The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-25
FASCINATION. MEsMERIsM,
AND HINDOO MIRACLEs.

FASCINATION, MESMERISM,
AND HINDOO MIRACLEs.
DC. Editor psrceivs By the BAL.
tmore papers that Dat extraordinary
man who has been amusing the ciii-
zeas ofthal place By practising Hindoo
miracles, and deceiving their senses
BY illusions, some Of which are perioF-
med On philosophical principles, and
others on the principles Of humbug-
gerry, Is about 70 visit this city. The
person Is a wealthy gentleman who has
been residing in Baltimore for many
years. aud L vas not until lately, when
lnesmerism had become q subject ofso
much excitement aud interest, that be
csme forward TO develope 10 the cih'
gems Of that place The extraordinary
power to deceive the senses which
he possessed. He did this, not for
gain. but to show to the people the de-
cepiions that can be PFactised upon
them fr realilies.--to show to them
that thar which is now called mesme-
fism, Is almost, If not identically,
the same power (fasciuaion) which
che HindoO jugglers have pracsised for
ages 70 ovefawe and render powerless
che most feFocious animals, such as
the lion and tiger, and the most ven
emous serpents. His power Of fasei.
nation, which the writer Of this has wit
messed, is truly astonishing-almosl
as much 50 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 bis control. This gentle
maD, 1 understand, is a Circassian by
descent, and was born 10 Hindostan.
He was placed, at an early age, by
his mother, in the temple among the
priesthood, to be educated as a Bud
hist priest; by which mears he became
possessed Of 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. 10 the temple Of Bud
dha alone, in The city Of Ava, in which
the gentleman was educated and off.
ciated, the priesthood, by the perlor-
nance Of one Of the miracles which be
COW performs, derive annually from
eight to hine millions Of rupees (loul
70 FIVE millions Of dollars) for the sup
port Of the priesthood. Seine Of hi
miracles are performed after a manner
ofthe fakirs and jugglers Of HindOstan
He can fascinate persons, and draw
from them their most valued and i'm
portant secrets. He can deceive three
Of the senses-seeing, hearing, anC
fesling--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 know
L. - ..--.-ss- - - --- =
in Baltimore city, to the aslonishmen
Of the audience; aud subsequently,
broke the delusion by exposing th'
modH Operandi. He is very candid
and informs the audience Of the mira
cles which are performed on philosoph
icaI principles, and those which arr
produced on the principle Of humbug
His mesmeric experiments are alst
truly astonishing. He exposes th'
humbuggery in which that subject i
enveIoped, He escaped from lh'
temple Of Buddha after fifteen years
service there is said TO have Tough
in tho great battle Of Izora, on whio
occasion he dew blood, and was, con
ssquenty, afterwards excluded from
all participation in the service Of tina
temple. He subsequently travelled
fifteen years through Hindostan, anC
the East Indies generally; and, having
gained a fund Of information as 10 tht
character and customs ofthe priesthood
and people, is we'll capable Of interes
ling the people by his lectures. hope
he will perform 10 this city, and pro.
cure a room large enough to contain
the crowd which will visit him afel
bis fret night of performance.-GIobe