Chapter I: Front Matter

INDIAN CONJURING

BY

MAJOR L. H. BRANSON M.I.M.C.

Indian Army

With 8 Illustrations

LONDON

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS LTD.

NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.

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_I dedicate this small volume to_

MY WIFE

_who has always been my best audience and my keenest critic
at the innumerable sleight-of-hand performances that I have
had the pleasure of giving in her presence._

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_Portions of this book were published by the TIMES OF INDIA,
ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY, by whose kind permission they are
reprinted._

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A COMPARISON 1

II. THE CUP AND BALLS 16

III. THE BAMBOO-STICKS 23

THE RING ON THE STICK 26

IV. THE GLASS BOX 32

THE BUNDER BOAT 35

V. THE BOWL OF RICE 39

THE COLOURED SANDS 42

VI. A ROPE TRICK 46

THE SWASTIKA 49

THE EGG BAG 52

VII. THE DANCING DUCK 54

THE MANGO TREE TRICK 57

VIII. THE BASKET TRICK 65

IX. THE INDIAN ROPE TRICK 76

X. SNAKES AND CROCODILES 89

XI. GENERALITIES AND OTHER MYTHS 98

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

My old friend Shah Mahommed, aged 87 years, son of Ghaus Mahommed, who died aged 75 years, and grandson of Nur Mahommed who died at the age of 78 years, All three were itinerant conjurers and had never seen the rope trick Front

Shah Mahommed singing Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay between two experiments Facing page 10

Shah Mahommed with two assistants for the Ring on the Stick Facing page 28

Preliminaries of the Restored Rope, the only rope trick that I have ever seen performed in India Facing page 46

Shah Mahommed performing the egg bag trick Facing page 52

The Dancing Duck, performed with an enamel bowl instead of the cocoa-nut shell Facing page 54

The preliminary stage of the mango tree trick as shewn by Shah Mahommed Facing page 60

Conclusion of the mango tree trick Facing page 62

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INDIAN CONJURING