Scorching a Hindooo Priest

In a temple within the palace enclosure a daily offering of a goat is made to the blood loving goddess “Kali.” We did not see the day’s sacrifice, but the blood was yet fresh which flowed from the neck of the little offering which is severed by one blow from the high priest. I was looking at the goddess with her necklace of skulls through my open glass. I saw the priest suspected me of some disrespect to the deity. I gave him the glass. He marveled at the huge size the image assumed. I then turned the glass and made him look trough the diminishing end. “Wow! Wow! W-o-w!” was his exclamation of surprise.

After making our offering I was about to light my cigar in the court with a magnifying or sun glass. I saw his reverence wanted to see the thing. I motioned him to hold out his hand. His face wore an expression of sweet innocence as the rays of the sun began to brighten teh back of his fist, but when they got t a little focus and shot a hot spike into his brown skin he uttered another “Wow! wow! oh, wow! w-o-w!” I never saw such merriment as the other priests and attendants exhibited, and the good old chap seemed hugely to relish the joke. But I noticed every now and then he would look at the little roasted spot and rub it with his other hand. He will know a sun glass hereafter.-Carter harrison in Chicago Mail

source: Evening Gazette