132 THIRTY FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



likewise caused himself to be interred at Jesrota, in the 

 mountains, and at Umritsir, and also by the English in 

 Hindostan. In the " Calcutta Medical Journal" about 1835, 

 there is a full description of the faqueer, and we are there 

 informed, that he preferred having the chest in which he 

 was enclosed, suspended in the air, instead of its being 

 buried beneath the earth, as he feared the possibility of 

 his body being attacked by ants, whilst in that middle 

 state between life and death. Having, however, refused to 

 undergo another trial, several of the English people there 

 doubted the truth of the story, and refused credence in 

 so astonishing a power.* But it is quite certain that had 

 there been any deception as regards the interment of the 

 faqueer, rendering his experiment easy of accomplishment, 

 those engaged or associated with him, and to whom the 

 task of restoring the vital energies was necessarily entrusted, 

 would of necessity be acquainted with the mystery, and able, 

 since his real decease, to emulate his example ; that, 

 however, is not the case. It appears, consequently, that 

 the faqueer was the only one then in possession of that 

 abih'ty ; and as a further corroboration of this view of the 

 case, I may mention that I myself inquired in the Punjab, 

 in the mountains and valleys of Cashmere, and in other parts 

 of India, and used every exertion to find a person possessed 

 of this power, in order to bring him to Europe, or at least to 

 Calcutta, but without success. Several Hindoos told me that 

 such faqueers set no value upon money ; I replied to them 

 however, that at all events they fully appreciated other 

 worldly pleasures. They did not like to hear this statement, 

 implying that the faqueer was a debauchee. Several com- 

 plaints had, however, been made of him, on which account 

 Runjeet Sing intended to banish him from Lahore. He 

 anticipated the intention, by eloping with a Katrany 

 ( woman of a Hindoo caste ) to the mountains, where he 



* To corroborate the above, my readers can refer to General Ventura 

 ( Paris ), and also to Colonel Sir C. M. Wade ( London ), who were 

 present, and assisted at the restoration of the faqueer, some accounts of 

 Whom have been published from the Colonel's statement. 



