Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-03-23
1KDIAH JUGGLING.

80 CHANGING A BRASS COIN INTO A SNAKE.
The fort of Calcutta, commonly known as Fort
william, is one of the most splendid and convent
emit military establishments TO be fonnd in any
quarter Of the globe. It's very spacious, and
somewhat resembles the Tower Of London, in that
Il cOusisss VI various streets and squares, adapted
for different mRitary purposes. On all sides it lie
guarded by q high sra strongly built rampant.
which lie surrounded in its turn BY o broad and
deep fosse, over which are placed drawbridges,
leading 70 the principal gasewsys. Arrived in
Calcutta, . raw grimm, Of course I went TO inspect
che liens. and, among others. the fort.
The fort is often the scsns Of animated f~estivisy,
from the presence Of sstivs ~jusglers, renowned
for their surprising skill and dsxisrity. The per-
formance Of these strange people have been SO
often described. that I shall only make mention
ofa few, for otherwise l might tire the reader.
One of them struck me as being curious from its
having a strong rsserlblsnce TO the feats recorded
in sacred history, as having been performed By
the magicians of Egypt. in the time Of Moses, and
10 presence Of Paraoh. Indeed, as ii is well known
that the Hindoo tricks have been handed down
from the most distant ages, from father to SOD.
there is little wonder that such . similarity can
exist. The particular trick alluded to 10 the a2pa-
rent conversion Of e brass coin into q snake.
The juggler gave me the coin to hold, and then
seated himself, about Eve yards from me, on a
small rug, from which be never attempted to move
during the whole performance. ] showed the coin
to several persons who were close beside me, on a
form in front Of the jugglcr. AT . sign from him,
/ not only grasped the coin l held firmly in my
right hand, but crossing that hand with }equal
tigb,noss with my left, l inclossd them both Of
firmly as ] could between my knees. Of course
was positively certain that the small coin wa
within my double fist.
The juggler then began a sort Of Incarnation, &C
companied by q monotonous and disoordant kin,
of Iecitative, and repeating the words, Ram. Sam
mu, during some mirutes. He then euddenl
stopped, and still keeping his seat, made q quic
motion with his right hand as IL throwing somt
thing at me, giving at the same time a puff Wit
his mouth, AT that instant / felt my hands sud
denly distend, and become partly open, while
experienced a sensation as IL a cold ball Of dough
or something equally soft. nasty. and disagresabl
was now between my palms. / started to my fee
in establishment, also to the astonishment Of other
and opening my hands. found there no coin, bu
20 my horror and alarm (for of all created thing
j detest and loathe the genus) ] saw q youn
snake, ell alive-ohl and Of all snakes in Oh
world, a cobra-dicapelio, folded. or rather coiled
rcundly up. 1 threw It instantly to the ground
trembling with rage and fear, as IL already bit b
che deadly reptile, which began immediately I
crawl along the ground, to the alarm and amaze
ment of every one present. The juggler now 20
up for the FIRST time since he had sat down. an
catching bold Of the snake displayed Its length
which was nearly two teet-two feet all bat a
inch and y half. lie then took it cautiously BY tn
tail, and opening his own mouth to It's widest q
tsnt. let ihe head Of the snake drop into i, an
deliberately commenced to swsllow The animaI
ell the end Of the tail was only visible; then mai
ing . sudden gulp, the whole Of the snake was ar
parenty swallowed. After this, he came up to tb
spectators, and opening his mouth wide, permitte
% 10 look into his throat, but no snake or snake
call was visiblei it was seemingly down his throa
altogether. li s 4 ss6w
During she remainder Of the performances. W.
never san this snake again. nor did The man pro
Tess his ability to make it reappear; but be per
formed another snake-trick, which surprised n
very much. He took from q bag another cobra
dicapellO, and walking into the centre Of III,
room. Enclosed II 10 his hands In q folded state
He wsysd, OF shook them for some time in thil
condition, and then opened his fists. when. hsy
presto lathe snake Was gone, and in lie place ap-
pearsd several mail ones, which be suffered 10
fall from his hands. when they glidsd, with their
peculiar unduiating movement, almost like The
vssss Of tho psa. across the aOooh-EAgsisA or
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