The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-25
FAsCTNATION, MESMERISM,
AND HINDOO MIEsACL rs.

AND HINDOO MtkAC1 Is
Mr.. Editor ] perceive by the Bal
limore papers that that extraordinary
man who has been amusing the citi-
zeas ofthat place by practising HindoO
miracles, and deceiving their senses
by illusions, some Of which are perfor-
med on philosophical principles, and
others ON the principles Of humbug-
gerry, is about to visit this city. The
person 10 a wealthy gentleman who has
been residing in Baltimore for many
wears; aud twas not until lately, when
rnesmerism had become subject ofso
much excitement and interest, that he
came forward TO develope TO the citi-
zens Of that place the extraordinary
power 70 deceive the senses which
he possessed. He did this. not for
gain. but to show to the people the de-
ceptions that can be practised upon
them fer realities.--to show to them
that thar which il now called mesme-
rism, il almost, if not identically,
the same power (fasciuarion) which
the Hindoo jugglers have practised for
ages to ovefawe and render powerIess
che most ferocious animals, such as
the lion and tiger, and the most ven
emous serpents. His power Of fasci.
nation, which the writer of this has wit
messed, is truly neutrality-suspicious.
as much so as the miracles he performs.
have seen him, almost in an instant,
at several yards distant, render boys
taken from the audience powerless and
subject to his control. This gentle
man, understand, is CircasSian by
descent, and was born ia Hindostan.
He was placed, at an early age, by
his mother, in the temple among the
priesthood, to be educated as Bud
hist priest; by which mears he became
possessed of a knowledge Of the pre-
tended miracles by which the priests,
who are followers Of Vishnu, Jugger-
naut, Buddha, Brahma, and joss, i'm.
pose upon the credulity Of the people,
and then extort from them immense
sums ofmoney. In the temple of Bud
dha alone, in the city of Ava, in which
the gentleman was educated and Off
ciated, the priesthood, by the perfor-
nance of one Of the miracles which he
now performs, derive annually from
eight to hine millions Of rupees flour
to Eve millions Of dollars) for the sup
port of the priesthood. Some of his
miracles are performed after manner
ofthe fakirs and jugglers Of Hindostan.
He can fascinate persons, and draw
from them their most valued and inn
portant secrets. He can deceive three
of the senses-seeing, hearing, and
feeling-at the same time; can make |
persons visible and invisible /; and can,
on philosophical principles, seat a boy
10 the air, in opposition to the known
laws of gravity. These he performed
in Baltimore city, to the establishment
of the audience; aud subsequently,, |
broke the deIusion by exposing the
nodus oper0ndi. He is very candid,
and informs the audience Of the mira
cles which are performed on philosoph-
zeal principles, and those which are
produced on the principle of humbug.
His mesmeric experiments are also
truly astonishing. He exposes the
humbuggery in which that subject is
developed. He escaped from the
temple Of Buddha after fifteen years. |
service there; is said to have fought
in the great bat tie Of Izora, on whic h |
occasion he dew blood, and was, con-
sequently, afterwards excluded from |
all participation in the service Of that
temple. He subsequently travelled
fifteen years through Hindostan, and
the East Indies generally; and, having
gained fund Of information as to the
character and customs ofthe priesthood
and people, is we'll capable of interes-
ting the people by his lectures. Hope
he will perform in this city, and pro-
cure room large enough to contain
the crowd which will visit him after
bis fret night Of performance.-GEO6e.
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