Washington telegraph., 1849-03-28
From the Dublin University DIag0sl7ae.
CHINESE JUGGLERS.

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Some of the performances of the Eas-
tern jugglers seem SO incredible, even to
those who have had the beneG. of ocular
demonstration, that they must appear to
those who have not had that opportunity
afforded them, as the tales or ong bows
of travellers. For our own part, we must
confess that we SHOULD have ranged our
selves among the ranks of unbellevers
and skeptics, had we not had opportunity
of Judging, as eye-witnesses, of the truth
of the facts which we are about to des-
cribe.
Having received marks of attention
and hospitality from various friends, 1t
was incumbent to return such clvIlltles,
and it became a subject OF no little solic
itude how we best might cater for their
amusement This latter it must be con-
fessed, at the period was matter OF no
small difficulty, in a new colony like Hong
Kong, composed of raw materials, and
unlocked into shape. At length after fire.
quent consultations, with our compfadore
(Who is head servant or butler,) as to
the practicablllty of inducing celebrated
jug9ler of Canton to transport himself to
Hong Kong, and exhibit his various ac-
quirements to US ''red bristled barbarians,
the aforesaid compradore announced to us,
with much official Importance, that the
celebrated individual had arrived III the
island. Invitations, in due course, Were
issued, and accepted with alacrlty-re-
creation of any kind, being, at that period
in that lugubrious colony, rare-and a
large assemblage, consisting for the most
part of lords OF creation, arrived on the
evening in question.
The room in which the performance
took place was denuded of every article
of furniture, with the exception of chairs,
which were arranged close to the walls,
for the convenience Of the spectators, thus
leaving the floor unmatted, and clear
and wide arena for the performer. At
the hour named the great attraction of the
evening was introduced by the compra-
dore He was attired in the ordinary dress
of middle ranks of Chinese, which consists
of loose Jacket and trousers, with white
calico stockings and black sIken shoes,
embroidered with blue and white felt
soles two inches thick; he had no cover
ing on his head, and was followed by his
coolee, Or servant, bearing an unpalnted
teak wood box, of about three feet by
two feet in size, who placed it in the room
aud retired. The juggler commenced Op
erations by placing his box IN the centre
OF the room; he then stripped oil his jack
ct, thus appearing III state OF nudity
from the waste upward, having white
cloth twisted around his loins.
He next opened his box, and took
therefrom an ordinary BASIN or bowl, about
eighteen inches in diameter and closed
the lid of the box, leaving it exposed
completely to our view he then walked
round the room, allowing each Individual
separately to inspect the basin and han
ole 1.-THE whole of the time talking in
his native language. which we afterWard
learned was a species of incantatlon.-
We We're all sufficiently satisfied that the
basin was an ordinary one, and perfectly
empty. lie then placed it on the floor,
about five feet from the box, untWisted
the cloth from round his waist, which
was in size about yard and a half long,
by one yard wide, and which he threw
over the basin, spreading it out, contlnu.
ing during all the time his mumbling.-
in about half minute he raised the cloth
from the basin, exposing 1t to view, when
to our establishment, 1t was hlled with
limpid water and fish 3 OF inches
long was swimming about in it. lie took
up the bowl and handed it to each spec
tator, as he had previously done, and we
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lar deception, but that the water was h
deed veritable, and the fish living one.
After we had sufficiently satisfied our
selves, by examining the contents of the
basin, he replaced it III the box, and took
theretrom a green 1loWer-pot, hlled with
mould, which was about twelve inches
in height, and eighteen i'll diameter
Holding this in one hand, and exhibiting
what appeared to be an ordinary seed III
the other, he handed them around for IN
spection after the previous fashion he
then made cavity in the mould, and
placed the seed i'll it, covering 1t carefully
with the earth he afterWard set down
the hoWer-pot where the bowl had prevl-
ously rested, covered it i'll like manner
with the cloth, and recommended hS NUT
terings, after which he withdrew the cloth
and we beheld young and tender plant
in the Hower-pot, about two inches above
the mould. This was of beautiful
bright green color. with the leaves folded
about the stem, one within the other, and
apparently healthy plant, having all that
freshness peculiar to one which has just
burst from the parent earth, but of what
botanical species we are not III position
to determine This was handed round
by the enchanter, and examined by all,
with the same feelings and expressions OF
surprise. but with no less care and accur-