The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-02-02

One day ut Fafell his Noyai Hl&huESS had
an hour Of quiet amusement In camp watching
the tricks Of some Indian Juggiers and snake
charmers, which havu been described a hum
dred times over, and which never lose their
interest for the spectator. After breakfast q
ragged train Of fellows, leading apes and
carrying bags, were seen coming up the main
street of the camp to one Of the tents. These
were followed by seven or eight ugly. shape
less. elderly women In bright drapery, carry
ing here what is considered musical instru-
ments. They are all squatted under the shade
of the trees in front of one of the tents apart
--conjurers ape leaders, singing women.
Presently the Prince sauntered down from
the house and took a seat in front of the tent,
and bis suite sat or stood around him while
the charmers and conjurors prepared for their
exhibition. The jugglers and snake charm
ers we're the first to show OF. They were
only two, old chatty fellows, whose skin hung
on their bones as If it were cracked brown pa
per. They did some clever passes" swal-
lowed and spat out fire, produced an enchant-
ed, inexhaustible water vessel, walked on
wooden pattens held on by the action of the
feet making vacuum-in fact the withered
vivacious old juggler and his ragged old con-
federate performed all the orthodox tricks of
their confraternity. Where did he get the
cobras which he produced suddenly out of
two baskets which had been turned over, In
side out, in our presence? 1t was not the
drumming Of his friend or the playing on the
dry gourd which drew the reptiles out of
cover. A little thrill went through the spec
tators as the reptiles raised their flaming eyes
and hooded crests, kissing fieroely, reared on
end as If to strike the garrulous charmer. DIR.
Fayer opened the jaws Of the larger with a
stick while the man held it, and showed the
Prince where the fangs were not. The snakes
danced to the music Of a gourd drum, but it
was with rage and fear, not with pleasure.
Meantime mango under the dirty cloth was
growing, and in the interval of snake work,
the old fellow dashed at the latter and ex-
posed a fresh bright green mango tree, some
eighteen inches high in the ground, where he
had apparently only put in mango seed.
Expressions of wonder followed; then the
cloth was thrown over the tree and another of
the famous legendary legerdemain fcats was
executed. A shallow basket, IS inches high
and feet long, with cover, was placed be.
fore the Prince. It was plain there was no
deceit 1t was basket, and nothing more or
less and it was put on bare earth before our
eyes. AT call there came out from q group
of natives near at hand, lad of IL or SO,
slight of figure and pleasant of face, with not
an article of dress save his loin cloth and a
dirty turban. Him, the old man, chattering
the while, bound hand and foot a la Brothers
Anyone Irvine. Then sack made of strong
netting was produced, and then the old fellow
slipped it over the lad, whom he squeezed
down on his launches so that he could tie the
cords securely over his head and lift him from
the ground to prove how secure he was. He
seemed to use great force to put the lad into
the basket and to have much difficulty in fit
ting the lid on the top of him. When that
was done the music was renewed by one, and
the other juggler began to talk to his basket.
Presently the lid was agitated, and the cord
and net were jerked out and fell on the ground.
Then the juggler ran at the basket in a fury,
jumped on the top, crushed in the lid, stamp
ed on it, took stick and drove 1t with force
through the wicker work. The basket was
empty Then there came voice as of the
lad who had been inside, and 10 there was
just such youth upon one Of the trees. 1t
was certainly a very clever trick, and very
we'll done with the most simple adjuncts. The
mango tree when next uncovered appeared
hung with tiny fruit The ape men next
showed off their favorites, and then the sing
ing women began, but few slaves were
quite sufficient to prove that the taste for ma
tive music must be acquired. bombay Corres-
1o1dence of ITO London Times.