Beef and Earthquakes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 November 1911, Page 59

Beef and Earthquakes.

(From Mount Abu; One of Indi*’* bant* toria,” by Mr* E. H. Wildblood, in the “Leinster’s Magazine,” for July.) There is one curious thing al>out the laiiiTscape of Mount Abu which add* greatly to' its beauty and picturesqueness; everywhere on the plateau ar* palm trees, which bear testimony to the extreme humidity 'of the place at certain times of the year. Palm trees in profusion are mostly met with on the sea coasts of India, and it is quite a shock that one finds them at such a height. It is almost difficult to realise that so much has happened here, so peaceful and slumbrous does the Abu of the present day appear, and yet, on closer inspection, from the wildness', of its scenery' and its numerous rocky hills, one can imagine it has been the refuge of many’ a marauding tribe of brigands, and the harbourer of all the bad characters of Rajputana. Could its stones speak, they’ would tell many’ a ferocious tale of blood and murder. . Talking of old stories and traditions, there is a superstition current in the place, which from the very fact of its coinciding with actual events makes it all the more curious. The killing of cows and the importation of beef are strictly prohibited in Nltive States, and Abu is no exception to this rule. In connection with this, there is a popular saying that an earthquake occurs in Abu whenever anyone angers the gods by eating beef. Occasionally, an ■ enterprising resident, tired of the eternal mutton, which is more often goat, and the muchabused Indian murglii, manages with difficulty, and great secrecy, ’to import a little beef for his own consumption. This has happened twice during my stay here, and on each occasion the actual eating of the beef has been accompanied by an earthquake shock severe enough to make us . all run out of . our houses. Old. residents say ‘that .the regularity with which this occurs:is most uncanny. So, far, however, though small shocks are frequent, they do not seem to have done much damage, or how could-the magnificent temple* in the neighbourhood have remained intact for so many hundreds of years?