Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-09-25
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER rs, 1884
ORIENTAL MAGIC.
The Astonishing Feats Of Jugglery in tn
East,

/
The Astonishing Feats of Jugglery in the
East.
Sketch from Travellers Notebook:
/ was smoking mp ChibOng one day on
the wide veranda of bungalow, or Gov
eminent inn, in Northern India. 1t was
January, but the weather was intensely
hot, and my Oak Gharra, with its rough
unframed horses, had stopped here for
a midday rest. My native servant Chad.
dy .Lall, whom l nicknamed Handy
Andy" on account Of certain unhandy
and merry twinkle of the eye that in
dicated no lack Of Hibernian humOr,
came uD to the porch and, with salaam,
said, "WOuld Sahib like to see Hindoos-
tanes man make tricks?" Eyes bring
him on" suspected the fellow was con-
sulting his own fondness for amusement
more than mine, but it was too hot to
sleep, and was ready for anything that
would kill time.
A tall fine looking Hipdoo with clear
cut, intelligent face, and eyes that look
ed straight at you, with no indication of
ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain," next appeared on the scene. He
was dressed in the long white robe of
his race, with a rich cashmere shawl
round his waist, and his saluJatiOn and
manners were respectful without the
least shade of servility. He was follow
ed by tive attendants carrying the va
riOus implements of his profession,
which they spread out before him, and
dozen or two hangers-On of all ages
grouped themselves at a respectful dis
lance TO enjoy the free show.
The ground in front of the bungalow
was paved with large fiat stones, and up
on one of these the cOnjurer seated him.
self, curling his legs under him In ORR
entail fashion, and asked in HindOstanee
"what special trick would the Sahib like
to see?" At the same time he barred his
long arms, we'll formed but not muscu-
lar. and united his shawl to OpOn his
cealed mechanism about his person.
told him through Handy Andy that
| would like to have him perform the
mango trick" which | had seen once
before at Delhi without being able to
penetrate its mysteries. He nodded as
sent and taking a box about ten inches
square, filled it with earth and in it
planted a mango-nut about the size of
an English walnut, having first handed
it to me for examination. He then
made tripod or frame work of three
sticks, six or eight feet long, and tied
together at the top, placed it over the
box and covered the whole with piece
of white muslin. The only thing thus
far that looked like charltanism was a
muttered incarnation, rolling up his
eyes with Outstretched palms, as II ap-
pealing for aid to some higher power.
Again seating himself on the stone
tagging not more than ten feet from
the veranda, he went through the most
astonishing performances Of slight-Of
hand tricks, such as swallowing swords,
tossing balls in the air which never
seemed to come down, drawing from his
mouth cOlOred ribbons of interminable
length, etc. some of which had seen be-
fore, but never in broad daylight. He
borrowed my watch, mashed it to fin
ders, and then mysteriOusly returned it
to my pocket unframed. He burned my
handkerchief, then poured from vial
some elixir upon the ashes, and the lin
en- was returned to me without the
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
eandOr that would disarm suspicion.
My eyes were wide open, and watched
him so intently as scarcely to wink, and
yet was unable to detect single flaw
nor account for one of these transfOrma-
tiOns.
Some of the tricks he repeated at my
request, but the result was the same. At
the critical moment his motions were
quick as lightning. In all cases where
fire was used | noticed that he either
poured some liquid or threw a whitish
powder on the flames, which produced
for an instant dense smoke, and left
pungent aromatic oder in the air.
In the meantime the mango tree was
growing. Four times, at intervals of
ten and fifteen minutes, he raised the
muslin to report progress. The first
time sprout three or four inches leng
appeared, at which he expressed much
satisfaction, and carefully sprinkled it
from small watering pot. The next
time it was foot high, and the leaves
seemed to be just forming. The third
time it was fully two feet in hight, and
appeared to be growing most vigorously.
At the close of his other performances
he tossed aside the enveloping cloth and
tripod Of sticks, and lcl there was q
mango tree or bush, about five feet in
hight, with psrfsctly-formed leaves and
branches. He brought it to me and 1
satisfied myself beyond question that it
was real live tree by breaking off
branch, which / kept as souvenir. He
then pulled it up by the roots, to which
was attached the nut partially decayed
and covered with fine fibrous sprouts.
He then emptisd the earth from the box
to show me that nothing was concealed
within it,
When it is borne in mind that all this
was done Ill broad daylight, with no per-
son usually near him, the performers
arms being bare to the shoulders, and