A CURIOUS INQIDESTI IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7080, 26 July 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CURIOUS INQIDESTI IN INDIA.

Tub Times of India, of May 27, say* well-filled house witnessed the performances at Wilson's Circus on Thursday evening last j and among the spectators was a Waliabhacharya Maharaja, whom the Vaishnavs worship as an incarnation of tne deity. He occupied a box close to the ring, and was accompanied by several devotees and attendants, who encircled him, and fanuod him with hand.punkhas on all sides. After Holtum had gone, through his exercises with the cannon balls, he dashed op-to the Maharaja with the biggest ball, with a view to satisfy him that it was a solid iron ball. Holtnm's close approach to the Maharaja's person startled his attendants, who stood up all at once, and motioned him off with their fans, He quietly left their box, but their cendnot appeared to him most unaccountable. Assuming for the moment that the Maharaj was a king, Holtum remarked that he had performed before and showed his cannon ball to several crowned heads, but that he had nevor before been, repulsed in the manner, he was that evening. Ho was informed that the man was the " Pope" of a class of natives ; but he replied that he know of but one Pope, who waa supreme at" Home; and he (Holtum) would have nothing to do with the Wallabhacbaryaa dogma that it was pollution to a Maharaj of that sect to bo touched by a foreigner. The incident at the circus was similar to that which occurred in the late Supreme Court during the trial of the Maharaj. libel case some 23 years ago. Jadunathjee Brijruttonjee Maharaj, the plaintiff in the case, whsn under crossexamination in the witness-hex by the late Mr. Anstey,' wss shown a document for identification. JUr. Anstey, who stood near the witness-box, stretched forth his hand holding tho paper, in order to deliver it to the Maharaj. Tho latter seemed startled, and shot baok into the furthermost corner of the box. Mr. Anstey felt very indignant, and his indignation increased when the interpreter of the court explained to him the Wallabhaoharyan doctrine of touoh. Ho was less polite than Holtum was to the Maharaj at the circus, for he told the witness through the interpreter, " I would not touch you with a pair of tongs."