Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-05-22
An Oriental Fakir.

"It occurred, said the amateur story
teller. ''near Lomnock, in the East. l
was younger then, and was travelling
around the country with the idea in my
head that the Office of Americans was to
teach the world, but I got left, as the
Arabs say. On this occasion I went
ashore. to spend the night at native
village four or five miles inland, where
it was reported a famous juggler lived.
We were jolly party, all besides my
time riding on the native ponies they
had provided us with; but after many
capsizes we managed to reach our des.
tination, where we found the fakir, and
made up a purse Of about SO, without
which nothing could be done. Some
of his tricks beat any thing / ever came
across.
'.Ae was tall, thin, olive.hued fell
low, with long black hair caught up be-
hind and tied with string. He was
extremely reticent, and all through the
performance neither smiled nor uttered
word. The first trick was to arrange
our party about him in circle of about
thirty feet in diameter, and we were so
close together that no one could pass
out without cur knowing it. To pre-
vent such possibility he gave us cord
to hold. This being done he and q
smaller native with bundle of wood
took their placss in the center. The
young man arranged the wood in a
pile and lighted it, and wher it blazed
up the older man seized him, threw
him upon the flames, and held him
down. Immediately there arose a
dense, sutfocating smoke that seemed a
mixture of flesh and sandalwood. II
rose about their heads and spread about
until it completely hid them, and from
it came such groans and cries that sew.
eral of the men called out that we had
better take hand, as the boy was be-
ing murdered. But I reminded them
that it was only trick, no matter how
realistic. We waited perhaps five min.
utes, when the yells ceased and the
smoke gradually cleared away, and
there stood the old fakir alone, the
young man having to all intents and
purposes been burned. He was SCOOP.
ing something from the fre-evidentIy
ashes-into flask which was handed
to us and pressed around the cremated
remains of the assistant"
"But," interrupted gentleman at
the foot Of the table, "didn't he slip out
in the smoker" "There was no place to
go to-" was the reply s'as we were in a
clearing away from trees or bushes.
But the strangest part is to come," he
continued. 'sAfter passing the flask
around he took 1T back, and placed it in
the center of the circle, aud putting
some wood under itlighted it. Almost
Immediately the flask began to grow
before our eyes; the fire blazed, and q
rich odor Of sandalwood foated about.
and in ten minutes the flask had ex.
panded until it was the size of large
keg. The fire was then put out, and we
were beckoned to come near and exam
inc. touched it and it seemed jal
of earth made of plaster or mud; it had
ringing sound as l struck it with my
sesl ring, and to the hand was hot. AT.
ter looking it over we returned to our
places; the old fakir then took ham.
mer, waved his hands in the air, utter
ing some mystic words, and struck the
vessel blow that broke it in pieces,
when out stepped the boy we had seen
--or thought we had seen-cremated,
as bright as you please. should be
glad to have the trick solved, but have
| never found anyone who could explain
it satisfactorily. Some aver that the
old fakir concealed the young mar
about his own person; but that was sim.
ply impossible, as / felt OF the fakii
myself and he had nothing ON but 9
shirt, opep in the back, and pair Of
! trousers"