280 RIFLE AND SPEAK WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



up an impromptu entertainment for us, and the boys, his 

 playfellows, showed off their gymnastic feats. They were 

 very agile. First they held a slipper between both hands, 

 and jumped easily over it backwards and forwards without 

 letting it go. Then they grasped the left foot with the 

 right hand, and hopped through on their right leg. One 

 boy could bend backwards while standing until his head 

 touched the ground. 



After this the conjurers and snake-charmers came in. 

 The latter went through the usual performance, playing on a 

 sort of flageolet, to the shrill notes of which the snakes seemed 

 to dance. One trick was clever. The charmer suddenly 

 jumped up, rushed at a bystander, and pulled his turban 

 off. Two or three long coiled-up snakes fell out on the 

 ground. The chief conjurer was picturescpiely clad in a long 

 orange-coloured robe. His juggling and sleight-of-hand 

 were not extraordinary, and he chattered all the while after 

 the manner of his European confreres. Finally he hypno- 

 tised himself, and supposed he was bitten by a snake. He 

 ran round and round in convulsions, and at last fell insen- 

 sible to the ground, the blood pouring from his ears and 

 nose. It was a horrid sight, and we begged it might be 

 stopped, but were told that until he unhypnotised himself 

 nothing could be done. So he was carried away, but came 

 back shortly afterwards much hurt that his performance was 

 not appreciated. To retrieve his reputation, he offered to 



