Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-01-13
CONJURERS OF OLD.


Delegates.
The medium of the present day bears
closer resemblance, in methods and
manipulations, to the well known con-
jurer of history than any other represen-
tative of the magic nrt. How far short
he still remains of the performances of
his prototypes is illustrated below. In
1915 delegation of highly educated and
distinguished men from the English East
India Company visited the Emperor Je-
hangire. While on their mission they
witnessed many most wonderful perform
ances, almost causing them to disoredit
their senses, and far beyond any hint
even of solution. A party of Bengalcse
conjurers and jugglers, showing their nrt
before the emperor, were desired to pro-
duce upon the spot, and from seed, ton
mulberry. trees. They Immediately
planted ten seeds, which, in few min
utes produced as many trees. The
ground divided over the spot, when n
seed was planted, tiny leaves appeared,
at once followed by tender shoots, which
rapidly gained elevation, putting out
leaves and twigs and branches, finally
spreading wide in the air, budding, bios
soming and yielding fruit, which ma
t,,red 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 pro-
duced, yielding the fruit which belonged
to each. Wonder succeeded wonder.
The branches we're filled with birds of
beautiful plumago, fitting about among
the leaves and singing sweet notes. The
leaves turned to russet, fell from their
places, branches and twigs withered, and
finally the trees sunk back into the earth,
out of which they had all sprung within
the hour.
The same conjurers performed se-
ries of marvcls. One of them produced
chain fifty cubits in length. One end
of this he threw into the air, when the
chain rapidly ran out its whole length,
and remained fixed in the air as if tas-
tened against the sky. A dog was then
placed upon the chain, when up he ran
to the further end, and at once disap-
peared heavenward. A hog, panther,
and other large animals were successively
up this aerial pathway, and
each in turn disappeared from the far
end. Nor We're they seen again; and
finally the chain was withdrawn and
placed in bag for convenient carriage.
Another had bow and about fifty
steel pointed arrows. He shot an arrow
nto the air, when, 10 the arrow became
fixed in space, at considerable height
Another and another arrow was sent OFT,
each fixing itself in the shaft of the pre-
ceding, until all formed chain of ar
rows in the air, excepting the last shot,
which, striking the chain, brought the
whole to the ground in detachments.
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
and pronounced empty. The
+ents were fastened to the ground all !
around The lookerson were then in
vited to choose what animals or birds
hey would have issue from these tents I
% engage in battle. Khaun-e-Jahaun |
ncredulously asked to see fight between !
,striches. In few minutes an ostrich
,ame out from each tent, rushed to COM
oat with deadly earnestness, and from
hem the blood soon began to stream;
,ut they were so nearly matched that
neither could win the victory, and they
we're ut last separated by the copiurers
md conveyed within the tents. After
his the varied demands of the spectators
or birds or beasts were exactly complied
With, always with the same results.
They took a man and apparently sew
red limb from limb, actually at last cut
ing off his head, as it appeared. They
catered these members along the 7
round for considerable distance, and
llowed them to remain for some time.
fathering them together, they spread
ver these remains sheet, under which
ne of the jugglers crawled, and soon
ame out, followed by the man who had
'een discovered, now sound in every
art. Neither was there to be found
bout the place any trace of the thing
hat had been done.
A large caldron was set, and into it a
uantity of rice thrown. Without the
ign of fire this rice soon began to boil
nd out from the caldron was taken more
nan one hundred platters of cooked
ice, with stewed fowl at the top Of
ach. This trick is performed on a
mailer scale by the most ordinary fakirs
the present day.