The Coconino sun., 1891-06-06
THE HINDOO JUGGLERS.
MARVELLOUS FEATS OF SKILL
 AND TRICKS OF MAGIC.
Tho Wonderful Trick of a Snako Charm CT and His Muslc-W Wonderful Skill with Sword--The Magic
 Palm and the Fraud.

one hot afternoon whom the dark face
 of snake oharmer with whom had
 a lowing acquaintance looked in at
 the open door. He seemed pleased to
 see me, and, after some remarkable
 salaams, said:
 'Plenty big snake here, Sahib."
 Come in and rout 'em out" re-
 piled.
 I knew that there was no possibility -of snakes. All the furniture in the
 room consisted of three light chairs
 and bed, and no more chance for a
 snake in the situation than for re-
 publican in Texas. In he came, how
 ever in a very sanguine. hopeful way,
 and began some vocal operations on a
 reed flute, which might have been charming to snakes, but fell as far short with me as would Wagnerian opera. While l was considering the disagreeable quality of the music thus foisted upon me, the cover on the bed
 began suddenly to move. It raised itself until it became quite tent-like, and finally from beneath one edge came the dull, ugly, hooded head of a
 cobra d capelia. He was no infant either but as big as anybody. Slowly he descended to the floor and approached the orchestra. When within about three feet of him the cobra stopped, coiled, lifted his head, raised his hood, and, running out his forked tongue in a sinister way, seemed disposed to enjoy the lascivious pleasing of the iute. My eyes were now attracted to a corner of the room and here cane another snake as large as number one, and from this point and that came others, to say nothing of two more from the bed. The whole outfit-eleven in all--ranged them selves in a row, like a class in music, and attended the flute obligato with gar an eye as if spellhound. They would have beaten time with their feet if they had possessed these mem- bers, but as it was escaped this an- noyance. When the last cobra was in line, my visitor backed to the door. his eleven pupils inching along after him. If he stopped playing, they ex- pressed their discontent in various threatening ways, not at all reassur- ing. At last an assistant came behind the besotted serpents as they sat listen- ing, and, with short sword, keen as a barbers razor, shipped of, one by one, their foolish heads. I paid the usual fee and my visitors gathered up the ruins of the cobras and departed. I have no conception of how this trick was managed, the snake man declin- ing to sell the idea at any price.
 Another time, I met four or five magic men in the street and invited hem to open up their game. One fel- ow with good looking head and eye, and with arms lean and nervous and as sapless. apparently, as Tried beef, began operations by pro- iucing light straight sword. Then placing an orange in the open and out tretched palm of boy assistant he made n downward stroke rapid as ight itself, and the orange fell in two pieces. picked them up astounded. They were evenly divided. and the cut yas as smooth as glass to the very end. looked at the boys hand; there was lot a mark on it. l would not believe t. No such skill with sword could | ,yist in the arm and nerve of man. Would he let me hold the ornnge?" | The Hindoo took my hand and exam ned it carefully. He pointed out that | he ball of my thumb was too full. He | would cut me. My palm was not fiat | pough. Thereupon scoffed him for !. fraud. At last becoming a little Iettled, he consented to let mo hold he fruit to be operated upon. But l | must put my hand on a post and hold he orange on the back of it. I did not Ike the arrangement; it looked too ouch like chopping off my hand. The uggler was, however, respectfully rm; the post or nothing.
 ''The Sahib would not hold steady 'ithout the post but he need have no gar. He will got his hand back"
 l knew he was right about the steady art, and insomuch as had proposed he test l at last concluded to go on.
 picked out an orange, and placing ly hand, palm down, on top of post, ested the yellow globe on the back of 1. The conjurer tucked up his loose 'hite sleeve, and taking firm grip n his sword hilt prepared for the low.
 Be steady Sahib. There is DO 
 Then the blade came flashing down nd the orange fell In equal divisions , the ground. There was no mark n my hand, but for the hundredth art of a second felt cold line along 8 back. There was no weight, no and it came and went in an lstant It was the trenchant edge of le sword. I never cared to repeat lis experiment, and still look on it , one of the greatest feats I saw in ldia.
 One day party of jugglers came in Id offered to do the world famed man. , trick-grow a mango from seed Id cause it to bear fruit before our res. We could pick out the place for e planting. We selected spot in e yard back ot the hotel, and told em to pitch in. They sat about in , tile circle, cross-legged, and sang a cary concerted number from some indoo operatic failure, while the ( ain guy spaded up little place in e earth with the blade of a crooked C lgger. Over this he reared tripod 1
 sticks some two feet high and cov- I