The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-01-15
An Eastern Fakir.

1t occurred near Lommock in the
East. was young then, and was
travelling around the country with the
| idea in my head that the office of Amer
leans was to teach the world, and as a
consequence l often got left On this
occasion | went ashore to spend the
night at a native village four or five
miles inland, where it was reported
that famous juggler lived. We were a
jolly party. all beside myself being
sailors, and having a hard time riding
the native ponies; but, after few cap
sizes, we reined up at the fakir's, and
made up purse of about two dollars,
without which not much could be done.
Some of his tricks beat anything ever
saw.
He was tall, thin, olive-hued fellow
with long black hair tied up with a
string. He was extremely reticent. and
during the performance neither spoke
nor smiled. The first thing was to ar
range the party around him III a circle
of about thirty in diameter, and we
were so close together that no one
could pass out without our knowing it.
loprevent such a possibility he gave
us cord to hold. This being done, he
and a smaller native with a bundle of
wood took their places in the center
This young man arranged the wood in
a pile and lighted it, and when it
blazed up the older man seized him,
threw him upon the flames and held
him down. Immediately there arose a
dense, suffocating smoke that seemed a
mixture of flesh and sandalwood. 1t
rose above their heads and spread about
until it completely hid them, and from
it came such groans and cries that sew
eral of the men cried out that we had
better take hand, as the boy was be-
ing murdered. But | 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 fire, evidently
ashes, into flask which was handed to
mains of the assistant.
But" interrupted a gentleman at
the foot of the table, didn't he slip
OUT III lne smoke?
There was no place to go to, as we
were IN a clearing away from trees or
bushes. But the most unaccountable
part is yet to come. CATER passing
the flask around he took it back and
placed it in the center of the circle. and
putting some wood under it, lighted it.
Almost Immediately the flask began to
grow before our eyes; the fire blazed,
and rich odor of sandalwood floated
about, and in ten minutes the flask had
expanded until it was the size of a
large key. The fire was then put out,
and we were beckoned to come near
and examine. [ touched it, and it
seemed jar of earth made of plaster
or mud; it had ringing sound, as l
struck it with my seal ring, and to the
hand it was hot. After looking it over
we returned to our places. The old
fakir then took hammer, waved his
hands in the air, uttering some mystic
words, and hit the vessel hard blow
which broke it in pieces, when out step
ped the boy we had senior thought
we had seen-cremated as bright as
you please. l should be glad to see the
trick exposed, but have never seen any
one who could explain it satisfactorily
Some aver that the old fakir concealed
the young man about his own person;
but that was simply impossible, as |
felt of the fakir myself, and he had
nothing on but a shirt, open behind,
and pair of trousers"