The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-02-27
BIA COUNTY, PA, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27 1861.
Indian Juggling.

The fort of Calcutta, commonly known
as Fort William, is one of the most spen-
did and convenient military establishments
] 10 be found in any quarter of the globe. 1t
is very spacious, and somewhat resembles
the Tower of London, in that il consists OF
various streets and squares, adapted for
different military purposes. On all sides II
is guarded by high and strongly built
rampant, which is surrounded in its turn by
broad and deep fosse, over which are
placed drawbrhges, leading 10 The princ-
pal gateways. Arrived in Calcutta, a raw
griffin, of course went 10 inspect the lions,
and, among others, the fort.
The fort is often the scene of animated
festivity, from the presence of native Jug
glers, renowned for their surprising skill
and dexterIty. The performances OF these
strange people have been so often describ-
ed, that shall only make mention OF a few
for otherwise | might tire The reader. One
oil them struck me as being curious from It's
having strong resemblance of the feats
recorded in sacred history, as having been
performed by the magiclans of Egypt in
the time oil Moses. and in the presence of
Pharoah. Indeed, as il il is well known
that The Hindu tricks have been handed
down from the most distant ages, from ia
ther 10 son, there is lille wonder that such
similarity can exist The particular trick
alluded 10, is the apparent conversion of
brass coin into snake. The jugsler gave
me the coin TO hold and then seated him.
self, about five yards from me, OH a small
reg, from which he never attempted 10
move during the whole per!ormace.
showed The coin 10 several persons who
were close beside me, on iorm in front of
the juggler. Al sign from him, not only
grasped the coin held firmly in my right
hand, but, crossing that hand with equal
tightness with my left, ! enclosed them
both as firmly as could between my knees
OF course | was positively certain that the
small coin was within my double fists. The
luggIer then began a sort of incansRtion, ac-
companed by monotnous and discordani
kind of recitatve, and, repeating the words,
"Ram, Sammu," during some minutes. He
then suddenly stopped and still keeping
his sea:, made quick motion with his
right hand, as if throwing something a. me,
giving al the same time a puff with his
mouth. AT that instant | tell my hands
suddenly distend, and become partly open,
while experienced a sensation as If a cold
ball OF dough, or something equally soft,
nasty and disagreeable was now between
my palms. started 10 my feet in asionish-
ment, also 10 the astonishment of others,
and opening my hands, found there no coin,
but to my horror and alarm [for of all crea-
led things detest and loathe the genus)
saw young snake. all alive oh aud of
all snakes in the world, a cobra di-capello,
folded, or rather coied, roundly up. threw
il instantly 10 the ground, trembling with
rage aud fear, as if already bit by the dead
ly reptile, which began Immediately 10
crawl along the ground, 10 the alarm and
amazemenI of every one present. The Jug
gler now got up Tor The first time since he
had sat down, and caching hold of the
snake disdayed its length, which was
nearly two feel-two feet all but an inch
and half He then took il cautiously by
the tail ard opeEiHg his own mouth to It's
widest extent, let the head of the snake
drop into it, and deliberately commenced
to swallow the animal, till the end of the
tail only was visible then making a sud-
den gulp, the whole of the snake was ap-
paranlly swallow ed. Alter this, he came
up 10 The spectators and opening his mouth
wide, permitted us 10 look into his throat,
but no snake or snakes tail was visible ii
was seemingly down his throat altogether.
During the remainder of the performances,
we lever saw this snake again, nor did the
man profess his ability to make it reap, lear;
but he pernormed ano;her snake trick,
which surprised US very mcoh. He took
from bag another cobra -dl-capelio, and,
walking into the centre of the room enclos-
ed il in his hands in n folded stale. He
waved, or shood Them Tor some time in
this condition and then opened his fists,
when, hey presto 1.-The snakes was gone,
and in lis place appeared several small
ones, which he suffered 10 fall from his
hands, when they gided, with tnei! pecu
liar nndnlating movement, almost like the
waves of the sea, about the hoor.-Er.
AN aged clergyman in the western part
of this country, speaking OF the solemnity
attached to the ministerial office, said that