Page:Randolph, Paschal Beverly; Eulis! the history of love.djvu/200

 PART III. CONCERNING SOUL-SIGHT AND MAGIC MIRRORS.

I this chapter to the present work for two reasons: 1st. To gratify the hundreds of correspondents who, for five years past, have pressed me for something on the points involved; and, 2d. To give, in a concise and condensed printed form, information which it would be wholly impossible for me to write out for even one-fiftieth of those who ask it of me. This and "Seership" contain all that is necessary to be known upon that occult subject. But first I quote the subjoined article:—

The far east must ever lead the world in the practice of necromancy. All the skill and mechanical ingenuity of the most expert prestidigitateurs of Europe or America cannot produce a single exhibition which will compare with the feats of the commonest Indian juggler. The Japanese have taught us the greater part of the slight-of-hand illusion which is now paraded before staring audiences in this country and in Europe; but the necromancy of Japan is as boys' play compared with the mysterious jugglery of the nether and farther Indies, and especially of Siam. In the latter country there is a royal troupe of jugglers, who perform only at the funerals and coronations of the kings, and then only in the presence of the nobles of Siam, or those initiated into the mysteries of the religion of the country. These necromancers do not perform for money, are of noble blood, and it is seldom that a European sees even their faces. Last year, however, an English surgeon, who was in the country, performed a somewhat remarkable cure upon a princess, who had been treated in vain by all the physicians of the country. Great was the gratitude of the Siamese court at the doctor's performance; and, as a reward commensurate with his great service, he was permitted to witness the performance of Tepada's royal troupe of jugglers. This exhibition was given in the sacred temple of Juthia, on the 16th of November, the occasion being the coronation of the young king. The surgeon's narrative, stripped of a large amount of description, and materially condensed, is given below:—

"Woun-Tajac called me very early, and lie and his father's cousin, a jolly, fat old gentleman, called Soondatch-Tam-Bondur, set to work to prepare me for witnessing the performances in the great pagoda. A white turban was wound around my head; my skin was stained the color of new bronze; my mustache ruthlessly trimmed down, blacked, and waxed till it had the proper Malayan dejected droop and tenuity; my eyebrows blacked; and native garments furnished me, over which I wore the long white robes which, I was told, were 195