Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXV. Agriculture, Manufacture and Architecture—Wheat Growing—The Farm Laborer—His Condition, Implements, etc. The Taj-Mahal—Jugglers—Snake Charmers—From My Journal
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253 Story of an Emigtiant.
272
on the road before our eyes, and made a little mound of it
on the floor of the open veranda in front of the hotel.
The magician, who had no other garment on than a
loosely wrapped cotton cloth, usually worn by the men, and in
his hand a white cloth and a little bag containing a few
sticks and other small implements, stooped down beside
the little mound of earth, and, with his eyes fixed on us,
took a mango kernel about twice the size of a peach stone,
which he plantedin the little mound. Having smoothed the
mound with his hands he recited several prayers and
incantations, and made some motions over the mound with
a magic wand, carefully assuming an air of expectancy.
After a minute or two we saw the mound slowly opening at
the top and the tender shoot of a plant coming up through
the crack. The Hindoo sat with folded hands, occasionally
breathing on the plant, and every now and then he would
invoke some invisible being. Meanwhile the plant grew
taller and more solid, until it finally assumed the shape of a
dwarf tree, which kept growing and sent out branches and
leaves. This development took place gradually and
slowly, until finally a ripe mango fruit was seen hanging
down from one of the branches. During this wonderful
performance the magician had only now and then for a
moment covered the plant with the cloth in his hand.
At another time, wrhen I was on the deck of a large
steamer, a Hindoo accompanied by a little girl asked the
passengers to permit him to perform a trick. This being granted,
he placed a round wicker basket, resembling a paper
waste-basket, on the deck, and the little girl sat down in it so that
her head and feet were flush with the edge of the basket,
which was thus fairly filled up by the girl. Thereupon the
Hindoo put the cover on and took a long, straight,
double-edged sword which he ran through the basket in all
directions. It was a shocking sight, some of the ladies screamed,
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