Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-17
THE JUGGLERs FROM BOMBAY.

THE JUGGLERs FROM BOMBAY.
Their sleight of Hand is Modern. With No
Mango Tree in It.
From the New York sun.
Mr. Henry Bal.antine. United States consul
at Bombay, is in this city Oil his way to Chicago,
taking with him five Indian juggiers from Bonn
bay. Three of the jugglers gave private ex-
hibition yesterday afternoon on 23d street
stage. and, while they did only few tricks new
in this country. they did many of tine old tricks
without any Of the assisting screens, cornuco-
pias and other concealing devices. Some of
their performances introduced two hideous
cobras. both of which left their baskets at one
time. and that was not at all in the program,
but the spectators, like the old lady who was in
a wreck on her first railroad trip. thought it
was the regulation thing. and were not fright
ened
The Indians are tsIl 1.-the. smiling laxative
fellows, who do most of their work squatted on
the stage in a friendly manner. and are pic
turesquely robed in flowing white and turbaned
in orange. All of their layout j. brought on
the stage in a red jute sack. which is thrown on
the middle of the stage. and from which they
extract human bones. musical instruments, live
snakes. water-filled Jars. or anything else re-
quired. They play great deal on musical in
struments or instruments that are called must
GAIA hand drum and the Bombay equivalent
for the bagpipes.
In all the tricks which were new here water
used In one boat about eighteen inches
long, made of jade or some such mineral, was
laid or the stage and in the fore part of it an
opium pipe stuck like a mast. Then the
boat was flleil with water and one of the Jug
glers moved the outfit with weird sounds from
his gourd pipe. Standing clear from the boat
4. To- ;r,cr Id he
pipe to spout like fountain. and 10! it oblig
inglv obeyed. 1t did this several times at his
command. spouting a tiny stream from the
bowl Of the pipe. which was twelve inches
above the boat. and ceased to spout when
asked to. That was all there was to it. but the
juggler did not touch the boat pipe. and
only the narrow keel of the boat rested Oh the
carpeted stage.
The half OF a cocoanut shell was set on the
stage. filed with water, and toy duck. no
larger than one joint of mans thumb was
set in this diminutlve pond. After the neces-
sary music the jugger squatted on the stage
four or five feet away. and requested the duck
to salute the spectators-''Salnam sahibs." The
duck bowed repeatedly. and then to the pleas
ing measure of the pipe performed duck
dance on the surface of the water. Being re-
quested to die. the duck ended the performance
by turning on its back.
The third water trick suggested the familiar
feat in which Hermann produces from beneath
his coat globes illed with water in which live
fish swim. But in this. as in all the tricks
which have been copied in modified form.
nothing was concealed. The iuggler brought
out stone drinking vessel apparently flied 10
the rim with water Coming to the very edge
of the stage he spattered the water out with his
hand. spilled it out in splashes and sprinkled it
about generously. and always the vessel re-
MANNED filed full to the rim.
Then be turned it upside down, quite empty
ing IT, put it to his ear a second. and the dish.
which would hold quart. was still full and
running over. He blew against tue side and
the water dubbed and spurted like geyser.
The juggler evidently enjoyed the puzziement
of the spectators, Tor after he had scattered
about three quarts of water ont of the vessel he
| aired his scant English by laughingly saying
'Plenty much water eh?
One Of the jugglers having some fun with
| five silver rupees. After he had palmed aud
! iuygled with them in q clever manner for a
| time he asked one of the stage hands to hold
| them. or course there were only four when the
stage hand opened his fist in which he held five,
so the juggler said that he would fix that. He
| told the man to drop the four in glass jar.
That was done. The jar was shaken violently,
/ the coins ratified noisiiy and the man was told
to hold out his hands for the silver. He did So
| and the jar. being capsized, poured into his
quiverlng palms not rupees fine. but a four-foot-
/ long and very much alive snake. The stage
I hand ran in direction and the snake in
1
| the stage hand has not been seen since.
Their manner of doing some tricks seems
almost impudent in its disregard of the usual
! cOncealing agencies. Every one is familiar
| with the trick at such shows which includes
the apparent tearing and burning of Dor
| rowed handkerchief, which il eventually re-
stored in a surprising state of completeness Il
its distressed owner. But there is also som.
concealment. The handkerchief is apparently
put in hat, or pistol, or under a saucer, and
is small /. is easily palmed. This is the way
these Indians do that sort of thing.
One took a red turban which contained a
least five yards of fabric half yard broad
He cut off several pieces the size of handher
chiefs. which another tore into snreds- Their
the remainder was cut into three equal pieces
Picking up all the scattered bits and bringing
them together with the ends of the large
| pieces he made a torch of them. which wa
lighted and allowed to burn down to the jug
gier's hand Then he threw the mass of re'
turban on the carpet. crushed out the fire. SAM
a little song, and lifted 1t up whole, unburne'
turban.
They delight in apparent awkwardness. DC
casionally, when something is to be palmed. tn
very observant spectator is sure he has locates
that something in a stif1y- held hand or unde
an arm. Just when you are ready TO swear t
your astuteness the iuggler lets you see yo
were mistaken and you hope no ono notice
how you were fooled.
| The cobras enjoy the distinction of bein
quite the ugliest reptiles in appearance an
temper with which man has made acquaint
ance. They were in separate baskets, and tn
covers being removed. one of the jugglers at
tempted to charm them with his gourd pipe
but the charm did not work. Both snake
Kissed and struck at the man, and then bot
left their baskets. and. with their ugly hoode
heads erect. made dash for liberty. The
were bounced on. captured in bare hands an
returned to their baskets.
Afterward another jugsler tried his mout
| on the pipe. and because he played better c
worse the cobras were charmed. They raise
their heads AID ne slowly walked about then
They followed, turning their fiat bodies in tn
basket so that they always faced the player
Without touching them. and still dolorousl
piping he induced them to hide their heads In IL
. basket, where they were covered and fastened II
1t will be observed that no mango tree gre
from a seed before the eyes Of the spectator
and produced fruit which ripened on the spo
This is the traditional travellers tale about II
dian jugglery.
How He Could Afford 1t.
From Truth.
How can you afford to stay at Long Branc
1 4 III, L.14o