The true Democrat., 1854-10-04
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal. RECOLLECTIONS OF CALCUTTA, BY AN OFFICER.

The Fort of Calcutta is one of the most splendid and convenient military establishments to be found in any quarter of the globe. It is very spacious, and, like the Tower of London. resembles small town rather than mere cita- del, consisting of various streets and squares adapted for different purposes. On all sides it IS guarded by high and strongly built ram- part which is surrounded by broad fosse, over which are placed drawbridges, leading to the principal gateways. On our first arrival here. after due admiration of the noble fortress itself, 1 was particularly amused by observing a tribe of extraordinary looking birds of the cra1e spe- ces, called Adiutants, which are quite domestic, but of strange unsightly appearance, and which stand erect, like the penguin in military fash ion, rank and file, remaining as silent, motion less, and orderly, as regiment drawn up on parade. These curious creatures are so we'll drilled, and so we'll practised in sodierly habits, that they never move the body, nor even the head, to the left or right as you pass by them, but seemed fixed as statues and are generally to be seen surrounding the green square enclo- sure in front of the barracks where they re- main in state of ruminative apathy under the full blaze of the mid day sun, until the soldiers dinner-drum begins to beat. Then are they all
 
 quick time to the mems barracks, where scene of great drollery usually ensues. They are most ravenous creatures and provided with an enormously long and formidable bill, as we'll as with large capacious bag which hangs down from their throat to their long lanky legs These curious birds, after all, though by no means an ornament to the fort, are as useful as they are amusing, being literally and truly its pGo oil bo refuse thrown out about its precincts, and to them, and host of assistant crows, who also frequent the locality the inmates are indebted for the admirable cleanliness, and consequently much of the healthiness, of the place. These crows live on good terms, for the most part, with the adjutants; but sometimes one of the latter species is provoked out of its apathy by some mischievous encroachment on the part of the lesser birds, and gulps down the offending crow in an instant, feathers, bones, beak, claws, and all. This is feat which the adjutant can execute with the greatest ease.
 The fort is often the scene of animated fes- tivity, from the presence of native jugglers, re- nowned for their surprising skill and dexterity The performances, of these people have been so often described, that shall only advert to one piece of jugglery which was practised upon myself, and which is curious from bear ing strong resemblance to the feats recorded in sacred history as having been performed by the Egyptian magicians. Indeed, as it is we'll known that the Hmdoo tricks, have been hand ed down from the most distant ages, from father to son, there is little wonder that such smi- larity should exist. The particular trick allud- ed to consisted in the apparent conversion of a small brass coin into snake. The juggler gave fho ko hold about five yards from me, on small rug, from which he never attempted to move during the whole performance. showed the coin to se- veral persons who were close beside me on a form in front of the juggler. At sign from him, not only grasped the coin firmly in my right hand, but, covering that hand with equal tightness with my left l enclosed them both as firmly as I could between my knees. Of course was positively certain that the small coin was within my fists. The juggler then began sort of incantation, accompanied by a monotonous and discordant kind of recitative, and repeating the words Ram Sammee" dur ing some minutes. He then suddenly stopped, and, still keeping his seat, made quick mo- tion with his right hand, as if throwing some- thing at me, and giving at the same time puff with his mouth. At that instant I felt my hand suddenly distend, and become partly open, while experienced sensation as if cold ball of dough, or some such soft substance, was now between my palms. started to my feet in astonishment and also to the astonishment of others, and, unclenching my fists, found there no coin, but, to my horror, young living snake cobra-di-ca- pello-folded roundly up. l threw it instantly to the ground, as if already bit by the deadly reptile, which began imme- diately to crawl along the ground, to the amaze and alarm of all present. Butthe juggler now got up caught hold of the snake, and display ed its length, which was nearly two feet. He then took it cautiously by the tail, and, opening his own mouth to its utmost width, let the head of the snake drop into it, and commenced deli. berately to swallow the animal, till the end of the tail only was visible; then, making sudden