A MODERN MIRACLE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9642, 14 January 1899, Page 4

A MODERN MIRACLE.

Mr HiraLall Banerjee, of Benares, recently sent to tha Pioneer, of India, an account of an incident which happened near his city on the night of October 26, during the sitting of tue Convention of the Theosophical Society. It was announced that on that night a Hindoo Fakir would .walk bare-footed over an ' agnikund ' (tank of fire), and that anyone desiring to do so might follow him. Many hundreds of people including ' Colonel Olcotfc, the Countess of Wachtmeister, Mrs Beßant, and Miss Lilian Bdger (of jSew Zealand), assembled at the appointed place. An excavation, about 14ft long, sft wide and 3iffc : deep, had been made, and logs of wood had been stacked in it and Bet on fire. At 8.30 p.m., when the logs had been burning fiercely for four hours, the top of the fire was levelled, and the performance began.

The heat at this time was so intense that the spectators could not staud three yards from the edge of the pit. At last a crowd of Coorga, men and women with babies in their arms, came, frantically shouting, ' while some men carried swords and baskets or plates filled with religious offerings. The men thrice carried an idol placed on a small palanquin round the fire and performed certain religious ceremonies. All the while these men were making a horrible

noise and were dancing as if they wore' drunk. Suddenly the noise ceased, and it waß announced that

the incantations bad rendered tho fire harmless, and that anyone who would might cross it. As all held back, one or two of the basket carriers ran acroßß the pit, and were followed by hundreds of natives. 'Caught by the enthusiasm of the moment,' says tbe writer, ' I threw away my shoes and stocks, and tucking up ray cloth I ran over the fire; and the sensation felt was that aa if one was running over a hot sandy place.! The ' spell,' we are told, lasted ten minutes. Other nations Lave this curious fire ceremony, and the Hindoos have many other ' miracles ' of the bind. This one, however, was witnessed by many Europeans, and there can be no doubt i that the performance was nbove the suspicion of deception.