The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-07-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

HOOK SWINGING IN INDIA.  A correspondent of the Allahabad Pioneer, writing from Orissa,describes the hook swinging festival, which has been abolished in British territory, but which is still allowed in the small French district of Purina Balasore, and which he witnessed recently. High in the centre of a little maiden, overlooking the Barrabolong river, a strong post stood some 40ft. up. At the top was a revolving framework, strapped through which passed along stout bamboo with ropes attached to one end. A large and picturesque crowd of men, women, and children surrounded this, leaving vacant only the space required for working the swing. Round the crowd tamarind and palm trees formed an outer barrier save on the river side, where the yellow waters of the Barrabolong were visible. Standing at the foot of the post were some 10 or 12 of the religious men, who take an active part in the swinging. Two of them were evidently ready for their swing. Beyond a loin cloth and a peculiar hat they wore no clothes. The hat is made of solah and is of the shape of an inverted flowerpot. All round it hang small brass and tinsel rings and knobs, and the whole is decorated with Bowers. One of these men turned to speak to the other and showed distinctly two scars, one on either shoulder. blade. There is a prevalent idea that large iron hooks are brought out on these occasions and thrust violently through the flesh of a struggling victim, who is then hauled up amid savage cries from the multitude. Nothing could be more incorrect. The holes through which the books pass are made when the actors in this scene are quite young. They are kept open just as the holes in ladies' ears used to be by rings or plugs. The boles pass under very strong tendons and muscles situated immediately under the shoulder blade. Just before the ceremony these holes are slightly scraped until blood ia drawn, and resin is rubbed into the wound. The hooks are of iron and shaped like a butcher's meat hook, but are thinner than a pencil. lo these two hooks are attached strong cords,ending in tassels covered with turmeric. One end of the bamboo is lowered,the cords tightly fixed to it, and the hooks placed in position. In order to raise the swineer two men are now balanced on the opposite end with their feet supported by large stones. Gradually the swinger is taken or his feet and hangs suspended by the hooks and rope some 101 t. or 12ft. above the ground. Side ropes are now brought into play, and the swinging commences. Round and round at a slow pace the swinger goes, throwing flowers to the crowd. Then he stops, and reaching out his arms takes an infant from its mother's willing hands. Round again he goes, returning the infant and taking another, and so on until he tires and is let down for another to take his place. There is no shouting and no disorder. The religious Hindoos at the foot of the swing chant their prayers and call on their gods, but that is all. The writer afterwards interviewed a swinger. He was rather the worst' for opium, but none the worse for his swing. During the night a further ceremony took place. An iron spike was put through the tongue of a man, the hole having been made as before; from this spike arms bralkh out on each side, into which are fitted little iron cups. In each of these tiny cups oil and a wick are placed and the whole lighted up. It is strapped across the man's forehead, and he has, of course, to keep his tongue well out. With this somewhat unpleasant mask he parades about until the lamps go out. What little pain there may be in these ceremonies is usually drowned by a very free consumption of opium. "Taking it all round," the correspondent says, "there was far less noise, far less confusion, and, above all, quite as much religious attention, if not more, than at any Salvation Army meeting."  Suicides have odd ways. A Hungarian of BudaPesth the other day shot himself in the head with si revolver. It turned out that the wound thus inflicted was more painful than dangerous, whereupon, with his face bleeding, he went off to the public executioner's house and asked that functionary to be obliging enough to hang him. Naturally the strange request was not acceded to. The executioner went to telephone to one of the hospitals to send for his unwelcome visitor, who during his momentary absence made another attempt to destroy himself, this time by hanging. He was cut down in time, but his condition was such that little hope is entertained of his recovery. We confess to hearing without surprise that considerably over 1,500 cases of street accidents of a more or less severe character, and of fainting fits, &c., were treszed by the ambulance men and nurses belonging to the St. John Ambulance Brigade On Thursday last.—Pall Mall Gazette. The death of Sir George Tryon has bad the effect of making Rear Admiral Tracey a vice•admiral and Captain Vander Meulen s rear-admiral, and has caused Captain Andoe, C. 8., to be appointed to succeed Captain Vander Heiden in command of the Inflexible. Rear Admiral Tracey, who will vacate his appointment at Malta, after the holding of the pending courts-martial, distinguished himself in the Russian War, and in the operations in Japan. Rear Admiral Vander Illeulen lias seen service in the Black Sea and in China.  Mr. S., famous criminal lawyer: "lain glad to meet you, Dr. F. I have often heard of you. The striking iiimilarity of our vocations makes MP feel as if I were acqualuted with you already." The Rev. Dr. P.: " Sir " Mr. S.: "My dear doctor, are we not both trying to save sinners ?" . •  - , A young couple on their wedding trip arrive at a provincial hotel. Before entering the bride nervously „says to her husband: "Don't let us appear as if we have just been married." "Oh! my darling, it is simples:sough!" And, so saying, be hands his wife ell the twig%