Lives of Alcyone

Life XXXIV
The next life takes us back again to India, and gives in many
ways a great contrast to the last one. Our hero was born in the year
11,182 at a place called Ranthambhor in Rajputana. He was the son
of an Aryan chief owning a good deal of land and much respected, a
man of strong character, but somewhat harsh. Caste, as such, had
not yet distinctly appeared, but the family to which Alcyone belonged
was one of the most highly regarded, and several members of it had
become priests in various temples, so that we may regard it as
distinctly Brahman. His mother was a good housewife and a capable
woman, but always immersed in small matters, and with
comparatively little of spirituality about her nature. His mother was a
good housewife and a capable woman, but always immersed in
small matters, and with comparatively little of spirituality about her
nature.
Alcyone as a child was keen and active, but reserved in
nature. He was more affectionate with his uncle. Percy than with
either his father or his mother—naturally enough, for Percy had
been his eldest son in Peru, while they had not then been related to
him. This uncle lived in the same house, and his influence had much
to do with forming the child’ s mind. Percy was of a speculative and
inquiring turn of mind, and was much interested in all kinds of occult
influences and in researches connected with them. Though he did
not remember their Peruvian relationship, he was strongly attracted
towards Alcyone from the first, and the tie between them was greatly