The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-16
s%Jugglery in India.

are Il tribe by themselves, resembling the
gypsies of Europe, and, being subtle and
crafty, are despised, yet feared, by the
common people. They are wonderfully
expert in the performance of their tricks
and feats of strength, some Of which re-
main inexplicable, eve to the intelligence
of the acute European. One of the most
striking of their ruses-that of the basket
and child-is thus described:
"Achild seven or eight years old, standing
upright in the basket, writhes in convul-
siOns underline influence of music, and dis
appears slowly into the interior, which is
barely large enough to contain 1t. Scarce
ly is it inside when the musicians throw
themselves upon it, close the lid and pierce
the basket in every direction with their
long knives. They strike with all their
might until, the bamboo giving way, the
basket is completely tiattened and seems
no longer capable of containing anything.
They then reform the circle and resume
their chant, to which a voice now responds
from the forest. The sound gradually ap-
proaches and, at last, seems to come from
the basket, which becomes more and more
distended, the lid is removed and the child
springs out"
The top-trick is also exceedingly puz-
zling. The jugg.er gives the toy a Wig
orous whirl, and places 1t on the point of
a stick balanced upon his forehead or
rncn Tn thic nncit,nr uitbcrt onr F,r-
ther interference from the juggler, the top
suspends its spinning and renews it again
at the bidding of a spectator. These al
ternate movements are repeated during
several seconds, greatly to the astonish-
ment of beholders. 1t is not so strange
that the top should pause, but that it
should resume its whirling without n
fresh impetus seems to be pure witchcraft.
There is no mechanical continuance dis
coverable in either the top or the stick on
which it plays.
Among the surprising feats of the aero
bats are those of the ro~pe-dancers. Ore
performer steps upon the rope with naked
feet and a pile Of jars on his head. Hav-
ing reached the center, he causes the rope
o swing rapidly to and fro, maintaining
his balance by moving his body in har-
mony with the oscillations of the rope,
at the same time holding his head motion
less in order not to lose off the jars. An
other acrobat walks skillfully along the
rope with buffalo horns tied %perpendicu-
larly to the feet.
A wonderful exhibition of jugglery is
executed with swords and sashes Dor
rowed from the spectators. The coniurer
wearing the scantiest apparel, so that his
bust and limbs are wholly visible, presses
the sharp point against his breast until
the blade bends into a half-circle. Or he
places himself on his back and, laying on
his chest a thin leaf OF the betel- plant,
his acolyte strikes a heavy blow down
upon it with a sharp saber, which cuts the
leaf in two. Again, he throws fresh CO.
coanuts up into the air and lets them fall
upon his head, whereon they are smashed
as upon a rock.
Lastly" says NJ. Rousselet, who wit,
messed the scene, "a wagon was brought
"a heavy vehicle which two oxen could
scarcely drag. One of the guards lances
was solidly fastened to the shaft, so as to
present its point at the extremity, and a
certain number Of the common people
we're invited to get into the wagon, which
the juggler, placing his naked skull
against the point of the lance, pushed for
ward, thus loaded, for about ten PAGES.
After this feat, of course, every one
wanted to inspect his skull. The man
complacently showed his head to each of
us, and we were able to assure ourselves
that he had no other cuirass Than the thick
skin which nature had given him for his
share, but which nevertheless was stout
enough to resist a pressure that would
have pierced through the body of an ele-
phant."
Many acrobats 60 through their per-
formances upon the top of a pole which
is held upright by four ropes, the ends of
which are simply put into a hole. Some
water is then poured into the hole, the
earth is stamped down. and, prestol
the pole stands like a rock, and
may be shaken with the united
strength Of several men without loosening