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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1342
which he distributes, the result being that when the tree disappears the fruit
disappears also.
Another favorite feat of these fakirs is the Spinning Boy, in which he takes
his young assistant and whirls him around like a top, the motion growing
more and more rapid until the boy spins around rapidly by himself, without
assistance. Finally the spinning boy begins to ascend in the air, higher and
higher, until he vanishes from sight. The feat is terminated either by the boy
coming running back to the crowd from a distance, or else by a reversal of
the disappearing act, and a return from the heights as a human spinningtop,
growing more and more distinct until the earth is again reached, when
he gradually slows down until he comes to a perfect rest, when he squats
unconcernedly by the side of his master.
The Rope-Snake feat is another favorite manifestation of these fakirs. They
will take plain bits of rope, often cutting the bits from a long thick rope, with
a knife, and then knotting an end on each bit. Then begins the chant, and
waving of hands, and the drum and cymbals. Soon the bits of rope begin to
tremble, and a moment later are seen to be slowly transforming themselves
into cobra snakes. Finally the knotted end turns into the hooded head of the
deadly cobra and the serpents are seen moving hissingly and threateningly
toward the crowd, which retreats in terror. A word from the fakir and the
snakes begin to resolve themselves back into the original bits of rope, and
in the end are as they were at the beginning—bits of severed rope with a
knotted end, much to the relief of the spectators. Then the fakir will stand
up, and leaning backwards will lift his feet from the ground, until at length is
seen to be floating in the air as a good swimmer floats in the water. Often he
passes over the heads of the crowd, circling around until he finally returns to
his original place and position.
Sometimes this “floating feat” is varied by the fakir snatching a child or
young boy from the side of its parents, and causing it to float around in the
air, often rising up out of sight in the manner before mentioned. There is
no end to the variety of changes that these people work in performing this