The Nevada journal., 1854-02-24
East India Jugglers,


An East India correspondent Of the
Boston Post gives the following account of
a recent exhibition of the Jugglers in the
East who seem to have lost none of that
skill for which they long since became
famous
SIN Madras are found in perfection the
celebrated Eastern Jugglers, groups of
them are daily at the hotels upon the arri-
val of steamer; to exhibit their wonder
full feats and receive rupees. Fire-eating,
snake dancing sword swallowing, tumbling
&C., are shown to the crowd who search
amusement. With some others, hired
a party to exhibit on the verandah of the
hotel and am quite assured of their SUI
periority over all other magicians, professed
or amateur, in the world. At the time
assigned, they were on the spot arranging
their implements preparatory to great won-
ders and marvel at deception. While thus
preparing, | took cheroot from its case,
the more readily to find out everything
about what was going on, and searched
among the circle Of passengers for a light.
L
came to me, went through pantomimic
request to regard his face attentively, and
commenced blowing like pair Of bellows.
Much to my surprise slight stream Of
smoke issued from his lips, and finally a
pointed jet of flame, shaped as gracefully
as gaslight and extending two inches in
nv direction, which he kindly placed at
my convenience. [ availed myself of it
by lighting cigar, expressed my obliga-
ton and also a desire to examine intrin-
sically SO polite a salamander. | opened
his mouth, looked in, looked around and
felt outside, but | could not discover any
cause for the sudden and appropose contla-
grafton. But the magic was about to COM
mence, and forgot my friend with the
portable furnace in other wonders, less
individual perhaps, but quite as mysterious.
They danced cobra capeIlos, opening their
fiat heads to show them sound in fangs
and venom bags, and made them perform
a variety of poses. The snakes danced in
a circle, kept time and showed alwillingness
to accommodate Europeans. A small hand
ful of sand, taken from the road was made
to mark every color, and finally to produce
shovel full of every variety by simple
manual operation.
Plants grew perceptibly, balls danced in
the air, swords, hooks, Jagged pieces of
steel were used like sounding leads to pen
citrate abdomens eggs made birds and
birds made rabbits, and rabbits IN their
turn underwent various transformations
common cotton balls moved at command,
going away an immense distance but re-
turning on the ground very obediently
until we were compile tely tied up and turn
ed inside out ourselves with amaSement
and credulity. Then came the great feat
of the greatest juggler in India the most
notorious and wonderful of all descriptions
and '' for this night only" The performer,
the leader of the party, had rested quietly
with his wife and child outside of the cir
Gle, watching the entire proceedings OF his
men, and noticing the general effect upon
the assemblage. At the conclusion of an
announcement proportienate with his dig
nifty and elevation, he stepped In the en-
closed space to give grand finale to the
whole performance. Taking the child, a
little boy FIVE or six years of age, from Its
mother, despite her entreaties and tears,
he signed the attendants to procure the
required implements for his feat, directing
their arrangement and position according
to his mind
A large basket six or seven feet deep,
made of straw, was shown to the spectators,
tha. they might assure themselves of its
being basket without any addition or i'm
provement-simply basket of straw, very
common in all parts of the world. lnvert-
ing it, after the diligent investigation OF
the entire party, he stood the little boy in
the centre of the circle and covered him
with the basket like an extinguisher on a
candle. The room allowed the little fell
low an upright and apparently a comfort
able position. We were permitted to see
him under the basket and to satisfy our
selves of his being there without any
doubt.
A naked sword having received an
equally close examination, was placed in
the mans hand and the feat commenced.
Assured of the child's concealment under
the basket, of the keenness and validity OF
the sword, we waited in silent horror for
his next proceeding. There was no taoie
with its apartment, no trap in the basket,
nothing but the hard stony floor, and no
confederate near him. Taking the weapon
in his hand, he waved it in the air, NUT
tered jargon and commenced series OF
rapid thrusts through the basket, making
the point penetrate every time the opposite
side. down into the basket, and all over il
rnt;l II could hardly support its own weight
for mutiIation. It was perforated like a