The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-12-01
THE cHARNERs OF HINDosTAN
MarveIs that a. French Traveller
Says that He Witnessed in the
East.

Narvels that a. French Traveller |
Says that He Witnessed in the |
East.
The following is from the Franco
American:
Many of these Hindoo jugglers who
live in the silence of the pagodas per-
form feats far surprising the prestidi-
citations of Robert Houdin, and there
are many others who produce the most
curious phenomena in magnetism and
eatalepsy upon the frstobjects that come
across their way, that / have often won-
dered whether the brahmins with their
occult sciences have not made great dis
coveries in the questions which have re-
Gently been agitated in Europe. On
one occasion, while ] and others were in
cafe with Sir Maswell, he ordered his
dobochy to introduce the charmer. In
few moments a lean Hindoo, almost
naked, with an aseetic face and bronzed
color, entered. Around his neck, arms,
thighs and body were coiled serpents of
different sizes. After saluting US, he
said: ''God be with you; am Chibh-
Chondor, son of Chibh- -Gontnalh- Mava"
"We desire to see what you can do,"
said our host.
81 obey the orders of silva, who has
sent me here" replied the takir, squat
ting down upon one of the marble slabs.
The serpents raised their heads and
hissed, but without, showing any anger
Then taking a small pipe attached to a
wick in his hair, he produced scarcely
audible sounds. Initiating the tailapaca,
bird that feeds upon bruised cocoanuts.
Here the serpents uneoiled themselves,
and one after another glided to the floor.
As soon as they touched the ground
they raised about one-third of their
bodies, and began to keep time to their
masters music. Suddenly the taklr
dropped his instrument and made sever.
al passes with his hands over the serp.
ents, of whom there were about ten, al
of the most deadly cobra species of In
dia. His eye assumed strange expires
sion. We all felt an, unde6nabIe un
easiness, and sought to turn away oul
gaze from him. At this moment a smal
schocra, whose business was to hand fir,
in small brazier- for lighting cigars
yielded to his influence, lay down ant
fell asleep. Five minutes passed thus
and We felt that if the manipulation
were to continue a few seconds more W
should all fall asleep. Chondo the
rose, and making two more passes owe
the shocra, said to it: "Give the com
mander some fire." The young serpeu
rose, and without tottering came an
offered FIRE to its master. 1t was pinch
ed, pulled about, till there was no dout
of its actually being asleep. Nor woul
: it move from Sir Maswell's side till OF
dered to do so by the fakir. We the
$ examined the other cobras. Paralyze
by magnetic influence they lay at fu
g length on the ground On taking the
up we found them stiff as sticks. The
,, were in state Of complete catalepsy. :
II The fakir then returned awakened ther
u and they then returned and again cole
a themselves round his body. On askil
q us if he could make us feel his inhuen
70 he made few passes over our legs al
10 instantly We lost the use Of these liml
l. We could not leave our seats He tn
= released us as easily as he had paralyz
IL US. Chibh- Chondor closed his sean
& by experimenting upon inanimate c
N jects. By mere passes with his hands
1. the direction of the object to. be act
OF upon, and without leaving his seat,
% paled and extinguished lights. in I
~ furthest parts of the room, moved t
r. furniture, including the divans up
IT'S which We. sat, opened and closed doc
oi Catching sight of Hindoo who v
o' drawing water from we'll in the 9
d. den he made pass in his direction, a
sir the rope suddenly stopped in its desce
lse resisting all the efforts of the astonisl
IL gardener. With another pass the r,
Ale again descended. ] asked Chibh Oh
dor: "Do you employ the same me
is- in acting upon inanimate objects t
OF you do upon living creatures?"
a He replied, 81 have only one mear
"What is it?"
lhe "The will. Man, who is the result
zen all intellectual and material for
e must dominate over all. The brahn
an know nothing besides this"