The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-03
JuggIery in India.

The eOnjuIerS and acrobatS of India
are tribe by themselves, resembling
the gipsieS of Europe, and, being subtle
and crafty, are despised, yet feared, by
the common people. They are wonderfully
expert i'll the performance OF their tricks
and feats OF strength, some of which
remain inexplicable, even 10 the inteili-
gence OF the acute European. One of
the most striking of their ruses-that of
the basket and chld-is thus descriDed:
A child or 8 years old, standing up
right In the basket, WriLhes In convul-
SONS under the influence Of music, and
disappears slowly into the interior,
" hicn is barely large enough to contain
It,. Scarcely iS it inside wnen the musi-
clans thr themselves upon It. close the
| u, and pierce the bashel la every direc-
ton wi b bneir long knives. They strike
with Il heir might, unt.i, t ne a moo 4iy-
ing way, the baskeL is completely hatten-
ed, ana seems no longer capable ofcOn-
t .iuing anything. They hen reform the
c4rcle anu resume their chant; to whicn
Il voice now responds from the forest.
The sound gradually approaches, and Ut
last seems to come from the basket,
which becomes more and more distend-
ed; the lid is removed, and the child
springs out.
lhe top-Jrick is also exceedingly pug
cling. lhe juggler gives the toy vigUr-
ous whirl, aud places it on the point oi "a
stack balanced upon his forehead or
nose. In this position, without any
lurLher interference from the juggler,
Lhe top suspemds Its spinning. anu
renews itagain, at the biddlng OF spec
tator. These alternate movements are
repeated during several seconds, greatly
10 Tie astouisnmenL ot beuulders. 1t il
not SO strange that the Top should pause,
but that it should resume It's Wnffiihg
without any fresh impetus seems to bs
pure witcncrait. Tuere Is no mecnani-
Cal cOnLrivance d.Sc0verable III. either
the top, or Tue stick on which it plays.
Among tne~ surprising leafs OF the
aor0Uats are those OF the rOpe-dancers.
Que performer steps upon the rope with
naked ieet, and PIE OF Jars on his
mead. Having reuoned the centre, he
causes Lne rope to swing rapidly TO and
lr0, maintaining uIs balance by moving
nlS buuy IN harmony with tue oscilla-
Lion VI Tue rope, Az the same time hold
ing his head motlonless, IN order not 10
lose of the jars. Another acrODat walks
skllliuily along tue rope With buffalo
uorns tied pervendicularlY to the teet.
A WONDERFUL exuiOitlon OF jugglery is
executed Win sWordS aud sasues bOf-
r0wed from tne spectators. The conjurer
wearing the scantiest apl arel 90 that has
bust and limds are wholly visible, press
es the sharp point against his breast
until the blade bei.I6 mo " hali-cIrcie.
Or he places himself ON his back, and,
laying ON his cnest thin leaf Oi the
UeLel-plant, his aeulyte strikes heavy
blow uOWn upon IL with u sharp sabre,
which cuts Lhe leaf in two. Again ne
throws fresh cOcoanuts up inl0 Jne air,
andIets them fail upon his lead, where
ON they are smashed as upon a rock.
"Lasuy," says M. kuusselet, who
Witnessed the scene, "a wagon was
br0ught--a heavy vehicle which two
oxen could scarcely drag. One OF the
guards lances was soliuIy fastened to
tue shalt, SO as to present its point at
the extremity, and u certain number
of the common people were invited TO
get into tue wagon, which the juggler,
placing his naked skull against the
point OF the lance, pushed forward, thus
loaded, for about ten PAGES. Alter this
leilt, ot course, every one wanted to in
specth his skull. The man complacently
showed nis head to each OF us, and we
were able 70 assure ourselves that he
nad no other cuicass than the thick skin
which Nature had given him for his
snare, but which nevertheless was
stout enough to resist pressure THAT
would have pierced through the body oil
All elephants"
Many acrobats go through. their per-
tormances upon the top OF pole which
IL held upright by tour ropes, the ends
Of which are simply put in a hole. Some
water is then poured into the hole, the
earn Is stamped down, and, prestot
The pole stands like rock, and may be
shaken with tue united strength of sew
eral men, without looseuing the ropes.
Little girls are often Included among
Inc performers, and they will roll tliem-
selves into balls, bend themselves back,
and conduct themselves generally as
enough made OF knuia-rubDer. They
thread neeules with their toes, their eyes
being blindfoldedj anu with their eyes
pick up straws stuck upright In the
ground. Or they hft weighs with their
eyes--a metal button being placed
under eaGh eyelid in such q way that IL
Hdheraa IN thti utitlli. 10 thnaa huttuna