the Upasika. Before he left me, two more men came on
horseback, his attendants I suppose, probably Chelas, for they were
dressed like lama-gylungs, and both, like himself, with long hair
streaming down their backs. They followed the Mahatma, when he left, at
a gentle trot. For over an hour I stood gazing at the place that he had
just quitted, and then I slowly retraced my steps. Now it was that I
found for the first time that my long boots had pinched my leg in
several places, that I had eaten nothing since the day before, and that
I was too weak to walk further. My whole body was aching in every limb.
At a little distance I saw petty traders with country ponies, carrying
burdens. I hired one of these animals. In the afternoon I came to the
Rungit River and crossed it. A bath in its cool waters revived me. I
purchased some fruit in the only bazaar there and ate heartily. I took
another horse immediately and reached Darjiling late in the evening. I
could neither eat, nor sit, nor stand. Every part of my body was
aching. My absence had seemingly alarmed Madame Blavatsky. She scolded
me for my rash and mad attempt to try to go to Tibet after that fashion.
When I entered the house I found with Madame Blavatsky, Bahu Parbati
Churn Roy, Deputy Collector of Settlements and Superintendent of Dearah
Survey, and his assistant, Babu Kanty Bhushan Sen, both members of our
Society. At their prayer and Madame Blavatsky's command, I recounted
all that had happened to me, reserving of course my private conversation
with the Mahatma. They were all, to say the least, astounded. After
all, she will not go this year to Tibet; for which I am sure she does
not care, since she has seen our Masters and thus gained her only
object. But we, unfortunate people! we lose our only chance of going
and offering our worship to the "Himalayan Brothers," who, I know, will
not soon cross over to British territory, if ever, again.

And now that I have seen the Mahatma in the flesh, and heard his living
voice, let no one dare say to me that the Brothers do not exist. Come
now whatever will, death has no fear for me, nor the vengeance of
enemies; for what I know, I know!

--S. Ramaswamier, F.T.S.

The Sages of the Himavat

While on my tour with Col. Olcott several phenomena occurred, in his
presence as well as in his absence, such as immediate answers to
questions in my Master's handwriting, and over his signature, put by a
num