Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-10-21
HINDOO .IuGGLERS.

.s1ssaz HINDOo sJUGGLERS. 2 gH4t
One of the men, taking a large earthen vessel
with capacious mouth, filled it with water
and turned it up side down, when all the water
flowed out, but the moment it was placed with
the mouth upward it became always full He
then empted it, and allowed any one to inspect
who chose. This being done, he desired one
If the party to fill it up. Still when he revers-
ed the jar not drop of water flowed, and upon
tnrDing it, to our astonishment, it was empty.
These, aud similar deceptions, were several
tines repeated and, although any otFus that
chose were allowed to upset the vessel when
full, which we did many times, upon reversing
# no water was to be seen, and yet no appear
apcs Of any having escaped. [ examined the
ar carefully when empty, but detecting nothing
was allowed to retain and fill it myself; still,
upon taken it up, all was void within; 80 that
how the water had disappeared and where it
had been conveyed were problems that none Of
US we're able to expound. The vessel employ
ed by the jugglers upon this occasion was the
common earthenware of the country, very
roughly made, and in order to convince US
that it had not been specially made for the
purpose of aiding his clever deception, he per-
mitted it to be broken in our presence. The
fragments were then handed round for our in
spection. A large basket was produced in
which was put a lean hungry parish slut
After al lapse of about a minute the basket was
removed, and she appeared with a litter of
little puppies These were again covered, and
on raising the magic basket goat was pre-
sented to our view. This was succeeded by a
pig in the full vigor OF its existence, but which,
after being covered for the usual time, appear
ed with its throat cut. twas, however, soon
restored to life under the mystical shake OF the
wicker covering. gaah
What rendered these sudden changes so ex-
traordinary was, that no one stood near the
basket but the juggler, who raised and covered
the animals with it. When he concluded his
exploits there was nothing to be seen under it,
and what became of the different animals which
figured in this singular deception, was ques-
ton which puzzled all. 80
A man now took small bag of brass balls
which he threw one by one, into the open air
to the number Of thirty-fve. None of them
appeared to! return. When lie had dis
charged the last there was pause for at least
minute. He then made variety Of motions
with his hand and at the same time grunted
forth sort of barbarous chant. In a few
seconds the balls were seen to fall one by one
until the whole were replaced in the bag; this
wssrepeated at least halt dozen times. No one
was allowed to come under him while this IN
teresting juggle was performed.
A gaunt looking Hindoo then stepped for
warl and declared that he would swallow
snake opening box he produced coDra
di capello not less than five feet long and as
big as an infants wrist He stood apart at
some distance from us, and like his predeces-
sors, would not allow any one to approach him
so that the deception appeared no longer equiv
ocal. He then, as it appeared to us, took the
snake and putting his tail in his mouth, gradu-
ally lowered it into his stomach, until nothing
but his head appeared to project between his
lips, when, with sudden gulph, he seemed
to tocomplete the disgusting process OF deglutition
and to secure the odious reptile within: his
body. After the expiration ota few seconds,
he opened his mouth and gradually drew forth
the snake, which he replaced in the box.
The next thing that engaged our attention
was feat of }dexterity altogether astonishing.
An elderly woman, the upper part OF whose
body was entirely uncovered, presented herself
to cur notice, and taking a bamboo twenty feet
long placed it upright upon HAT stone, and
without sny other support, climbed 1t with
surprising agility. Having done this, she
stood up with one foot on the top of the bam-
boo, balancing it all the while. Round her
waist she had girdle to which was fastened
an iron socket. Springing from her upright
position on the bamboo she threw herself hori-
zoncaly forward with such exact precision
that the top of the pole entered the socket OF
her iron zone, and in this position she spun
herself lfround with a velocity that made me
gddy to look at, the bamboo appearing all the
while as if supported by some supernatural
agency She turned her legs backwards until
her heels touched her shoulders, and grasping
her ankles 10 her hands, continued her rota-
tlons so rapidly that the outlines of her body
We're lost to the eye, and she looked like q re-
VolVing ball. Having performed other feats
equally extraordinary, she slid down the elastic
shaft, and raising it in the air, balanced it on
her hip, and finally projected it to distance
from her without the application Of her hands.
The next performer spread upon the ground a
cloth about the size of sheet. After while
1t seemed gradually raised, and upon
taking it up there appeared three pineapples
growing under it which were cut, and present.
cd to the spectators. This is&consldered q
common juggle, and yet It's perfectly inexpll-
cable.-1fauelsai. III. Htndostqn.
REFORM IN THE ARMY.-An important IN
qury was instituted by General Grant, shortly
after he was installed in the War Office, which
Is lsdestined to bring to light some curious infor-
nation. He directed a statement to be made
out Of all the property belonging to individuals
10 this, city and vicinity, which has been, on one
pretext or another, retained in the occupancy
Of the War Department and its employees :;
When that inquiry is fully answered, some
queer revelations will be made. Ash is,
there are not few gentlemen who lament the
refinement of the. late Secretary, since ut de-
pfVes some of ambuances, others OF horses,
oIhers OF rations, and others, again, of servants
he Mihe public expense. We trust, the General
@i carry out the reforms he has begun In gen
efa scope and in detail, and<limit every officer
ia ia the service to just what he is allowed by law
mere has been enough petty populations going
% TO keep a small army, The reforms have
aot been begun day too soon Wash. Er.