The Columbus journal., 1910-08-24

persons. really filling all the available
space for spectators. Beside a few
coolies who we're assisting in the
the performers before US
were four white-robed priests Of the
old religion. We were about to witness
the famous .'miracles."-once purely
religious possibly. now frequently a
show in which there still fingers c
amount of religious fer
vor and devotion. Percival Lowell, Of
has described them adequate
ly. and many a less able writer has
described them since. There may be
an element of craft and deception in
the whole performance, but 1t Is al
ways interesting. and We were glad of
our first opportunity to witness 1t.
First. is the sword ladder. the least
of the four: the priest who
was to perform the miracle and an
assistant, after tedious preparation.
advanced to the front of the ladder.
which consisted of wooden sides. in
which were set six or seven sharp
swords. The audience had already had
demonstration Of the sharpness of
their edges: one sword had been passed
from hand to hand. that all might see
and feel. With the assistant, the per
engaged in earnest prayer. &C
by the strange finger-twist-
ing SO characteristic of many oriental
At the close of all these
the priest mounted the
ladder firmly. step by step. on the
sharp edges of the swords. Arrived
at the summit he called for a shell.
trumpet, on which he blew a blast and
then descended. This act caused no
great enthusiasm. and indeed seemed
commonplace.
The next was more striking The
priest was gentle-faced, bearded.
enthusiast. Stating to the
audience his purpose. he stood be-
fore them on a platform and made
strange passes with his open hands
from his shoulders down the sides of
his trunk to his thighs: curious trem.
ors passed through his body and
bis fingers went through the strange
twistings. He then seized large
needle and with the utmost delibera-
ton thrust 1t through the fleshy por.
ton of his upper right arm. The act
would have been startling enough il 1t
had been done hurriedly; as 1t was.
the flesh of the spectators crept with
The deliberateness of the perform
ance. A second was thrust through
The same arm with the same delibera-
lion: third was thrust through the
thick muscle of the left arm, and q
'ourth: fifth was thrust through the
lobe of the right ear. This was done
with not the least appearance of pain
rhe performer then taking a candle in
he hand. walked around before the
audience and let them see the needles
IN the flesh. 1t happened that We were
he first to whom he showed himself.
md there was no question of the re-
Atty of the performance. After he had
the act to the whole au.
Hence he distributed 3 handful of
small needles to the spectators, wheth-
n as souvenirs or charms, We do not
know.
Meantime the assistants had been
bling wood under the caldron of boil.
ng water. The performer this time
vas a strong and healthy man. with
lone of the air Of dreamy abstraction
which had marked his predecessor.
Standing on the same platform before
he audience. he proceeded to make
some rotary movements with his open
hands. He too. played. with the fin
Meantime the water
lad been thoroughly stirred-prob-
IDLY to demonstrate to the audience
hat 1t was hot throughout-thep priest
hen seized two great boughs. heavy
With leaves. and advanced to the cal
iron. from which the cover had been
he was stripped to the
waist: dipping the boughs into the
thoroughly boiling liquid. he brought
'ut great quantities of 1t upon them
md splashed 1t thoroughly over his
lead and shoulders. and upon his
hest and back. This he kept up &C
lively until two-thirds of the water.
had thus been used.
Public interest. however. was nov
entered in the preparation for the next
md final act. the fire-waIk. The as.
;istants brought forward chips and
light kindling: this was carefully laid
'ver a space upon the ground some
our Or five feet wide BY perhaps 1: |
eet 10 length. .A.szsssz;s...sssa,re~"-
After the Hsole space Tad been GOV
red with this lighter stun. heavier
and small logs of firewoo5 |
we're carefully placed. All was thec
!ghted and hot Goals from the neigh |
'orins fires thrown into every chink /!
The Ieedle-sticker. with fans in both |
lands, ran along the sides OF the
wood bed thus laid. and blew the coals |
nto a blaze. Soon the whole space |
vas roaring fire. When it vas at |
IS height. two priests walked along II
hrowing salt into the flames. We hsc |
that this would deeden tn: |
ire to a degree that only q bed OF |
Gals. and that snoldering. would be
eft On the contrary. while II &c
ONE degree reduced the flames. III.
ire was still blazing when prepare
ions we're made for the culmiuatins !
ct Two priests grit up their gar. !
aents. made their prayers. and stood
eady for the moment Popular in.
crest and excitement were at thei,
eight. Suddenly. with cry O! ex.
ltation the forward priest stepped
rmly into the Ere and with rapio
tan uafkod nm tho hns r,,I. .-a