CETEWAYO AND THE CONJUROR.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3570, 5 June 1880, Page 4

CETEWAYO AND THE CONJUROR.

Dr Hold en, the Court Magician and "Wizard of the Wicked World," obtained permission from Sir Bartle Frere the Governor to give the captive king an entertainment in his prison at the old Butch Castle. Accordingly, the doctor drove up in a cab and made his necessary arrangements at the far end of a long barn.like room, divided into two or three apartments, in one of which were the ex* king's three wives, attended by a young Zulu girl, 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 vanities of this wicked world, and wear a few beads—and

a smile. However, this being a red-letter day, they soon afterwards appeared with a covering of some light material over their shoulders, and took their seats on a wooden stool well to the back of His Majesty, as 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 gronnd, the once-dreaded ex-king sat on a Windsor chair, and the seance began.. Getewayo must be complimented on his good taste in selecting the few wires he has dragged into his cap* tivity with him, for finer developed black women it would be difficult to

find on a day's march anywhere. He seemed to have a penchant for tall women, for each of his wives must be close on sft. llin. high. Outside the castle wall, along the ramparts of which the ex-king is allowed to walk

gnarded by two sentries, is the Royal Engineer stores, so that escape would teem out of the question, unless very artfully planned; but from the resigned and comfortable appearance of the prisoner we should say that he is quite content to remain as he is until, in the words «f the immortal Micawber, ?'something, turns up." It may interest some to know that his weakness

is "a little 1, drop of summat" in the shape of half a pint or more of gin a day, and that on this particular day he was not quite himself, having been indisposed during the morning. Imagine a jovial looking, perfectly black member of the masculine gender, in a Mopes and Son's reduced price blue serge suit, with a billycock hat (like those worn by agriCultural labourers in England), wellformed, intelligent, and all that, and _~you have a' correct idea of the noted despot. He gave one the opinion that he was there to find out every trick on the programme, and he did'his level best to do so. It would "not do to perform an illusion on the table; no, it must be

brought dose to him. That would not always do either; he must hold the conjuror's hand whilst he did his trick, and place the article on the floor before him. Card tricks and the dictionary trick were above his comprehension. Pure sleight of hand, the producing of full bowls of water and fish, tumblers of wine, and a bowl of fire from an empty doth pleated him much; 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 ecstacies, which increaied when the performer passed a dagger, and afterwards a Jong earalry sword through his body. The yells of delight at these illusions were most ludicrous, and the amusoment afforded was great,