The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-01

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THE CHAMBERS OF HINDOOsTAND.
Marvsls that a French Traveller Says that
he Witnessed in the East
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 magne-
tism and catalepsy upon the first OBJ
jects that come across their way, that
have often wondered whether the
Brahmins with their occult sciences
have not made great discoveries in
questions which have recently been
agitated in Europe.
On one occasion while and others
were in q cafe with sir Maswell, he
ordered his dobochy to introduce the
Hindoo, almost naked, with an ascetic
face and bronzed color, entered.
Around his neck, 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."
1--WE desire to see what you can do"
said our host.
az obey the orders of silva, who has
sent me here" replied the fakir, squat
ting down upon one OF the marble
slabs.
The serpents raised their heads and
hissed, but without sho wing any an
ger. Then taking . email pipe, at
tached to wick in his hair, he pre-
duccd scarcely audible sounds imltat-
ing the tailapacca, bird that feeds
upon bruised coca nuts. Here the
serpents uncoIled themselves, and one
after another giided to the floor. As
soon as they touched the ground they
raised one-third OF their bodies, and
begun TO keep time to their masters
music. Suddenly the fakir dropped
his instrument and made several pass
es with his hands over the serpents. of
whom there were about ten, all of the
most deadly cobra species of India.
His eye assumed strange expression.
We all felt an indefinable unes siness,
and songht to turn away our gaze from
him. AT this moment a small shocra,
whose business was 10 hand fire in q
small brazier for lighting cigars, Yield
ed to his influence, lay down, and fell
asleep. Five minutes passed thus, and
we felt that if the msnifulations were
to continue few seconds more we
should all fall asleep. Chondor then
rose. and making two more passes
over the shOcra, said 10 il: Give the
commander some fire. The young
serpent rose, aid, without tottering,
came and offered fire TO its master. II
was pinched, pulled about, Till there
was no doubt of its being actually
asleep. Nor would it move from Sir
Maswell's side till ordered to do so by
the fakir.
We then examined the other cobras.
Paralyzed by magnetic Influence, they
lay at full length on the ground. On
taking them up we found them stiff as
sticks. They were in a state of com
plete cat,lepsy. The fakir then awak-
ened them, and they then returned
and again coiled themselves round his
body. On asking us if he could make
us feel his influence, he made a few
passes at our legs, and instantly we
1)st use Of these limbs; we could not
leaye our seats. He then released US
as easily as he had paralyzed us.
Chibh- Chondor closed his seance by
experimenting upon inanimate objects.
BY mere passes with his hands in
the direction to be acted upon, aud
without leaving his seat, he paled and
extinguished lights in the furthest
parts OF the room, moved the furni-
ture, including the divans upon which
we sat, opened and closed doors.
Catching sight of a Hindoo who was
drawing water from we'll in the gar
den, he made pass in his direction,
and The rope suddenly stopped in its
descent. resisting all the efforts of the
astonished gardener. With another
pass the rope asaiu descended.
asked Chibh Chondor: DO you
employ the same means in acting up
on inanimate objects that you do upon
living creatures
He replied: Il have only one
meana.'
What is il ~
'rhe will. Man, who is the result \
of all intellectual and material forces, h
must dominate over ali. The Brah-
MINIS know nothing besides this