The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-03
Famous Coniurcrs.

The medium oftho present day bears
a closer resemblance, in methods and
manipulations, to the well-known con-
jurer of history than TO any other repre-
sentative of the magic arts. How far
short he still remains ofthe performance
of his prototypes is illustrated below:
In 1915 O delegation of highly educated
and distinguished men from the English
East India Company visited the Empe-
ror Jehangirc. While on their mission
they witnessed many most wonderful
performances, causing them to discred.
1t their senses, and far beyond any hint
even of solution. A party.of Bengalese
conjurers and jugglers, showing their
art before the Emperor, were desired to
produce upon the spot, and from seed,
ten mulberry trees. They Immediately
planted ten seeds, which in a few min
utes produced as many trees. The
ground divided over the spot where q
tree was planted, tiny leaves appeared,
at once followed by slender shoots,
which rapidly gained elevation, putting
out leaves aud twigs and branches f.
nally spreading wide in the air, budding,
blossoming, and yielding fruit, which
maturcd upon the spot, and was found
to be excellent. And this before the be-
holder had turned away his eyes. Fig,
almond, mango and walnut trees were
at the same time under like conditions
produced, yielding the fruit which be-
longed to each. Wonder succeeded
wonder The branches were filled with
birds ofbeautiful plumage, fitting about
among the leaves, and singing sweet
notes. The leaves turned to russet, fell
from their places, branches aud twigs
withered, and finally the trees sank back
into the earth, out of which they had all
sprang within the hour.
The same conjurcrs performed q
series of marvels. One of them pro-
duced a chain fifty cubits in length.
One end of this be threw into the air,
when the chain rapidly ran 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 UP he
ran to the farther end, and at once dis.
appeared heavenward. A hog, panther
and other large animals were success,
sively dispatched up this @rial pathway
and each in turn disappeared from the
far end. Nor were they seen again
and fina ly the chain was withdrawn, and
placed in bag for convenient carriage.
Another had bow and about fifty
steel-pointed arrows. He shot an arrow
in the air, when, lol the arrow became
fixed in space, at q considerable hight
Another and another arrow was sent
off, each fixing itself In the shaft Of the
preceding, until all formed chain oi
arrows in the air, excepting the last
shot, which striking the chain brought
the whole to the ground Ia detachments
They set up two common tents facing
each other, and about bowshot apart.
These tents were critically examined
by the spectators, as are the cabinets oi
the mediums, and pronounced empty
The tents were fastened to the ground all
around. The spectators were then in
vited TO choose what animals or bird:
they would have issue from these tent:
to engage in battle. Khaun-e-Jahaur
incredulously asked to sec fight be-
tween ostrichcs. In few minutes al
ostrich came out from each tent, rushed
to combat with deadly earnestness, and
from them the blood soon began to start
but they were so nearly matched tha
neither could win the victory, and they
were at last separated by the conjurer!
and conveyed within the tents. After
this the varied demands of the spccta
tors for birds or beasts were exactly
complied with, always with the samo re
suits.
They took man and apparently
severed limb from limb, actually nj las
cutting off his head, as 1t appeared
They scattered these members along tht
ground for considerable distance, anc
allowed them to remain for some timo
Gathering them up, they spread ovcl
these remains sheet, under which ont
of the jugglers crawled, and soon came
out, followed by the man who had beer
discovered, now sound in overy part
Neither was there to be found about thu
place any trace Of the thing that haC
been done.
A large caldron was set, and into tina
a quantity of rice was thrown. Withou
the sign of fire this rice soon began Il
boil, and out from the caldron was takel
more than one hundred platters o
cooked rice, with a stewed fowl at th,
top of each. This trick Is performed oil
smaller scale by the most ordnar1
fakirs of the present day.
But space fails to give opportunit,
for illustrating, from the records of th,
past, how the miserably tame perform
ances-by comparison-of the medium
of tho present day were paled aud over
shadowed by those of other and NOR
adroit people. There is not wonderful
feature in any of the so-called phenom
ena or manifestations which was not
nay, which is not now more than dupli
Gated by other skilliul performers, who's
connection with earth, and earth alone
is too evident to be doubted, even if tn
fact was not supported by their owl
testimony.