The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-12-08
Miscellaneous.
The Coniurers of old.

The medium of the pt esent day bears a
scloser resemblance in methods and manipu-
lations, to the well-knowu conjurer Of histo-
ry than any other representative Of the mag.
ic art. How far short he still remains of
the performances of his prototypes is Illus
trated below. In 1915 delegation of high
ly educated and distinguished men from the
English East India Company visited the
Emperor Jehangire. While on their mis-
sion they witnessed many most wonderful
performances, almost causing them to dis
credit their senses, and far beyond any hint
even Of solution. A party of Beugalese con-
jurers and jugglers, showing heir art before
tho Emperor, were desired to produce upon
the spot, and from seed, ten mulberry trees.
They Immediately planted ten Seeds which,
In n few minutes produced as many trees.
The ground divided over the spot, when a
seed was plant cd, tiny leaves appeared, at
once followed by slender shoots, which rap.
IDLY gained elevation, putting out leaves
and twigs and branches, finally spreading
wide In the air, budding, blossoming and
yielded fruit, which matured upon the spot
and was found TO be excellent. And this
before the beholder had turned away his
eyes. Fig, almond, mango and walnut trees
were at the same time under like conditions
produced, yielding the fruit which belonged
to each. Wonder succeeded wonder. The
branches were filed with birds of beautiful
plumage, fitting about among the leaves
aud singing sweet notes. Theleaves turned
to russell, fell from their places, branches
and twigs withered, and finally the trees
sank back into the earth, out of which they
had all sprang within the hour. a
The same copjurers performed series of
marvels, one of them produced chain
fry cubits in length. One end of which
he threw into the air, when the chain rapid |
ly.rsn out its whole length, and remained
fixed in the air as if fastened against the
sky. A dog was then placed upon the chain
when uphe ran to the other end, and at
once, disappeared heaveuward. A hog, a
panther, and other large animals were sue
cessively despatched up this aerial pathway
and each in tarn disappeared from the far
end. Nor were they seen again and final
ly the chain was withdrawn, and placed in
aibag for convenient carriage.
Another had bow and about fifty steel
pointed arrows. He shot an arrow into the
air, when, 10! the arrow became fixed in
space, AT q considerable height Another
and another arrow was sent OIL each fixing
itself in the shaft OF the preceding, until all
formed Il chain of arrows in the air, excep-
ting the last shot, which, striking the chain,
brought the whole to the ground in detach-
ments.
They set up two common tents facing
each other, and about a bowshot apart
These tents were critically examined by the
spectators, as are the cabinets of the me-
diums, and pronounced empty. The tents
were fastened to the ground all around.
The lockers on were then invited to choose
what animals or birds they would have is
sue from these tents to engage in a battle.
Khaun-e.Jahaun, incredulously asked to
see fight between ostriches. In few
minutes an ostrich came out from each tent,
T nhed TO combat with deadly earnestness,
I'd from them the blood soon began to
stream; but they were so nearly matched
that neither could win the victory, and they
were at last separated by the conjurers and
conveyed into the tents After this the
varied demands of the spectators for birds
or beasts were exactly complied with, al
ways with the same results,
|
They took man and apparently severed
limb from limb, actually at last cutting off
his head, asst sppenred. They scattered
these members along the ground for a con-
distance. and allowed them to re-
main for some time. Gathering them to-
gether, they spread over these remains a
sheet, under which one juggler crawled,
and soon came out, followed by the man
who had been discovered, now sound in every
part. Neither was there to be found about
ths place any trace Of the thing that had
been done.
A large cauldron was set, and into it
quantity Of rice was thrown. Without the
sign of FIRE this rice soon began to boil, and
out from the canidron was taken more than
one hundred platters Of cooked rice, with q
stewed fowl at the top of each. This trick
is performed on smaller scale by the most
ordinary fakirs Of the present day.
But space fails to giAe opportunity for il
from the records ofthe past, how
the miserably tame performances-b conf
parison-of the mediums OF the present day
were pale and overshadow.d by those of
other days and more adroit people. There
is not wonderful feature in any of ae so
called phenomena or manifestations which
was not nay, which is not now more than
duplicated by other skillful performers,
whose connection with earth, and earth
alone is too evident to be doubted, even if
the fact was not supported by their own tes-
timony.