Akasha

“ Those who know the Akasava people best know them for their laziness—save in matter of vendetta, or in the settlement of such blood feuds as come their way, or in the lifting of each other's goats, in all which matters they display an energy and an agility truly inexplicable. "He is an Akasava man—he points with his foot," is a proverb of the Upper River, and the origin of the saying goes back to a misty time when (as the legend goes) a stranger happened upon a man of the tribe lying in the forest. ”

“ He roused Akosh, and induced him to accompany him to the hill, on which we found the curate and Tengelyi at the commencement of this history.
There are few people in the world who like to be disturbed in their sleep; and though Akosh Rety yielded to his uncle's entreaties, his temper was none of the sweetest, as he accompanied the enthusiastic old man, who, in the course of their walk, held forth on the beauties of the rising sun, while he delighted in the anticipation of the glorious spectacle which awaited them. ”

“ She had solved the mystery and knew the truth.
For such love there is neither time nor death nor space.
Akaza stole away in the dim light, murmuring softly:
“Although a separate entity, she personates the feminine principle dormant in himself. This is what the ideal always does. Through this he will learn to harmonize desire and knowledge, and in time he will see that the grinding out of animal propensities, represented by the ringed planet, has come to him in a form more beautiful than a poet’s dream. Kerœcia is the disillusionizer, the dweller on the threshold, the chastening rod. ”

“ Akiba, Ben Joseph, a famous Jewish rabbi of the 2nd century, a great authority in the matter of Jewish tradition, flayed alive by the Romans for being concerned in a revolt in 135.
Akkas, a wandering race of negro dwarfs in Central Africa, with large heads and slender necks, who live by hunting.
Akron (27) , a town in Ohio, U.S., seat of manufactures and center of traffic.
Aksakof′, a Russian littérateur and advocate of Panslavism (1823-1886) .
Aksu (20) , a trading town in E. Turkestan, 250 m. NE. of Yarkand.
Ak′yab (37) , the capital of Aracan, in British Burmah, 90 m. SE. of Calcutta. ”

“ Ershebet," whispered the attorney, drawing still closer to her; "I know your views of life; and, as your friend and sincere well-wisher, I feel bound to express my opinion that Akosh will never be what you expect him to be. He is a young gentleman of great talents, of energy, hot temper, business habits; he is all that, and more; but he is neither faithful nor constant in love. ”

“ Let us destroy it—place the cross under the circle—and we have 186a true symbol of Love. Spirit has forced its way through matter, and it has become one with itself.”
He turned to Yermah and took both his hands in his own. Looking at him earnestly, Akaza said:
“Never forget what I am saying to thee now. Until love has entered our hearts, we are not in touch with anything in nature. Love is the soul; and until we feel its sweet influences in our lives, we go on seeking fresh experiences on the cross of discord. Love produces harmony. Desire produces discord. ”

“ Catspaw? But the wily attorney [Pg 201] was sure to deny all knowledge of them, and to destroy or remove them at the very first opportunity. And how could Akosh force him to restore the stolen property? Not by threats of exposure, unless he wished to attack his parents likewise. Akosh was a prey to the most painful indecision. "What can we do?" cried he; "are we to suffer the rascal to rob Tengelyi of his rights? Are we to stand by and let him ruin that good man; or shall we, who are Rety's children, accuse our own parents?" ”

“ For a description of the Akhas a reference is invited to the authorities quoted on page 87. They are a swarthy stalwart tribe, dull but peaceable. They mix and intermarry with the Chinese to an extent remarkable among these eastern hill dwellers and have hitherto been best known to those who have not lived among them by their women's dress, which with its abbreviated skirt, leggings and bamboo head-dress, is very distinctive, Missionary work has extended of late years into the Akha country, but apparently, the Akhas are not as ready to embrace the Christian faith as the Lahus. ”

“ Another account of the origin of this worship is contained in some of the other puranas: At the time of a universal destruction of the world all the gods are absorbed in what is called akashu; the linga alone remains. The puranas, therefore, say that as all the gods except the linga are absorbed in the akashu, he who worships the linga, obtains the unbounded merit of embracing all the deities at once. From these stories, temples innumerable have arisen in India, and a Siva linga placed in each of them, and worshipped as a god. ”

“ Saturn will exterminate him, as the desire for sensuous beauty is destroyed by initiation. Over the generative organs is the sign Mercury and a figure nine, with Rahula’s name, as thou seest. She is my antipode,” said Akaza. “She is knowledge inverted, and what she bequeaths to men will prove fatal to them.”
“Atlantis is under the feet, marked number ten, with our beloved trident, and the cross and circle of love,” exclaimed the younger man with enthusiasm. ”

“ No spirit goes through the Gates of Light into His presence except he be well weighed in the balance of the seventh sign.”
“This is the same as initiation into the Brotherhood,” returned Yermah, involuntarily.
“It is the planetary aspect of the labor thou art soon to perform.”
Akaza did not wish to go more into detail; so he hastened to say:
“If we place the half-circle over the cross, we have mind risen over matter, and compassion is the result. Then we have learned the value of mercy. ”

“ After a slight pause, Akaza went on:
“Thou must wield each triad into a unity. This is real initiation—the consummation of perfect harmony. Thou hast long since gone beyond the reach of impure thoughts emanating from the five sub-human orders of creation. When impure characteristics are removed the first labor is performed. Thy studies and all knowledge received is the second labor, because it prepared thee for esoteric science.
“The power of thought,” continued Akaza, “if rightly used, enables a man to transcend creation. ”

“ But never mind; come he must and he will, though the darkness of Egypt were on the heath."
"I am sure he will come," said Vilma, trembling. "Akosh is so bold! he knows not what danger is; but it is that which frightens me. The night is dark; and how easily can he have met with an accident!"
"The night is indeed dark," replied the Liptaka, with great earnestness; "but are not God's eyes open in the darkness? Not a sparrow falls from the roof without His will, and He protects the righteous on their paths. Fear nothing, missie [Pg 201] sweet!" added the old woman: "young Mr. Rety is in no danger. ”

“ Ershebet, it is not just, it is not fair, to ask that kind of thing of a young gentleman of Mr. Rety's station."
"But I do ask it!" protested Mrs. Tengelyi. "I give him my daughter; and I have a right to ask——"
"Not an impossibility, I trust!" said Mr. Catspaw, with a smile. "If Akosh were of our own standing in society, your wish to monopolise him would be natural; but in the higher spheres of life such a desire is perfectly ridiculous. What would [Pg 252] the world say, if a gentleman of his rank were to confine his attentions to his lady!" ”

“ Arise, thou cowardly priest, and prepare the sacrifice,” cried Acashee.
They sprung to their feet and gazed upon the bold speaker, and she a woman. They accepted the omen, and gathered about the altar.
Acashee had bound a white tunic over her shoulders; she had crowned her head with the leaves of the sacred mistletoe, sacred to the Indian as well as to the Druid, because it is a parasite, and lives on the blood of another, scorning the coarse, damp ground. She stood with outstretched arms, and pointed to Hope Vines.
“Take her and appease the spirit, and save our braves!” ”

“ Akish had another son named Nimrah, who was angry with his father for killing his brother. Nimrah gathered a small group of men, fled out of the land, and went to live with Omer.
Akish had other sons, who won the hearts of the people, even though they had vowed to their father to do all kinds of sinful things according to their father's desires.
Akish's people wanted money just as much as Akish wanted power. So Akish's sons bribed the people with money and thereby gained most of their support. ”

“ Akaza—curses be his portion! says that the Blessed Story is an allegory. He, a viler apostate than his pupil, claimed that he would come again, as Hirach incarnate, to break the power of the black brotherhood.”
“Rather let us exterminate the last remnant of them, and give their bodies to the fishes!” was his companion’s intemperate rejoinder.
“Face thy duty resolutely, and may victory be on thy side!” said Imos, piously, as Setos hurried out of the house.
“He who holds our destiny, plans all things well. May thy hopes find fruition also!” ”

“ Without distinction in war, or eloquence, or a genealogy of warriors to refer to, and consequently, of but little general note or fame in his tribe, he is an active hunter, and stable, temperate man, and may be regarded as a fair average specimen, physically and mentally, of the race. The band of Akosa mustered 160 souls, on the pay rolls of 1840, of which number, 37 were men, 42 women, and 89 children. They receive their annuities at Michilimackinac. ”

“ Don't you see, sir, it's Viola; and I'm entitled to the reward of [Pg 231] five hundred florins, which the county has promised to the man who captures or kills him. I hope he'll die before my comrades come. Confound them, they'd be after claiming part of the money!"
Akosh paid no attention to the Pandur's brutal expressions, and with Vandory's assistance he succeeded in removing the horse from the body of the wounded man.
"He is dead!" said Akosh, as they laid him on the turf. "Life is extinct, and with it all hope of proving Tengelyi's innocence!" ”

“ As he took counsel of his higher self, the bells of the Observatory tower in Tlamco sounded like a silvery-tinkling sea-shell, faint but distinct to his clairaudient ear.
“Peace! peace! peace!” they seemed to say, while the lines of care slowly relaxed, and the face 181of the devotee was as serene and calm as a May morning.
The fireplace and entrance to the cave were so arranged that it was easy to produce a draught; so, when Akaza renewed by meditation and prayer, returned to the fire, the atmosphere surrounding him was fresh and pure. ”

“ May God make you happy; but never feel unhappy at the thought of Aesha."
After reading the letter, Jagat Singha began to weep; and for a long while paced up and down the camp, holding Aesha's letter in his hand. Then he hastily took up a piece of paper, and dashing off the following lines, delivered the note to the messenger.
"Aesha! you are the glory of the fair sex. Perhaps it is the Will of God to render the world miserable. I am unable to reply to any of your remarks;—your letter has overpowered me. Know this much only that I shall ever cherish you as my dearest sister." ”

“ The sun represents the planet which sheds these influences, and therefore stands for Power. This is the golden bowl, the essence of Life itself. The cross and the circle are the hieroglyphs of our spiritual nature.”
Akaza’s look became abstracted and intense, and he mechanically pushed his hair up from his forehead. ”

“ I prefer Vilma's love to all!"
"I believe you, dear Akosh," said Mrs. Ershebet; "but what will Tengelyi say? He is good and loving; but when he takes it into his head that something is opposed to his principles, no power on earth can make him yield."
"Except the power of love," said Akosh.
"No, not even that: Jonas never loved any thing or anybody as he does me ”

“ His open countenance clearly showed what he feared.
“Only emotional natures make acceptable bearers of the Light,” responded Akaza. “A mean, starved love nature is never an acceptable sacrifice, nor can such an one be an ideal for other men.”
A troubled, hunted look overspread Akaza’s face, but Yermah’s gaze was bent on the horoscope, under the full glare of the lamp, and he did not notice it. He sighed contentedly when Akaza finished speaking, and for several minutes he tried to discern the meaning of the map. ”

“ As an initiate he knew all that transpired on the subjective as well as on the positive planes of consciousness. He was always a disturbing element on the shallow, false and artificial side of life. He cared nothing for consequences. A natural wanderer on the face of the earth, Akaza was in his element when it came time for him to lead Yermah’s band away from the doomed island. ”

“ As the Prince grew better and better, the visits of Aesha became rarer and rarer; and when he was perfectly cured, she seldom came to him, only visiting him once or twice at long intervals, and ?when she came, she almost always came attended by Osman. As in winter the sun imperceptibly glides away from the body of a shivering person, as it gets late, even so did Aesha disappear from Jagat Singha as he recovered.
One evening the Prince stood at the window, looking beyond the fort. Men intent on business or pleasure were streaming to their respective destinations. ”

“ In reality, it is a natural rock temple, very like the Elephantine Caves, and it was here that the American lodge of the Brotherhood kept a record of the entire time man had existed on the earth.
“Twice already has the face of the globe changed by fire, and twice by water,” said Akaza; “and each time has a new race been born. The Aryan comes 289into leadership by the joint action of both elements.”
The hierophant carried a little copper hammer, which he used to tap the various squares of solid masonry closing the entrance, listening each time a stone was struck. ”