Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/218

 water, and immediately afterward produced the three powders in a dry ataic, sepa- rately, from his meuth. The formula often repeated was “ek-do-teen, choulon,” (one, two, three, lock sharp, sister,) a roiling up of the eyes and ptctended appeal to Vishnu, Shiva and Buddha, whena difficult trans- formation was aboutto take place, But the most wondertul thing was making 2 mango tree grow from tke seed, which he planted ino pot of earth before oureyes <A trick whieh I think kas never been performed eut of Indis. There things and many ofhere, ahowilng woadcrful ekifl in the conjuring art, were done in broad daylight, within » few feet of us, and im the absences of the nesveal mechanical contrivances of atega ex- hibitione,

All cecupations in ths Hast are heredi- taryeven “beggars” and “robbers.” Is the last cenens returns of tis nurib-weetern Provinces, 2,000 are cet down aa “heredi- tary buffoons and corjurers,” and 1,100 a3 “snake charmers”—aaod mont curious of all, 6,372 are returned as “poets.” T saw en ex hibition of saske charming in Benares, whieh had almost s spice of tragedy in it, The performer opeued ont his atock in front ol the Bungalow, where wo were sitting, oosaisting of a boa-esnstrictor, ten or twelve fect long aud a3 lzrge round as my arm, iwo lively cobras, the most deadly of euakes, aud & Variety of scorpions He teased the cobras until they raised their hissing heada iwo feet from the ground, and with distended hoods, and quiveriss tongues, repeatedly streek at the man’s band. Not drawing it away quick enough he wss bitten by the shake on the fore fiuger, end a drop of blocd appesred con the wound. The man tock from his peeket a small, black steng, feak - ing likea bean, and pressed it fer a ma- ment on the wound to which it adhered, and went on with his exhibition. Then taking a small bit of ght colored weed, he held it toward the cobras and they instantly elunk back, ss if terrified and completely ecawed; another piece of wood bad the same effect upon thesearpions. A yrapee paid the giske charmer snd secured for me the two bite of wood and the little stone, which T brsught away ac mementos.

Our hotel was literally beseiged by a host of itinerant venders of the spevialtics of Delhi. They tried to get acroza to us by bribing Barrabbas, whe made s good thing out of the ten to twenty per cent. on sl] our purchaser, which of couras came out of our