In 1880, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and her close associate Henry Steele Alcott were

invited on a picnic.

But this was not just any picnic.

They would be the guests of a number of prominent British colonialists at their summer home

in Simla, India.

In those days, Simla served as the de facto summer capital of the British Raj, and Blavatsky's

hosts were certainly connected to the Imperial administration.

They were invited by one AP Synod, the editor of a widely circulated English language newspaper

called the Pioneer, and his wife, Patience.

Also tagging along would be one major Henderson, the chief of police, and a certain Mrs. Reed.

By 1880, Blavatsky and Alcott had relocated to India from the United States in an attempt

to reinvigorate their spiritual group known as the Theosophical Society, and hopefully

gain some new supporters on the subcontinent.

The British authorities had been understandably suspicious of this unusual Russian woman,

and her surprisingly well-to-do American comrade.

Were they spies?

Was their strange occult belief system being used to actively undermine British rule in

India?

In many ways, this little trip to Simla might give Blavatsky a chance to score some points

with suspicious brits.

Indeed, the Madam did not disappoint.

Being that they were upper-crust British colonialists, the Synods, of course, had their servants

...