AN INDIAN FAKIR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN INDIAN FAKIR.

REPORTED MARVELLOUS CURES

A. Bengali correspondent to "Baride Mataram," from Serampbre :- A Mussulman fakir of some pretensions has lately made his appearance at Serampore and is for the moment the hero of the town and the adjoining villages. He h&d fixed his temporary abode" m a lonely graveyard outside the town, but the fame of his sanctity and miraculous powers is such that this once desolate place, where Eeople would not dare to go, even m , road daylight, has been converted into a crowded town by his presence. Men, women, and- children of all ranks of life, of all ages, arid of all creeds, are flocking to the new shrine eager to catch: a glimpse of the holy "Baba" and to have a word from his mouth; Men of the highest culture and refinement, such as High Court pleaders, respectable doctors, Government pensioners, honorary magistrates, municipal commissioners, and ladies of the richest and the highest families are among his daily visitors. The fakir himself is clothed m old worri-otit garments of his order, and is by no means a handsome or attractive man. His exterior does not show that he possesses a stronger or more subtle intellect than an illiterate peajsant. His antecedents are uriknown even to his devoted adriiirers. He is said to be fed by unearthly hands on unearthly food, so that he does not stand m need of mundane nourishment. The elements are said to be obedient (o him,- and, he creates fire, water, etc., at Iris will. He reads the paist, present, arid future of anybody and everybody for the mere asking, and his. powers m this respect are admitted by all to be infallible. He diagnoses at first sight diseases most secret and unknown, and is said to cure and heal where science of doctors and physicians fails. In a word, there is i'o case so hard or hopelpss. which he I«»es not profess to cure. He is creditedwith Sowers of restoring sight to the blind, earing and power of speech to the deat and the dumb, powers of free and natural movemeuts to the lame and the cripple. He does not accept any presents and dispenses his medicines -f ree to aiL He is said to> have more. than once refused princely offers from those benefited by him, and he prefers his poverty and mysterious powers t'of all that this earth can afford. The ; credulous whisper amongst themselves that he has at Hs beck and call a host, of invisible spirits who obey him like slaves.