300 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



most striking in their results, and most popular 

 in their details. 



One of the most ancient feafs of magic was the 

 art of breathing flame, an art which even now 

 excites the astonishment of the vulgar. During 

 the insurrection of the slaves in Sicily, in the 

 second century before Christ, a Syrian named 

 Eunus acquired by his knowledge the rank of 

 their leader. In ordeTr to establish his influence 

 over their minds, he pretended to possess miracu- 

 lous power. When he wished to inspire his 

 followers with courage, he breathed flames or 

 sparks among them from his mouth, at the same 

 time that he was rousing them by his eloquence. 

 St. Jerome informs us that the Rabbi Barcho- 

 chebas, who headed the Jews in their last 

 revolt against Hadrian, made them believe that 

 he was the Messiah, by vomiting flames from his 

 mouth ; and at a later period, the Emperor Con- 

 stantius was thrown into a state of alarm when 

 Valentinian informed him that he had seen one 

 of the body-guards breathing out fire and flames, 

 We are not acquainted with the exact methods 

 by which these effects were produced ; but Florus 

 informs us that Eunus filled a perforated nut-shell 

 with sulphur and fire, and having concealed it in 

 his mouth, he breathed gently through it while 

 he was speaking. This art is performed more 

 simply by the modern juggler. Having rolled 

 together some flax or hemp, so as to form a ball 

 the size of a walnut, he sets it on fire, and allows 

 it to burn till it is nearly consumed : he then rolls 

 round it while burning some additional flax, and 

 by these means the fire may be retained in it for 



