The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-08-23
ORIENTAL MAGIC.
Astonishing Peats in Jugglery in the
East-Unimpeaohable Witness
es to These Wonders.

WAS SMOKING my CnlDOuk OF
the wide veranda of a bungalow, Of
government inn, one day in North
ern India. 1t was in January, but
the weather was intensely hot, and
my Dskgahrrs, with its rough, un.
trained horses, had stopped here fol-
a midday rest. My HIndoostanee
servant, with an unpronouncable
name, whom l had nick-named
"HaDdy-Andy" on account of GER
tain unhandy ways, and a merry
twinkle Of the eye that indicated
no lack of IIibernian humor, came
up to the porch and with a salaam
said, "Would sahib like to see con-
iurer make tricks?' 'Yes,s bring
him on L suspected the fellow
was consulting his own fondness for
amusement more than mine, but il
was too hot to sleep, and l was
ready for anything to Kill time. A
tall, fine looking Hindoo, with a
clear cut, intelligent face, and eyes
that looked straight at you, with no
indication of ways that are dark
and tricks that are Vain,' next APP
peared on the scene. He was dress
ed in the ordinary long white robe
of his race, with a rich cashmere
shawl wound round the waist, and
his salutation and manners were re-
spectful without the least shade of
servility. He was followed by at
tendants, carrying the various i'm
plements of his profession which
they spread out before him, and a
dozen or two hangers-on of all ages,
themselves at respectful
distance to enjoy the free show.
The ground in front OF the bunga-
low was paved with large, fiat
stones, and npon one of these the
coujurer seated himself, curling his
legs under him in oriental fashion,
and asked in Hindoostsnee, what
special trick would sahib like to
see At the same time he barred
his arms, long, well formed, but not
and united his shawl to
open his robe and show me that
there was no concealed mechanism
about his person. told him
through Handy-Andy that l would
like to have him perform the man
go trick-which l had seen once be-
fore at Delhi without being able to
penetrate it's mysteries. He nodded
assent and taking a box about ten
inches square, filled it with earth,
ana in it planted a mango nut, about
the size of an English walnut, hav-
ing first handed it to me for exam
nation. He then made a frame
work, or tripod of three sticks, six
or eight feet long and tied together
at the top, placed it over the box,
and covered the whole with a piece
of white muslin. The only thing
thus far that looked like charlatan-
ism was a muttered incarnation,
rolling up his eyes, with sutstretch-
ed palms, as if appealing for aid to
some higher power.
Again seating himself not more
than ten feet in front of the veran-
dab, he went through the most as
tonishing sleight of hand tricks,
such as swallowing swords, tossing
balls in the air, drawing from his
mouth colored ribbons of intermin-
able length, ETC., some of which /
had seen before, but never in broad
daylight. He borrowed my watch,
and after MASKING it to flinders, it
was ysteriously returned unharm-
ed to my pocket. He burned my
handkerchief, then poured from a
vial come eliXer upon the ashes, and
the linen was returned to me with
out smell of fire on its hem.
These and many other curious
things he did for nearly an hour
with the most intense gravity OF
manner, and an air of candor that
would disarm suspicion. My eyes
were wide open, and l watched him
30 intently as scarcely to wink, and
yet was unable to detect a single
flaw, or account for one of these
transformations.
Some of the tricks he repeated at
my request, but the result was the
same. At the critical moment his
were as quick as light
ming. In all cases where fire was
used l noticed that he either poured
some liquid or threw a whitish pow
der upon the flames, which produc-
ed for an instant a dense smoke, and
left pungent, aromatic odor in the
air.
In the meantime the mango tree
was growing. Four times at inter-
walls of ten or fifteen minutes, he
raised the muslin cover to report
progress. The first time a sprout
three or four inches long appeared,
at which he expressed satisfaction,
ana carefully watered Il from a
small sprinkling pot. The next
time IL was foot high, and the
leaves seemed just forming. The
third time 1t was fully two feet in
height, and appeared to be growing
wrfnr he 90
his other performances he tossed
aside the enveloping cloth and tri-
pod sticks, and lol there was 9
mango tree or bush about five feet
high, with perfectly formed leaves
and branches. He brought it to me,
and 1 satisfied myself beyond 8
question that it was = real tree, by
breaking off small branch, which
i kept as a souvenir. He then pull
ed it up by the roots, to which was
attached nut partially decaYed, and
covered with fibreus sprouts. He
then emptied the earth from the
box, to show that nothing was con-
cealed within IL. rrI 5000
When 1t is borne in mind that all
this is done in broad day, with nc
person usually near him, the per.
formers arms being bare to tbs
shoulders, and seated upon stone
pavement, it is not surprising thar
the bystanders seemed filed will
amazement not unmixed with awe
1t was plain that they considered
him in league with the evil spiri
or gifted with supernatural powers
Their faces would have been to mC
an interesting study If my own at,
tention had not been so closely rfv
tied on the coniurer. .Sg 70
Through Handy-Andy / offered
MIN twenty rupees If he would dis
close to me the secret of the mangl
tree. then doubled and trebles
the offer, but he only shook his head
and i presume one thousand rupee
would have been no Temptation. :
rewarded him with 9 generous. stip
aud for the moment regretted that
was not Q Snowman by profession
If could have secured his service
for an American engagement, ther
would have been millions in it,
The wonderful tricks of coniur