The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-29

MARVELLOUS FRATs OF AN INDIAN MAGICIAN-A
BRASS COIN CHANGED INTO A LIVING SERPENT.

AABVELOuS fEAIb OF AN INDIAN AAuiOAAN0A
BRASS COIN CHANGED INTO LIVING SERPENT.
The fort at Calcutta writes an English
officer in Once-a. Week. commonly known 9.
Fort William, is one of the most splendid
and convenient military establishments te
be found in any quarter OF the globe. 1t Is
spacious and somewhat resembles the Tow
er of London, in that it consists of various
streets and squares adapted for different
military purposes. n On allsides it is guard
ed BY a high and strongly built rampant
which is surrounded in its turn by broad
and deep fosse, over which are placed draw
bridges leading to the principal gateways
Arrived in Calcutta, a raw grimm, OF course
went to inspect the lions, and among 9TH,
ers the fort. IL. ii 81 ~ Z ~ q j 1-ilL
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 80 often described
that shall only mention few, for other
wise might tire the reader. One of them
struck me as being curious from its having
q strong resemblance to the feats recorded
in sacred history, as having been performed
by the magicians of Egypt, in the time OF
Moses, and in the presence OF Pharaoh.
Indeed, as it is well known that the Hindoo
tricks have 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 conversion of brass coin into
a snake. The juggler gave me the coin to
hold, and then seated himself about five
yards from me, on a 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 form in front of the juggler. At q
sign from him, l not only grasped the coin
held firmly in my right hand, but crossing
that hand with equal tightness with my left
l enclosed them both as firmly as could
between my knees. Of course was posi-
lively certain that the small coin was with
in my double fists.
The juggler then began short incanta-
ton, accompanied by monotonous and dis
cordant kind of recitative, and repeating
the words, +" Ram Sammri," during some
minutes. 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, a puff with his
mouth. At that instant l felt my hands
suddenly distend, and become partly open,
while l experienced sensation as if cold
ball of dough, or something equally soft,
nasty and disagreeable, was now between
my palms. l started to my feet in aston
ishment of others, and opening my hands,
found there no coin; but to my horror and
alarm, for of all created things l detest
and loathe the genus) saw young snake,
all alive-oh and of all snakes in the
world, cobra-di-capello, folded, or rather
coiled, roundly up. l threw it instantly to
the ground, trembling with rage and fear,
as if already bit by the deadly reptile,
which began Immediately to crawl along
the ground, to the alarm and amazement of
every one present.
The jugger now got up for the first time
since he had sat down, and catching hold Of
the snake, displayed its length, which was
nearly two feet-two feet all but an inch
and half. He then took it cautiously by
the tail, and opening his own mouth to its
widest extent, let the head OF the snake
drop into it, deliberately commenced to
swallow the animal till the end of the tail
was only visible; then making sudden
gulb, the whole OF the snake was apparently
swallowed. After this he came up to the
spectators, and opening his mouth wide
permitted US to look into his throat, but no
snake or tail was visible-it was seemingly
down his throat altogether. During the
remainder of his performances. we never
saw this snake again, Ror did the man pro-
fess his ability to make it re-appear. But
he performed another snake trick which
surprised US very much. He took from a
bag another cobradi-capello, and walking
into the centre of the room, inclosed it in
his hands in folded state. He waved or
shook them for some time in this condition,
and then opened his fists when, hey!-
presto!-the snake was gone, and its place
appeared several small ones, which he suf-
fered to fall from his hands, when they
glided, with their peculiar undulating move.
ment, almost like the waves OF the sea
across the floor.