THE DECEPTION OF THE HINDOOS.
My dear Children--From what I have previously stated, you are aware that
the Hindoos are a very deceitful people. Let me give you another
instance of their deception. A late head catechist of one of my
missionary brethren was, before his conversion, the priest of a temple.
A man from whom about one thousand rupees' worth of jewels and similar
things had been stolen, came to this priest, and promised to reward him
well, if he would detect the thief, and secure to him the restoration of
his property. The priest promised to comply with his wishes; and in
order to effect his purpose, he had drums beaten through the village,
and proclaimed, that at a certain time he would hold a meeting and
detect the thief. At the appointed time, a large concourse of people
assembled, the priest appearing in the midst of them with a cocoa-nut
bound around with saffron-cords. He then told them, that if, after
putting down the cocoa-nut, it should move of its own accord towards
him, they might know that he would be able certainly to detect the
thief; and added, that after it had thus moved, it would pursue the
offender, and follow him until it would break his head. He then
performed certain ceremonies calculated to awaken superstitious feelings
in the minds of the people, and laid the cocoa-nut down at a little
distance from him. To the great amazement of all present, it began to
move towards the priest, and continued to move until it reached his
feet. This being done, he told the people, that they might conclude from
what they had seen, that the cocoa-nut would follow the thief until it
would break his head. He consented, however, to give him a little
grace--to spare his life until the next day; adding his advice, that the
thief, whoever he might be, had better come to him privately, and tell
him where the property was. In the dead of the night, a tap was heard at
the door of the priest; the thief presented himself, and delivered up
the property. The priest received a present from the owner of the
property, and rewarded the thief for his promptness. After this man was
converted, he was asked how he contrived to make the cocoa-nut move
towards him. "Why, sir," he answered, "if you will carefully divide a
cocoa-nut, scoop out the kernel from one-half of it, enclose a strong,
lively rat, put the parts of the cocoa-nut together, and bind the whole
with saffron-cords, to prevent the crack being seen, and then place it
on a declivity previously prepared, it is clear, that if you place
yourself at the foot of this declivity the rat will twirl the cocoa-nut,
and cause it to descend until it reaches your feet."