Storia do Mogor 238.5.7

238.5.7

The beheaded man from whom I extracted the fat had a great friendship with a rajah faujdar. The latter asked him to order his spies, of whom he had some that were very clever, to show him some of their tricks; for he had heard marvellous tales about them. The order was issued. After the lapse of some days, there appeared at daybreak in front of the rajah's tent a Jogi penitent seated on a tiger-skin, with flowing hair, a huge beard, his arms raised on high, having long twisted nails, his body smeared over with ashes. He seemed a vision, such as may be seen in the pictures of Jogis or Saniyasis. These men are greatly venerated by the Hindus. Holding him to be a saint, the whole army of the rajah thronged to see him. Lying flat on the ground, with their arms raised aloft in sign of worship, they drew close to him and asked what he desired of all that they could offer him. There he sat with the greatest gravity, his eyes lowered and his lips completely shut. As the sun rose higher they brought him a dish of food, and wanted to feed him, just as you do an infant, seeing that his arms were useless. The man shut his mouth, and made gestures that he did not want to eat. They sought methods to persuade him, saying that they, too, would not be able to eat, and his 'animals' would have to suffer. These arguments were of no use.