The Placer herald., 1860-05-12
The Adjutants and Jugglers of India.

h1eHte W pe louHu Ill any quarter or tne
globe 1t is very spacious, and like the
Tower of London, resembles small town
rather than a mere citadel, consisting of
various streets and squares adapted for differ
ent purposes. On all sides it is guarded by
a high and strongly built rampant which is
surrounded by broad fosse, over which are
placed draw bridges, leading to the principal
gateways. On our first arrival here after
due admiration of the noble fortress itself,
was particularly amused by observing a
tribe Of extraordinary looking birds of the
crane species, called Adjutants, which are
quite domestic, but of strange. unsghtly
appearance, and which stand erect like
penguin, in military fashion, rank and file
remaining as silent, motionless and orderly,
as regiment drawn up on parade. Those
curious creatures are so well drilled, and so
well practised in solderly habits, tha: they
never move the body nor even the head, to
the left or right as you pass them by, but
seem fixed as statutes, and are generally to
be seen surrounding the green square en-
closure in front Of the barracks, where they
remain in state of ruminative apathy under
the full! blaze Of the midday sun, until the
they are all in motion in an instant, scamp
erng off in double quick time to the mems
barracks, where a scene Of great drolery
usually ensues. They are most ravenous
creatures, and provided with an enormously
long and formidable bilI as well as with
large capacous bag which hangs down from
their throats to their long anky legs.
These curious birds, after all, though by
no means an ornament to the fort, are as
useful as they are amusing, being literally
its scavencers. They carry off the otfal and
refuse thrown out about its precincts, and
to them and a 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 some
times one Of the latter species is provoked
out of its apathy by some mischevous en-
croachment on the part of the lesser birds,
and gups down the offending crow in an
instant, feathers, bones, | eak claws. and all.
This is a feat which the djutant can execute
with the greatest ease.
The fort is often the scene of animated
|
glers, renowned for their surprizing skill and
dexterify- The performances Of these people
have been so often described, that shall
only advert to one piece Of jueglery which
was practised upon myself, and which is
curious from bearing a strong resemblance
to the feats recorded in the sacred history
as having been performed by the Egyptian
magcians. Indeed, as it is vel known that
the uindoo tricks have been handed down
from father to son, there is little wonder
that such a similarity should exist. The
particular trick alluded to consisted in the
apparent conversion Of a small brass coin
into snake.
The juggler gave me the coin to hold, and
then seated himself about five yards from
me, on small rue, from which he never at
tempted to move during the entire perfor-
nance. | showed the coin to several per-
sons who were close beside me on form in
in front of the juggler At asig on from him
not only grasped the coin firmly in my
right hand, but covering that hand with
equal tightness in my left, | enclosed them
both as firmly as could between my knees.
OF course was positively certain that the
small coin was within my sts. The Jug
eler then began sort of incantation, ac-
companed by a monotonous and discordant
kind of recitative, and repeating the words
Ram Sammee" during some minutes. lie
then suddenly stopped, and still keeping his
seat, made quick motion with his right
hand, as if throwing something at me, and
giving at the same time a puff with his
mouth.
At that instant felt my hands suddenly
dstend and become partly open, while ex-
perienced sensation as if ball of dough,
or some such soft substance was now be-
tween my palms. | started to my feet in as
tonishment, and to the astonishmeut Of 9TH
ers, and uncenchng my fists found there
no coin, but to my horror, young, living
snake-a cobra di capello-tolded round1y
up. I threw it instantly to the ground, as if
already bitten by the deadly reptile, which
began Immediately to crawl along the ground
to the amazement and alarm of all present.
But the juggIer now got up, caught hold
of the snake and displayed its length, which
was nearly two feet. He then took it eau
tiously by the tail, and opening his own
mouth to its utmost width, let the head of
the snake drop into it, and commenced de-
liberately to swallow the animal, till the end
of the tail only was visible; then, making a
sudden gup, the whole Of the snake was ap-
parently swallowed. After this the jugger
came up to the spectators, and opening his
mouth wide, permitted us to look into his
throat: but no snake or snake-tail was to be
seen. 1t was seemingly down his throat al
together
During the remainder of the performances
we never saw this snake again, nor did the
iuggler profess his ability to make it re-
appear. But he performed another snake
| u,linb rurnrical rnunh He took