The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-10-14
Indian Juggles

On certain occasion, while large
body of English troops were concer-
trated near an inland town, juggler re-
quested permission of the commandant
to entertain the soldiers with q public
exhibition of his art. He named his
price-a very moderate one-and said
he would wish to receive it from another
British officer, stationed ten miles away,
at certain hour Of his exhibition day,
and asked the commander to send the
money to his-brother officer Immediately,
together with note explaining the cir
cumstances.
His request was granted, and on the
day appointed the troops were drawn up
on their parade ground, sandy plain,
quite destitute Of shrub or leaf Near
the centre was erected tall pole, large
at the bottom, and tapering gradually to
point at the top. The juggler was en-
tirely naked, and walked to the pole
with six empty baskets on his arms,
placed them on circle around the bot
tom, and muttered incantations over
them. The spectators were near enough
to the baskets to touch them, and were
struck dumb with wonder when they
beheld child suddenly appear in each.
The juggler took the babes out one by
one, deliberately cut their heads off, and
threw them upon the sand. AS each
bleeding body touched the ground, it in
stantIy disappeared and beautiful
plant sprang up from the arid soil in it's
place. Another incarnation by the sor-
cerer, and the empty baskets alone were
visible. Next, he struck the pole sew
eral sharp raps with his bare hands,
when branches slowly came out on all
sides, to the very top, the trunk assumed
a bark covering, leaves sprouted thickly
from every twig, and hundreds of birds
sung on the branches. This magnii-
cent spectacle, too, was destroyed in an
instant, and the bare pole, surrounded
with baskets, was all that remained in
view. The juggler then cast away the
baskets, and requested the officers to
take out their watches and mark the
time. 81 am going for my money"
said he, "and l want you to see how
fast I can 60" The time-keepers were
drawn forth, and the so,cerer com
menced ascending the pole. Slowly he
approached the point at the top, as boy
would climb the trunk of tree, and all
eyes were fixed upon him until he
reached the TOP, when he suddenly van
lshed from sight Accustomed, as they
were, to the tricks of the santons, the
soldiers could hardly believe the evi-
dence of their eyes, and stood like
statues for many minutes gazing at the
vacant pole, when, 10 it commenced de-
scending into the ground, and, in the
presence of the whole army, entirely
disappeared. With one accord every
man rushed to the spot it had occupied
but no trace of it-not even a hole
was visible, and deep excavation made
with spades failed to reveal the slightest
mark of it's existence. On the follow
Ing day the officer of the other station
wrote to the commandant that he had
paid over the money to the juggler at
half-past four o'clock on the previous
afternoon, exactly the hour and minute
the sorcerer had disappeared from the
top OF the pole.
Strange and unaccountabie as these
deeds may appear to US, they are of com
mon occurrence in that land os the sun,
and the perpetrators. if they have polit
ical acumen joined to their diabolical
skill, not infrequently sway native
princes according to their will.