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Show j In 'Blazing Fire. lit )Pflv ZShe Mon-tlrotu ' "Deed of an SSwS Indian "FaKjr." i The spectacle which, perhaps, more than any other startles even the beholder be-holder accustomed to the "fakirs" and holy men of India is that of a fakir' swinging head downwards over a pile of blazing fagots! Accompanying picture, pic-ture, made from a photograph, repre sents a performance which the writer saw some time ago at Hyderbad, in Sindh. A shady grove of trees was selected for the performance. From a spreading branch of one of the highest high-est trees were suspended two double ropes, about 12 feet or 14 feet in length, to within about eight feet from the ground, which immediately below had been slightly excavated to receive a pile of wood. The fakir was a wiry young man of middle height He first divested himself of everything except a cloth, which passed round his lions, and then, making a thick mixture of ashes in water, he proceeded to smear it over his whole body with the help of some companions. He next rolled np his long hair, and having steeped a piece of cloth in the ash mixture, he bound it firmly round his head. After a few minutes the coating on his body was quite dry and he sat down to perform per-form pooja by repeating verses from his sacred books, finishing off with a blast on his conch. Meanwhile the wood, which had been lighted, was slowly kindling into a blaze. At the ends the ropes formed two large loops, whjch Were Well covered over with cloth. Seizing the ropes the fakir stood rigid and silent for a few moments, mo-ments, then with great agility drew himself up and inserting his legs in the f loops, he remained in a sitting posture till the fagots were fully ablaze.. Then he drew out his legs from the loops up to the ankles, and began to lower himself slowly, head downwards, into the arms of another strong fakir, who was waiting to take hold of him, and who quickly drew him away from the fire. The fakir then made his body perfectly rigid, and closing his eyes he partly covered his face with his hands.which were clasped round a rosary. ! He was soon ready to start, and the man pushed him forcibly forward through the flames, which were now burning high. As the fakir swung back he was again pushed forward,' and so on continually for about ten on fifteen minutes. He muttered mut-tered a prayer every time he passed through the flames, and when the wood was nearly all consumed he was stopped. stop-ped. He quickly raised himself up, and, withdrawing his feet from the loops, sprang to the ground. He was apparently somewhat giddy, but he soon sat down, and again performed pooja, as at first FTTH . ... v l "HUNG HEAD DOWNWARD." . ' |