Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-05-08
,uae1,He EXTRAORDINARY.

rh. eort of Calcutta. writes an English OIL
ficer in once a-week,) is cften tne scene " ."
mated festiyity, from the presence % na
iueelers, renowned for their skill ana oeAlei,-
ty. The performances OF these stranSo n i',
have been SO often described, that shaii only
mention a few, for otherwise might tire the
reader. One of them struck me as being curl
ous from its having strong resemblance 10
the feats recorded in sacred history, as having
been performed by the magicians of Egypt, In
the time of Moses, and in presence of Phara-
oh. Indeed, it is we'll known that the HiDdoo
trick has been handed down from the most
distant ages, from father to son, there is little
wonder that such similarity can exist. The
particular trick alluded to is the apparent con-
version of a brass coin into a snake. The Jug
gler gave me the coin to hold, and then seated
himself about five yards from me, on small
rug, from which he never attempted to move
during the whole performance showed the
coin to several persons who were close beside
me, on a forum in front of the juggler. AT
sign from him, not only grasped the com
held firmly in my right hand, but crossing
that hand with equal tightness with my lett,
inclosed them both as firmly as couid De-
tween my knees, of course l was positlveiy
certain that the small coin was within my douo-
le fists. The juggler then began snort IN,
cantation, accompanied by monotonous ana
discordant sort of recitative, and repeating
utes. He then suddenly stopped, and still
keeping his seat, made quick motion with
his hand, as if throwing something at me,
giving, at the same time puff with his mouth.
At that instant felt my hand suddenly dis
tend, and become partly open, while expert
enced a sensation as if a cold ball OF dough, OF
something equally as soft, nasty and disagree
able, was now between my palms. started TO
nv feet to the aStOniShment OF others, ana
opening my hands, found there no coin; but
to my horror and alarm, {for of all created
things detest and loathe the genus.) saw
Young snake, all alive-oh! and Of all the
snakes in the world, cobra di-cappelo, fold
ed, or rather coiled, roundly up, threw 1t IN
stantly to the ground, trembling with rage and
fear as if already bit by the deadly reptile,
which bagan Immediately to crawl along the
ground, to the alarm and amazement of every
one present. The juggler now got up for the
first time since he sat down, and catching hold
of the snake, displayed its length, two feet
all but one inch and half He then took it
cautiously by the tail, and opening his own
mouth to its widest extent, letithe headsof the
snake drop into it, deliberately commenced to
swallow the animal, till the end of the tail only
was visible; then made sudden gulp, the
whole of the snake was apparently swallowed.
After this he came up to the spectators, ope-
ming his mouth wide permitting us TO look In
to his teeth, but no snake or snakes tail was
visible-it was seemingly down his throat al
together. During the remainder OF the per-
formances never saw the snake again, mol
did the man profess his ability to make it re-
appear. But he performed another snake trlck
which surprised us very much. He took from
bag another cobra di-capelio, and, walking
into the centre of the room, inclosed it in hi
hands in folded state. He waved or shoot
them for some time in this condition, and ther
opened his fists, when, hey! presto THE
snake was gone, and in its place appeared
several small ones, which he suffered to fal
from his hands, when they glided, with .heiI
peculiar undulating movement, almost lik'
the waves of the sea, across the floor.