Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-15
lslah-cAsre INpIAN MAGIC.
A Remarkable Feat Of Lev'sation Far
formed by Fakir.

To the January No. of the, Norm
an,s,icon Rfriegr Professor II. keliar con-
t,,h,,tas an article on "High-Caste INDIAN
uacic - Professor Kellar repudiates the
suggestion that there 10 nytninR supeI-
natural in the performances OF tue EasteIn IN
fakirs, but inclines TO the theory tnat 'nsy
have discovered natural laws OF whicn tne
nsonla az the East are ignorant. One OK
.belr feats he saw he describes as toll
lows: Yy.,,. ., c,eat
plaza ~ Calcutta. and the old fakir who
,yaa rho master magician of the occasion
did his work out in the open piazza;
Around him. in raised seats ana on en1
under the galleries Oh tne neiSnoorims
were gathered by the score. arrayed 10
their silks and jewels, with magnihceuee
20 which our western eyes are little
accustomed" -,
After a sdlddm TO the Prince the old
fakir took three swords with straight
cross-barred hits. and buried them hit
downwards about six inches in the ground.
The points of these swords we're very
sharp. as | afterwards informed myseif.
A Younger fakir, whose black beard was
parted in what we now call the English
fashion. although il originated IN HInaus-
tan. then appeared. and. at gesture from
his master, stretched himself out upon the
ground at full length, with his feet to-
gether and his hands close to his sides,
and. after pass or two made by the
hands of the old man, appeared TO become
rigid and lifeless.
LAID UPON THE POINTS"
"A third fakir now came forward and
taking hold of the feet OF his proStrate
companion. whose head was lifted oy the
master, the two laid the stifened body
upon the points of the swords, whlch APP
peared to support it without penetrating
the flesh. The point OF one OF tine SWORDS
was immediately under the nape OF tne
mans neck, that of the second rested mid
way between his shoulders, aud that of tho
third was at the base OF his spine. there
being nothing under his legs. After the
body had been placed on the sword points
the second faklr retired, and the old man,
who was standing some distance from IL,
turned and SdiddB,ed to the audience.
BALANCED WITH MATHEMATICAL ACCURACY
The BODY tipped neither TO the. right
nor to the left, but seemed to be balanced
with mathematical accuracy. presently
tho master took dagger with whlch ne
removed the soil round the hilt OF the
first sword and. releasing 1T from the
earth, after some exertion. quietly stuck IL
into his girdle, the body mean WINE re-
tanning its position. The second ana the
third swords were likewise taken from
under the body, which, there IN broad
daylight and under tho eyes OF all the
spectators, preserved its horizontal posi-
ton, without visible support, about two
feet from the ground. A murmur OF al,
miration pervaded the vast throng. and
with low sdidam to the Prince the master
summoned his assistant, and lifting the
suspended body from its airy perch they
laid it gently upon the ground. with a
few passes of the masters hand the inanl-
mate youth was himself again."
The high-caste Indian fakir is not the
ordinary mendicant iuRgler. who performs
the basket trick, plays with cobras, &c.
He is man of high intelligence, usually
aged, and claims to have gone through q
course of imitation into aud study OF
secrets that have been preserved for centu-
ries. He seldom performs except on state
occasions.
Professor Kellar also describesa remarka-
BILE feat of deviation he saw performed by
a Zulu witch doctor.