CETEWAYO AND THE CONJUROR.

Kumara Times, Issue 1141, 26 May 1880, Page 2

CETEWAYO AND THE CONJUROR.

. . . r , , V . . Dr. Hpldehj’the Court Magician and “ Wizard of- the Wicked World,” ob* tained permission from Sir Battle Frere, the Governor, .to give the captive king ah eut®tsUttient in his prison at the old Dutch Castle., Accordingly, the doctor drove up in a cab and made bis necessary arrangements at the far end of a long, baru-like room, divided into two or three‘ apartments, in one of which were the ex'-king’s three wives, attended by a young Zultigirl, enjoying their tiffen or dinner. If “ beauty unadorned is adorned .the most,” no One need cavil' at the . way \ these ladies were dressed. They seemed to object to the pomps and’vanity .of this wicked world, hnd wear a few beads : —and a smile. However, this being a red-leter day, they sOon aftermards appeared with a covering of some light material over their shoulders* and took their seats on a - wooden stoql well to the back of His Majesty,.-as r if they were afraid of the wizard, who had previously created an impression on them by finding eggs in their ornaments. The half-dozen, more or ' less, attendants squatted on -»-the aground, the oncedreaded ex-king sat on a Windsor chair, and the s&tice began. ' iCetewayo must be complimented- on his good taste in selecting the few wives he has dragged into captivity with hitp, for finer developed black wothen i£ would be difficult to find on a day's march anywhere. He seemed’ to have a:pencbaut for' tall women, for each of his wives must be close on sft. llin. high. Outside the castle walls, along' the ramparts of which the ex-king is allowed to walk, guarded by two sentries, is the Royal Engineer stores, so that escape would seem out of the question, unless very artfully planned j but from the resigned and Comfortable appearance of thb prisoner we should say that he is quite .content to remain as he is until, in the words of the inim'dPtal MScawber, “something turns dp.” It interest some to know tniit his Weakness is “a little dipj>bf Aummat” in the shape of half a pin or more of gin a day, and that on this particular day Uw was hot quite himself having bebn im disposed during the morning. tmagiirt

to jovial looking, perfectly black member of the masculine gender, in a Moses bnd Son’s induced price blue serge suit, With a billycock hat (like those worn by agricultural laborers in England), Wtoll-formed* ihtelligent, and all that, and yoU have a correct idea of the tooted despot. He gaVe Obb the opinion that he was there to find out every trick on the programme, and he did his level beat to do so. It would not do to perform an illusion on the table no, it must be brought 'Close to him. That would hot always do either 5 he must hold the conjurors hand whilst he did his trick, and place the article on the .floor before him. Card tricks and the dictionary trick were above his comprehensioto. Pure sleight-of-hand, the producing of full bowls of water and fish, tumblers of wine, and a bowl of fire from an empty cloth, pleased him much i also, allowing him to load a pistol, place a leaden bullet in it himself, and then firing at Dr Holden’s head, sent him into ecstactes, which increased when the performer passed a dagger and afterwards a long cavalry SWord through his body 1 The yells of delight at these illusions were most ludicrous, and the amusement afforded Was greato