PHYSICAL PARADOXES. 



burns create a great impression of its fierce heat. 

 This is emphasized by the turning over of the 

 hot stones, the view of the red-hot ones under- 

 neath, and the smoke from the singeing of the 

 ends of the branches which are poked through 

 the interstices to the hotter stones at the bottom. 



During these proceedings much time is 

 allowed for the upper stones to cool. The 

 performers walk over the red-hot stones- not 

 on them, but on those above them which are 

 not red-hot. There is no unnecessary delay, 

 no lingering in their movements ; they do not 

 dwell upon the situation. Civilised spectators, 

 passing over some of the same stones imme- 

 diately afterwards, find that the leather of 

 their boots is not scorched. Natives, who are 

 not performers, poke the same stones about 

 with their naked feet. 



We know further that, as we saw in the last 

 section, a moist skin can endure very severe 

 heat for a very short time without injury. 

 While one foot is on a hot stone, the other is in 

 the air undergoing cooling by evaporation of 

 its moisture. The heat which may, neverthe- 

 less, be penetrating deeper into the skin, may 

 just be short of being unbearable by the time 

 the crossing is complete. The foot may occa- 

 sionally get on to a stone which is really too 

 hot ; it will be quickly taken off again, and 

 that stone will be avoided on the return journey, 

 and meantime the suffering of pain may be 



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