Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-22
Indian Juggling.

The tort OF Calcutta (says traveller J
commonly known as Fort William, is one
of the most splendid and convenient
military establishments to be found in
any part of the glooe 1t is very spa
cious, and somewhat resembles the
Tower Of London, in that it consists of
various streets and squares, adapted for
different military purposes. On all sides
1t is guarded by high and strongly
built rampant, which is surrounded iu It's
turn by a broad and deep iosse, over
which are placed draw-brldges, leading
to the principal gateways The fort is
often the scene of animated festivity,
from the presence Of native jugglers, re-
nowned for their surprising skill and
dexterlty. The performances OF these
strange people have been so often de-
scribed, that shall only make mention
OF one which struck me as being curious
from its having a strong resemblance to
the fests recorded in sacred history as
having been performed by the magicians
in Egypt, and in the time of Moses, in
the presence of Pharaoh Indeed, as it
is we'll known that the Hlndoo tricks
have been handed down from the most
distant ages, from father to son, there is
little wonder that such a similarity can
exist.
The particular trick alluded to is the
apparent conversion of brass coin
into snake The juggler gave me the
coin to hold, aud then seated himself
about five yards from me, on 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 forum in
front of the juggler At sign from him
| not only grasped the coin held firmly
in my right hand, but crossing that hand
with equal tightness with my left, | in.
closed them both as firmly as | could be-
tween my knees OF course | was posi-
lively certain that the small coin Was
within my double fists The jugger then
began a sort ofiucantation, accompanied
by monotonous, discordant kind OF
recitation, and repeating the words,
Ram, Summa," during some minutes
he then suddenly stopped, and, still
keeping his seat, made a quick motion
with his right hand, as if throwing some.
thing at me, giving at the same time
puff with his mouth.
AT that instant | felt my hands sud
denly distend and become partly open,
while ! experienced a sensation as if a
cold ball of dough or something equally
soft. nasty and disagreeable was now be.
tween my palms. / started to my feet
in astonishment, also to the astonish.
ment Of others, and opening my hand
found there no coin; but to my horror
and alarm, for of all created things |
loathe and detest the genus, l saw
young snake, all alive-oh and of all
snakes in the world, a cobra-di-capello,
folded or rather coiled roundly up |
threw il instantly to the ground, trem-
bling with rage and fury, as it already
bit by the deadly reptile, which began
Immediately to crawl along the ground,
to the alarm and amazement OF every
one present, The juggler now got up
for the first time since he had sat down,
and catching hold of the snake dis
played 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, and deliberately commenced
to swallow the animal, till the end OF the
tail was only visible; then, making
sudden gulp, the whole Of the snake was
swallowed.
After this he came up to the speeta.
tors, ana opening his mouth wide, per-
mitted US to look into his throat, but no
snakes tail was visible it was seemingly
down his throat altogether During the
remainder of the performance we never
saw this snake again, nor did the man
profess his ability to make it reappear;
but he performed another snake trick
which surprised us very much. He took
from his bag another cobra di-capello,
and walking to the center OF the room
inclosed it in his hands in a folded state.
He waved or shook them for some time
in this condition, and then opened his
fists, when, hey prestol-the snake was
gone, and in it's place appeared several
small ones, which he suffered to fail
from his hands, when they ghded, with
their peculiar 'undulating movement
almost like the waves of the sea, about
the floor