The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-13
AUSTRALIAN MAGIC.
From the Boston Transcript.

From the Boston transcript.
long and disastrous drought, which
had almost ruined the small Australian
tribe on whose borders was encamped,
had resulted in their demanding OF the
tribe wizard that the much-needed rain
be produced, and that forthwith.
The first act of this charlatan was TO
call the people together and, during a
sort of powwow, to perform a few feats
of simple magic, such as any tyro in the
slight-of-hand arts could surpass.
Then he assembled into the highest tree
in the vicinity, where he remained for
some time in silent contemplation of the
sky.
was informed that he was working
wonders at that great height-he was
quite two hundred feet from the
ground-which would soon result in re-
ireshing showers being sent by the
''devil-devil." who kept back the need
ed rains at the solicitation of the wiz
ards of nearby, envious tribes.
My field glass discovered the fact,
however. that he was sitting aloft, in
the most comfortable manner he could
command, straining his eyes toward the
horizon. whence his study of past sea-
sons had taught him the first storms of
the rainy season, then overdue, always
came.
The farce was kept up for several
days.
After several days, but not until my
barometer had foretold an approaching
storm. he remained one morning but
short time in the tree. He returned to
the ground with all the airs of con-
quering hero.
Then followed a very interesting
though ridiculous performance. Tying
a cloth tightly about his head, he went
through 4 series of contortions, during
which he carried around large gourd
or calabash. He took much care to
show that this was empty, and then,
with much ceremony, marched to a
nearly-fallen tree, holding it upside
down
Here. in sight of all his dupes, he
placed it on the stump, and removing the
cloth from his head, began 10 wiring it
out as though it was full Of water. As
/ thought the whole performance was
simply meant TO typify the tribes de-
sire for water, had not watched him
as closely as I should have done had l
been prepared for his next act
Turning suddenly, with the gourd in
his hand, he tipped it slightly, and
from It poured clear, lirnpid water.
Then he marched triumphantly among
his PEOPLE exhibiting it, and proving 10
the satisfaction of all that it was purer
water than they had seen for weeks.
This performance was greeted with
shouts OF delight. 1t was taken as
sure sign that the ''devil-devil7 had re-
Tented and granted this much water *
sign Of the blessing soon 20 follow.
The same slight-of-hand trickery
was used again in ny presence by the
wizard of another tribe l was hidden
in 4 neighboring clump OF bushes,
where 1 could not observe II with sui
ficient closeress 20 see how IL was man
aged.
The test Of this wizards skill arose
from the apparently serious Illness Of
m old man in the tribe. As Is always
the case, the wizard claimed that the
N-LdrO OF reg II uOG -LS NA--a 4sa4eAi1
tribe had bewitched the man b. tang
ling ND his intestines7 80 that he could
not live without pain
After dancing around his patient fo-
some time. going through lot Of
grotesque and violent conto-tions, the
wizard suddenly swcoped down upon
his dupe. and. with The GuieGness Of
cat apparently drew from his mouth
double handful cf what looked ike in
testines.
These ne triumnhantiy waved over
his head. while be danced around the
circle tive G. Laree IGeS Doge. AHS