The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-03

its Pickering fame, and its incense-sayored
breath. A more perfect Illusion was never
seen.
i" That is Norodom, whispered Woun-
Tajac in my ear. Another actor now
came upon the scene whom | recognized
to be the tall athlete, Tepada Behind
him came a smaller man, whose name,
Woun-Tajac informed me, was Minhman,
and boy, probably twelve years old, cal
led Tsin-ki. These four began some of
the most wonderful athletic exhibitions
that eau be conceived 1t is impossible
to believe, unless you saw it, what work
these men put human muscles to. | am
not going to provoke the incredulity of
your readers by attempting to describe the
majority of them. In one feat Tepada
seized Norodom by his long white beard,
held him of at arms length, and spun
round with him until the old mans legs
were horizontal to the athletes shoulders.
Then, while they still spun with the fury
of dervishes, Minhman sprung up, seized
upon Norodom's feet, and spun out hori-
zontal continuation of the ancient, and
when Minhman was firmly established,
the boy Tsin-ki caught to his feet in like
manner, and the tall athlete, every muscle
in him straining, continued to whirl the
human jointless lever around. At last,
slowing slightly, Tepada drew in his arms
till the old mans white beard touched his
body; there was sudden strain, and the
arm of men from being horizontal became
perpendicular, Norodom's head resting
atop of Tepadas, Minhmans head upon
Norodom's feet, aud Tsin.ki's head on
Minhmans feet. A pause for breath,
then the column of men was propelled
into the air, and presto Tepada's head
was on the ground, Norodom's feet to his,
Minhman's feet upon Norodom's head,
Tsin.ki's feet on Minhman's head Each
had turned summersault, and the column
was unbroken
| could fill several columns with des,
criptions of the most remarkable and un-
accountable feats of magic performed by
these wonderful jugglers, but | must re-
frain One trick which Minhman per-
formed was very superior version of the
mango tree feat of the Indian jugglers.
He took an orange, cut it open, and pro-
duced serpent. This he took down into
the audience, and, borrowing robe from
one, cut the snakes head off and covered
it with the robe. When the robe was
lifted again, fox was in place of the snake
The fox's head was cut off, two robes bOr-
rowed, and when they were raised there
was wolf, which was killed with sword.
Three robes, and leopard appeared; it
was slain with javelin. Four robes coy-
cred most savage.looking buffalo, that
was killed with an axe Five robes Gov
cred in part, but not altogether, lordly
elephant, who, seized Minhman by the
neck and tossed him violently up. He
mounted feet foremost, and finally clung
by his toes to the capital of one Of the col
umns. Tepada now leaped from the stage
aud alighted upon the elephants shoulders
With short sword he goaded the beast
on the head until, shrieking, the unwieldy
animal reared upon its hind feet, twined
its trunk about one of the great columns,
and seemed trying to lift itself from the
ground and wrap its body around the great
pillar. The music clashed out barbarous
ly, Norodom flashed forth dazzling fire.
work of some sort, and the elephant had
disappeared and Tepada lay upon the stage
writhing in the folds of great boa con-
strictor and holding up Minhman upon his
feet.
During three hours the exhibition con
tinued feats of the sort | have described,
each more wonderful than the one that
preceded it, following one another in rapid
succession. / shall content myself with
describing the last and eliminating wonder
of the startling entertainment
A perfectly formed and most lovely
nautch girl sprang out upon the stage, and
was hailed with universal exclamations of
delight, everybody calling out her name,
Luan-Prahana, as if it we're a word of
good omen. Her only dress was short
petticoat of variegated feather work. A
wreath Of rosebuds crowned her soft, short
black hair, and she wore pearl necklace,
as well as broad, gold armlets and anklets.
With a brilliant smile she danced exquis-
iteiy for some minutes to the accompani-
ment of single pipe, then knelt and laid
her head upon old Norodom's knee The
boy famed her with fan made of sweet
fern leaves, Minhman fetched lotos -shap
ed golden goblet, and Tepada poured into |
it from a quaint looking flask fluid of
greenish hue. The old yogi-like Norodom
took the goblet and blew his breath upon
the contents till they broke into pale
blue fame. This Tepada extinguished
with his breath, when Norodom held the
goblet to Luan-P Prabanas lips, and she
drained the contents with sigh. As if
transfgured she suddenly sprang to her
feet, her face strangely radiant, and began
to spin giddily around in one spot First
the boy, then inhman, then Tepada tried
to arrest her, but they no sooner touched |
her than she repelled them with shock |
that thrilled them as ii she had impaired |
an electric spark to them. Spinning con-
stantly, with bewilderingly rapid motion,
the girl now sprang of the stage and down