, 1872-12-25
INDIAN JUGGLERY.

me an opportunity Of witnessing some OF
| their 1arest feats in this line. The wedding
| comprised two whole weeks Of banquets, pro-
cessions, and entertainments OF all sorts, With
most extravagant display OF jewels and torches,
flowers and silks along the pathway Of the bridal
party the whole costing, it is said, nearly lakh
Of rupees, or some s45, 900. But then, the BRIDE
groom was an only son, and there is no other
pour ont his wealth as ct the birth or marriage
Of q son. During the day the time was divided
between eating, dancing, theatrical exhi-
bitlons, concerts, gambling, and jugglery,
and at night there Was always brilliant display
OF fireworks while the festival lasted. But, Of
all, the jugglery was the most wonderful. Grass
| seed Was sown before our eyes, and in five min
utes thereafter 8 beautiful green lawn OF smooth
shaven grass lay outspread atour feet. A tiny,
two-1eayed plant Was handed us to look ct We
saw and felt it, aud perceived that it was gem
uine orange tree, having but two inpe1fectly
developed leaves, with portion Of the seed still
adhering. In half an hour We ate OF mangoes
plucked apparently from this very tree, which had
above our heads, budded, blossomed, and bore
fruits that turned from green to gol1en, almost
as rapidly as they could be Plucked and eaten.
bronze basin of clear water, which We had the
and though, when we thrust in our hands, there
Was found nothing but the water, in little
while o lotus Or water lily sp1ang up thereon,
and 10! its huge blossoms, pink-hued and fra
grant, we're before us-mammoth flowers, eigh-
teen inches in diameter! Tbs spec
tators were in ecstacy. Young and old,
even the natives, who had all seen the
wonders before, clapped their hands with de-
light; only the magician himself Was quiet and
reticent. Presently he held up piece of yell
low tissue paper, perhaps six inches square,
and after turning it round and round in various
positions, he formed Of it quite natural look
ing butterfly, wings and all. Holding the but
terdy on his open palm, he 80 arranged two wax
1tphfp ~ a1I0yr him IN yvpv 1vh ha.
tween them without affecting the flame and
then, by more gentle motion over the insect,
he started it into apparent life. First it moved
slowly toward the fan az # testing it's powers Of
locomotion, then tripped more lightly along
the edge,, and finally bore away,
that stood near, then floating away in very wan
tonness, and presently returning, lighting and
thing of life the wings fairly quivering With e1-
element just then mate was supplied to the
lonely excursionist by the same magic power
that had given the first it's fral being and to-
gether the fairy tourists act forth on their trav
els. Round and round they wheeled aud
foated, but always within the charmed circle
about the coujuror's head, sometimes kiss
ing his cheeks and lips, together or singly
lighting on the outspread fan, or re-
ing and coquetting with each other, putting
their tiny heads together IN mutual caresses,
and shaking their gauzy wings with all the pret-
ty airs aud grnces of live firts. The scene ended
by the magician taking 3 small pearl box out
the butterflies. They seemed to observe the
downy cotton with which the box was lined,
and in circling curves they moved toward it,
and crouched down, with wings still outspread,
The juggler closed the box at once, and as he
did so re saw seated upon the top live
canary that carolled forth sweet songs until its
little throat seemed ready to split, as if striving
fly favorites. Suddenly the song OF joy Was
changed to piercing notes that betokened hor-
ror or alarm, and We SAW at the conjurer's feet
deadly cobra de capela, coled as if for spring,
and with its glittering eyes fixed On the bird,
that seemed spellbound to the spot, either too
or fascinated, to move. The man
waited till the snake WAS in the very act OF
springing and then, with few words spoken
in low musical tones, and q gentle drop
ping movement Of his hand, he seemed to
throw the cobra into the same trance-like state
that the bird had eyinced, while the latter
reused up and flew eagerly into the juggler's
bosom, which had been opened for it's reception.
From this same capacious receptacle, apparently
other cobra, and, after allowing them time to
make each others acquaintance, sometimes in |
citing to anger, and again soothing to quietude |
BY his soft words and droning motions, the |
jugg1er wrapped them both about his neck and
arms, and stood with exultant pride, allowing
them to touch his nose, tho tip Of his tongue,
and in one instance even the pupil Of his eye,
with their vibrating tongues. But all this while
he held a small lutte in his hand, and when words |
seemed to fail he played few notes On the in |
strunnent, which soon reduced the reptiles to q |
state Of dreamy quiesence. After performing |
various daring feats with them, to show the |
audience that the snakes had been in no way |
mutilated, he threw largo chicken between |
them. Both struck it, and it died in about five |
minutes.
I afterward saw more of this snake charming in
Bangkok, and in this particular branch Of Jug |
Orientals. have seen them hang half dozen |
different kinds of aerpents-cobras, hooded Sun
snakes and viperH-about their necks at once, |
placing whole coil of them in their bosom, and |
even taking the reptiles heads in their mouths.
Then they will place some ten or fifteen OF as |
long, narrow neck, and, without looking in, |
thrust down their hands, draw up one or more, |
toy with it for while, and then, throwing it |
back, take up another, and 30 on aa long as |
they can obtain paying spectators. These
jugglers devote themselves exclusively to
tue study and practice Of their profess
Ill others in dezterity and daring. They are
highly esteemed, exert large influences in the
community, and are accredited by their credu-
lous compatrlots with authority over all Diseases
which they profess to summon or drive OF at
will, as well as evil spirits, ghosts, and geni
Despite the palpable absurdity Of these preten-
the venomous reptiles admits Of not the shadow
Of doubt, though how this power is maintained
ia not 80 easily shown. It is doubtless, to some
extent, the effect OF music, which is always
employed by jugglers to throw the reptiles
into sort Of spell during their per-
formances, aided also BY . monotonous waving
to and fro of tho charmer's body-a motion that
seema tn 1u11 tha anakea intn dreamy 1.,asn7er,