He then proposed that they should visit the various Hindu shrines and the places that had been hallowed by old associations connected with the founders of their Faith.
To this they readily consented, and having sought for a propitious day, they set forth on their travels.
They had visited many holy places consecrated by age and sanctity, and as they were everywhere made welcome by devotees of their religion, they had few deprivations to encounter.
One day they were approaching a very populous city where a devout Hindu King resided, and the “Guru” said to his disciples, “I am much fatigued by the journey; go you all into the city and buy bread, and return to me here,” for he had determined to rest under a large clump of trees just outside the city walls.
It was not long before they all returned to the “Guru” with a wonderful account of the city, “For,” said they, “we have never known so remarkable a place, for, strange to relate, every article of merchandise is of the same price. In every shop and market all the goods are of one and the same value: gold, silver, precious stones, wheat, fruit, vegetables, and, indeed, everything that man can wish for and want, can be had for the same sum.”
The “Guru” said, “You much surprise me; and although I am very tempted to see for myself such a wonderful place, yet I am convinced that such a state of things must bring about great laxity and vice, and that justice there must be at a very low ebb, for that too I suppose is classed with the other commodities. No! let us at once quit this city and make the best of our way to some other more inviting place.” Whereupon they all agreed to accompany the “Guru”; but one disciple, a tall strapping fellow, and fond of the good things of this life, said that on second thoughts he would like to spend two or three days in that city, and that he would join them some marches off if they would only promise to go by easy stages.
THE GURU AND HIS GREEDY DISCIPLE.
It was in vain that the “Guru” tried to dissuade him from his purpose; he had made up his mind, so he parted company with his fellows, and went off alone into the city.
He had not been there more than two or three days when a burglary, attended with murder, was committed in the city, and the “Kotwal,” or chief Police officer, began to set on foot enquiries as to the whereabouts of the perpetrators of the crime. He came across this disciple of the “Guru,” and finding that he was a strong powerful fellow, and a stranger to boot, he was at once taken up on suspicion, and very soon witnesses were found who had seen him loafing about the place, and he was there and then tried for the crime, condemned and sentenced to death and the sentence was confirmed by the King in due course.