the stone upon a poor coolie, just bitten by a cobra, it
would not even stick to the wound, and the poor wretch shortly expired.
I do not take upon myself to offer, either a defence, or an explanation
of the virtues of the "stone." I simply state the facts and leave the
future career of the story to its own fate. The sceptics may deal with
it as they will. Yet I can easily find people in India who will bear
witness to my accuracy.

In this connection I was told a funny story. When Dr. (now Sir J.)
Fayrer, who lately published his Thanatophidia, a book on the venomous
snakes of India, a work well known throughout Europe, he categorically
stated in it his disbelief in the wondrous snake-charmers of India.
However, about a fortnight or so after the book appeared amongst the
Anglo-Indians, a cobra bit his own cook. A buni, who happened to pass
by, readily offered to save the man's life. It stands to reason that
the celebrated naturalist could not accept such an offer. Nevertheless,
Major Kelly and other officers urged him to permit the experiment.
Declaring that in spite of all, in less than an hour his cook would be
no more, he gave his consent. But it happened that in less than an hour
the cook was quietly preparing dinner in the kitchen, and, it is added,
Dr. Fayrer seriously thought of throwing his book into the fire.

The day grew dreadfully hot. We felt the heat of the rocks in spite of
our thick-soled shoes. Besides, the general curiosity aroused by our
presence, and the unceremonious persecutions of the crowd, were becoming
tiring. We resolved to "go home," that is to say, to return to the cool
cave, six hundred paces from the temple, where we were to spend the
evening and to sleep. We would wait no longer for our Hindu companions,
who had gone to see the fair, and so we started by ourselves.----

On approaching the entrance of the temple we were struck by the
appearance of a young man, who stood apart from the crowd and was of
an ideal beauty. He was a member of the Sadhu sect, a "candidate for
Saintship," to use the expression of one of our party.

The Sadhus differ greatly from every other sect. They never appear
unclothed, do not cover themselves with damp ashes, wear no painted
signs on their faces, or foreheads, and do not worship idols. Belonging
to the Adwaiti section of the Vedantic school, they believe only in
Parabrahm (the great spirit). The young man looked quite decent in his
light yellow costume