HINDU MAGIC WONDERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 January 1909, Page 10

HINDU MAGIC WONDERS.

MYSTERIES EXPLAINED. THE MANGO TREE AND BASKET TRICKS. . The world has long marvelled over the wonderful tricks of the Hindu fakirs, and any attempts to solve these mysteries have never been:considered satisfactory.-; But. a writer in the "Scientific American" makes bold to explain some of their marvels away,, and even gives an. elucidation of the famous mango tree , and basket tricks. In the mango tree tricks, the performer comes forward and proceeds to make a little mound of. earth out of the soil and some water. This can be done anywhere, on the earth, on the deck of a ship, etc. The fakir usually wears next to. 110.clothes, apparently, making this trick—if it is/a trick—all the more difficult. When the mound of earth _is complete, the fakir inserts his seed of the mango tree, and waters it. to make it grow,. He-then covers it with a cloth, and, placing his hands beneath the cloth,, proceeds to manipulate the - seed from time to time. In a few moments he withdraws his hands; and makes passes over tho cloth, outside it. A wait: then the conjuror removes the cloth, and tho seed is- Been to have sprouted., Two tiny shoots appear above the surface of the ground. More passes are made, and when the cloth is removed for the second time a tall mango tree js v seeii, sprouting above the earth. This trick,;;!.?. 6 . probably. mystified-more people than tjjg., Hindn fakir performs. It is accomplished in the following -.manner s-r-Tho seed that is placed in the earth is hollow, and within it is placed a branch of tho inango tree, previously prepared and folded up; The leaves ofi the plant- are specially adapted for the trick, and , they, are easily compressed. into a small compass.The' seed containing , the mango shoot'is placed beneath the earth, and; when tho conjuror places, his hands underneath the . cloth: ho works out : a part of this folded up; branch, and leaves it sticking out above the surface of tho mould. . .

This is repeated several times, until all the branch showing' "above the mould, when quite a respectable .sized tree is seen to bo sprouting. , If the'. seed; is examined beforojthe trick is exhibited, the conjuror has previously exchanged the one. examined for the trick seed at, some convenient moment before placing it. in (the ground.: ' Sometimes, the seed |is . seen to grow into •gigantic, proportions—into a:.:regular tree, bearing r ;fruit,. in factl. li> iß'Vprpbable: that, much ,of :this is,exaggeration.;pure .and sim* ;ple!: ,but there is a.manner pf ; ,wbrking the trick,,or rather extending it,, very largo, tree .can ,bo produced .at. tho- conclu,sion.lt. is ; 'this. . ' . ; .. . ' Tiler conjuror has tli-j largo tree concealed beneath, a.. thick, r cloth—a . duplicate.! of, the ■cloth, he uses . to' cover the' seed,., a.t.,,flrßtl; After ' uncoveririg . tho , seed, several times', and showing it grown more and .more,; ho uncpv.ers,. it for the, last time, and, while the'; audience is. gazing at the plant >vondori'n'gly,*,:the;..'conjuror., takes ;occasion to. exchaiige' .the cldtii for the One' containing the'" big' trefe.underneath it.. Now, he qiiickly, plant 'with this .cjoth. .and, ; when it 'ife, fijll'-grown. It- : may. be 1 several • feet ; in : -height.- It was doapW4Wa ,^iKftth'V''thd:'-' ;o tefr6ririi(' l '-!^oth'r ; People do not think of asking to look under tho cloth the last time, because they have often seen - bbneath it, and-know! ; 'it contains nothing; They,'" therefore, assume 'that it contained nothing* the' last tiinb'' the ''-mould was Covered over. . - . :.

; The famous, basket trick has also mystified thousand^'and ;yet;is simplicity itself.; '"'A, lai-ge -oval' baskefc is shown, ; something'. the Sam'e shape 'as an egg, laid on its siclo, and' an opening but ih'.the.' upper surface or' topi' Jt . is.-first shown empty. Then a small boy is- shown,' Wearing a jacket''and -turbani He-is--placed -in the basket j'';-and 'the opening' is; covered' over: with' a, : blsnlcct? i --- * ; 1 . 111 . ;The--basket is so-smair- :; thW r th'e boy .apparently fills the-whole of the basket.' What' is; the surprise of the- spectators'■; then,': 'to see' the 'fakir suddenly leap into the opening of the basket, and proceed to' stamp about as vigorously as he can—treading on tho ground, ahd-apparently showing that the boy has disappeared) and is no'longer in the basket 1' To make assurance double siiro, however, he snatches 5 up : a sword, and proceeds to run the basket through and through in all-^direotionsi : No sound issues fron. the basket. .-There .is an ominous silence. Evidently' the boy has disappeared. But the conjuror turns ' round and shouts, and the , boy,. wearing the same jacket and is seen in a neighbouring tree: He descends;- A tom-tom is beaten, and after a .few incantations, the basket is seen to stirj, l and soon the blanket heaves up, and is thrown aside, and the boy is seen standing before us, as sound as ever. This trick, like the last, can be performed in any locality,. on the. .deck ot' aushipf :, et<;.y thus Showing that trap (doors'have'holh'ing'to do With the result.-How is-it-done?

: First, as to the ,basket. - It-will ho,, seen, whin wo think it over, that" ;ffle. ; peculiar 'shape of the basket renders it capable of being 'employed' in the following manner:— Tho small boy, as soon as ho is placed ;in the basket, curls up,, and wriggles his body, eel-wise, around the . edges of the basket. That is, he coils around, the inner surface, just as a snake might, coil up within it. Now jt, will be. seen that it is possible for the'conjuror to.leap..into tho opening, stampon .the ground, etc., siripe tho open space in which he treads. is un'occujjied by the boy's body. He steps in the middle of the circle of'flesh. . Ana when he runs the sword through the basket, he only runs it through those places where the boy's hody is not concealed. -

So much of the trick is plain; how about the' disappearance and reappearance in the tree? ; There are two boys,, dressed exaotly alike.v The first one never leaves the .basket. He simply remains quiet until he.receives the signal .to,; show signs of - life : again.;':: -.The second boy climbs up a neighbouring tree: at some convenient moment; and shouts when he sees it, is the ; proper , time to make his 'presence known.; So much for, the famous' bas--ket trick! ... - : ■ ;.v-