Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-15
ANNAPOLIS Md MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY Is 1892.
ZULU WIZARDS.
PROFESSOR kELlAR TELLS RE
MARKABLE TALE.

Professor Kellar, the noted prestidiga-
tateur, says ia recent letter:
In the winter Of lSS0-Sl made long
journey from the Kimberly diamond
fields. via the Transvaal. through the
country Of the Zulas My only compan-
ions on this trip were Mr.. john Hodg-
kins aud two black men belonging 10
Cetawayo's people. whom had engaged
as guides and servants.
Our trip to Zuluiand was full of ad-
venture and interest. and we acquired
much valuable Information. We found
the natives Of the villages kind and hos
pitable, and we were everywhere regarded
with awe and respect.
The witch doctor, or magician, is a
power in the land, and every village has
one or more Of these crafty fskirs, who
are regarded with superstitous awe and
dread by their less enlightened brethren.
took great interest in their conjuring
tricks and never experienced any diff
Guilty in making them give an exhibition
of their powers. My usual plan was to
first show them . few simple slight of
hand tricks; this would invariably y. result
in producing a feeling Of jealousy and
put the medicine man on his mettle, in
which case he would try and Guido my
wonders. In many Of the villages would
set up my entire outfit Of illusion for the
amusement and wonder Of the natives
and my own keen enjoyment OF their
discontinue and establishment.
One day after long journey we came
Na Ia -
5000 people. The chief Of the town, a
handsome, tall, well built Zulu, met us
and demanded cur business, although we
were satisfied that he already knew all
about us. Our guide explained that we
were on a peaceful journey through the
land, and added, confidentially, that we
were mighty miracle workers from the
country Of the Inglisi, after which the
chief gave us royal welcome treated
us to meats, fruit, and rich, creamy milk.
and in many other ways made us feel at
home. He requested to see a manifesto
ton of our powers a. cOnjurors.
We accordingly proceeded TO show him
all we could do, winding up our eXhibi-
ton by producing large quantity Of to.
bacco, glass beads, and bonbons from a
leopard skin the chief wore about his
neck. These articles were distributed
among our surprised auditors, who went
into ecstaciss Of delight at receiving so
many, to them, valuable and rare gifts.
It is needless to say that we made warm
friends in that camp, and Ihave NO doubt
but that we are remembered there to this
day. When we had finished our per-
sormance the chief called forth two
mighty witch doctors, one an old shrv-
SLED up looking being, with hands like
the claws Of an animal and face that
resembled the caricaturss Of the evil one.
His hair was straight and as white as
driven snow, and his skin as black as
ebony. Tive snakeliks eyes glittered and
sparkled under his white oVerhanging
eyebrows. The other was a handsome
youth % years Of age, straight as an ar
row, and possessed Of set Of muscles
Shst any athlete might be proud ef.
The old conjuror, after syeing us for
awhile, produced two rawhide thon~s.
on the end Of which were fastened l,.u
stout knob keTries or war clubs. They
called our attention 10 the fact that the
sky was clear and that the stars were
thining. Each of the magicians then
grasped one of the thongs and began
swinging it around his head with great
velocity, going faster and faster. until
they produced . whizzing sound such as
would be made in a large machine shop
by the whirliug Of the wheels. Having
gained sufficient velocity thsy approached
each other until the whirling kerries
nearly touched, and we could see blue
hosphorescentrsys, like tongues Of fame,
shooting cut from the ends. This con-
tinued for some time, when suddenly the
old man made an extra effort and
Drought his club against the young mans.
There was terrific crash and a report
like the discharge OF artillery, accom-
panied by fash of white light.
The young mans kerris was shattered
to atoms, and he lay stunned upon the
grass The sky now became inky black,
and Immediately there was one of the
stterrific thunderstormS. Vivid flashes
Of lightning were accompanied by balls Of
Gre which seemed to play ali around us.
The water seemed to come down in one
solid mass, drenching US TO the skin.
The old fellow now danced around the
PROSTATE form Of his companion, mean
while gesticulating wildly toward the
sky, aud almost az suddenly as had been
the downpOuT the sky cleared again and
the stars were seen Pesping through the
riffs in the clouds
The old wizard then breathed upon q
tuft Of grass that hs had pIucked from
the earth. It Immediately seemed TO
withsr and dry. aud suddenly burst into
flames. This flaming torch he waved
over the prostrats fern Of ths young
man, who seemed as be did 50 70 lose
gravity and fioat in space fully thrss feet
above the ground without any visible
means Of support. He raised aud low
cred him in this way three times. q
have often afterward seen this feat Of
suspending person in the air without
support practiced by the Hindoo fskiTs
IN the Puujaub)
The old doctor then applied restoTa-
tives to lis companion, who rose seem.
ingIy none the worse for his strange ex-
perience We thanked the witch doctor,
telling him that he was mightier than
we. He appeared elated at our astonish-
menk 1t was truly a remarkable and
incomprehensible performance, and one
that I shall remember until my dying
day.