File:India and Malaysia (1892) (14769378665).jpg

Identifier: indiamalaysia00thob (find matches)
Title: India and Malaysia
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Thoburn, J. M. (James Mills), 1836-1922
Subjects: Methodist Episcopal Church Missions
Publisher: Cincinnati, Cranston & Curts New York, Hunt & Eaton
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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kept his arm in this positionuntil it became rigid. He told me he had suffered excru-ciatingly for six months, after which the arm ceased to givehim pain. His arm, which was held perfectly upright, hadbeen kept in this position for a number of years—if I re-member correctly, eight or nine—and had shriveled to abouthalf its natural size. The nails had grown to such a lengththat they had twined themselves all around the hand, givingit a hideous appearance. Recently I had occasion to publisha notice in the Indian Witness asking parties who knew ofsuch men to report them to me; and it is a singular fact thatonly four responses were received. This indicates that thenumber of such persons in the country is comparatively small.* * The accompauying picture shows a mau with both hands held per-fectly upright till they are as rigid as two pieces of wood. It is copiedfrom a photograph taken at Ajmere, about six months ago. He isfaithfully served by the attendants who may be seen beside him.
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A HIxNDU DlvVOTliK. INDIAN DEVOTEES. 129 A very common mode of practicing asceticism is that ofeating revolting food. The complete course of trainingadopted by a Hindu devotee, if carried to its full extent,involves one period of discipleship during which the devoteeis obliged to eat everything which is offered to him. I mightsay here that, according to strict rule, an ordinary Hindu whowishes to take a full course is obliged to pursue six diflPereutkinds of asceticism, each for a term of twelve years, makingseventy-two years in all. As he proceeds in his course, pass-ing from one degree to another, somewhat after the mannerof a Hindu Masonic system, the usual rule of the sinnersreward follows him. The more faithfully and unreservedlyhe devotes himself to the discipline prescribed, the more re-volting does his life become, and the more terrible his re-ward. During one period of this course he is not onlyallowed to eat everything which is offered him, but is com-pelled to do so. If he

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