AN INDIAN STORY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 292, 17 December 1879, Page 4

AN INDIAN STORY.

It has been said tbata District Judge in British India requires the firmness of a European and the cunning of an Asiatic, an axiom fully born out by the following authentic anecdote : — Shortly before the mutiny of 1857, a young officer of iho English Line, while psssicg through a native village, was annoyed by the importunity of a Hindoo begger, whom no rebuff seemed to disconcert, At length, when the filthy vagrant seconded his petition by laying his grimy hand upon the Englishman's arm, (he latter, enable to control himself any longer, repaid the freedom with a straightforward blow from the shoulder, delivered with such hearty good-will that the poor Hindoo foil like a log, to all appearance stone dead. Before tbe -assailant could recover from his bewilderment at tbis unlooked-for catastrophe, a howling swarm of natives came rushing to the spot, and, with frantic cries of vengeance upon the 'murderer of (heir countryman, dragged him off to the local magistrate, carrying with them the corpse of tbe slain man. Matters might well look gloomy for the prisoner, for the body showed not tbe slightest sign of life, while the culprit himself, overwhelmed with horror at the fatal consequences of bis momentary passion, faltered and trembled in a way that would have made an. ordinary judge convict him on the spot. But, happily for him, the magistrate was a veteran, whom so contretempt, however unexpected, oould find unprepared. He heard tbe story to an end without a word of comment, and then quicjkly remarked that before passing sentence be wished to be quite certain that the man was really dead. Tbe Hindoos broke in with a terrible outcry at the idea ol the sacred remains being touched by an unbeliever. « Ob, I don'i need tp touch him," quoth the judge, coolly; <U have • sorer way than that." Without appearing (o notice the look of uneasiness that began to cloud tbe sufrounding faces, he drew forth a stick of sealing-wax, lighted it, and let (all the burning drops upon the bare breast of the corpse. Instantly the m ordered man started up with an ear.piercing yell, and, tosßing his arms frantically, rushed out and plunged headlong into the river, while bia inconsolable mourners vanished almost as quickly in tha opposite direction.— New York Times.