the case, Harides having several times before passed some time in a state of suspended animation. A knife was brought, and the tongue unrolled and placed in its normal position. It would not stay, and the servant was obliged tc use force for a time to hold it in its place. The eyelids were rubbed with oil, and tho servant raised them The eyes appeared glassy and staring. After several applications of the warm cataplasms upon the cranium the body was noticed to tremble slightly, the nostrils to dilate, the pulse to feebly move, and the limbs to become more pliable. Upon covering the tongue with oil or butter again it was seen to move perceptably, and the eyes to partially recover their brightness. The fakir was indeed returning on life. For some moments he appeared engaged in collecting his wandering thoughts, wh’ch, when accomplished, he turned to the Rajah, and calmly inquiried—- “ Do you believe in ms now i”

The whole process of resuscitation had occupied somewhat more than an hour’s time. Although weak and partially dazed in his conception, the fakir was carried to the residence of the Rajah, where he was seated at the head of the Royal table, clothed with a robe of honour, a chain of pearls placed about his neck, and gold bracelets encircling his wrists. For six weeks he had lain in his grave, and the feast was ordered in honour of nia return to life.