The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-11-21
East Indian Jhggler3.

SNA ShSS lAS iofio"hf6 @NSo"hA VI SohiC va
their wonderful tricks.
"In Madras are found in perfection the cc!e-
brated Eastern Jugglers. Groups of them
are daily at the hotels upon the arrival of a
steamer, to exhibit ,h.ir wonderful fcats and
receive rupees. Snake-dancing, sword-swal-
lowing, krc-cating, tumbling, &c.. are shown
to the crowd who search for amusement. With
some others, hired party to exhibit on the
verandah of the hotel, and am quite assur-
ed Of their superiority over all other magi-
clans, professed or amateur. in the world
Mt the time assigned, they were on the spot
arranging their implements preparatory to
great wonders and marvcls of deception
While thus preparing, took Cheroot from
Its case. the more readily to find out of every
thing about ~hat was to &C On, and searched
among the circle of passengers for Light
Perceivins the desire. one of the jrgglcrs
came to me, went through pantomimic re-
quest to regard his face attentivcly and COM
mcnced blowing like pair of bellows.
Much TO MY surprise slight stream of
smoke issued from his lips, and finally point
ed jet of flame, shaped as gracefully as a gas
light and extending two inches in my direct
ion, which he kindly placed at my convcn-
ience. l ayaiIed myself of it by lighting
the cigar, expressed my obligation and also
desire to examine intrinsicallv SO polite a
salamandcr. l opened his mouth. looked in,
looked around and felt outside, but | could
not discover any cause for the sudden and
apropos coniiagration! But the magic was
about to commence, and forgot my friend
with the portable furnace in other wonders.
Jess individual perhaps, but quite as myste-
rious. They danced cobra capellas, opening
their fat heads to show them sound in fangs
and venom bags. and made them perform
variety of poses. The snakes danced in
circle, kept admirable time with the music,
and exhi bitcd the most amiable willingness
imaginable to accommodate Europeans. A
handful of sand taken from the road was made
to mark every color, and finally to produce
a shovel full Of every variety l,s a simple man-
ual operation.
Plants grew percsptibly, balls danced in
the air, swords, hooks. Jagged pieces of iron
and steel were used like sounding leads to
penetrate ;hhomens eggs made birds and
I birds made rabbits. and rabbits in their turn
underwent various transformations, common
cotton balls moved at command, going away
an immense distance but returning to the
ground very obedicntly. until We were COM
plctelv tied up and turned inside out our
selves with amazement and credulity. Then
Camel great feat of the greatest juggler in
India: the most notorious and wonderful Of
all receptions. and for this night only.' The
performer, the leader oe the party. had rested
quietly with his wife and child outside of the
circle, watching the entire proce> dinss of his
men, and noting the general effect upon the
asscmblageA At the conclusion of an announce
ment proportionate with his dignity and
elevation, he stepped in the enclosed space
to give grand finale to the whole perform
ance. Taking the child, . little boy five or
six years of age. from its mother, despite her
tears and entreaties. he signed the attendants
to procure the required implements for his
feat, directing their arrangement and position
according to his mind.
\ large baske, six or seven feet deep, made
of straw. was shown to the spectators, that
they mi ght assure themselves of its being a
basket without any addition or improvement
simply basket of straw. very common in
all parts of the world. Invcrting it. after the
diligcnt investigations of the entire party, he
stood his little boy in the centre of the circle
and covered him with the basket like an ex-
tinsuisher on candle. The room allowed
the little fellow an upright and apparently
comfortable position. Wcwcrcpcrmi,,ed osec
him under the basket and to satisfy ourselves
of his being there wi,hou: any doubt.
\ naked sword nave received an equally
close examination was placed in the mans
hand and the feat commenced. Assured of
the childs conccalmcnt under the basket, Of
the keenncss and validity of the sword We
waited in silence and horror for the next pro-
ceeGing. There was no table with its apart
ments. no trap in the basket. nothing but the
hard stony floor and no confederate near him.
Taking the weapon iii his hand, he waved it
in the air, muttcring jargon and commenc-
ed series of rapid thrusts through the bas-
kct. making the point penetrate every time
the opposite side. down into the basket. and
all over it until it could hardly support its
own weight from mutiaticn. 1t was perfo-
rated like sieve.
4 cry came from the interior, and stream
of blood began to trickle from under it along
the stone floor on to the feet of the specta-
tors. Cries of horror pierced the air, the
mother ran shrieking to the basket to seize
her horribly sashed. bleeding boy. She over
turned it-no rhid ,ras there nothing but
pool of blood. Everybody looked frightened
and relieved. while the jusgler eoclly wiped
the blood from the sword blade. Suddenly
bursting from the middle of the group of OBJ
servers the little :cllow came running to his
mother, unhurt, unharmcd, and apret:y smile
in his brown childish face. Taking hold of
Al. r. l.