ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 287 



the mould of a little flower-pot and then covered over with 

 a black cloth — always black, there is no deviation from that 

 rule. Presently this is whisked off for you to see that a 

 tiny green shoot is appearing through the mould. It is 

 covered up again for a few moments, but you notice that the 

 cloth does not now lie flat — there seems to be something 

 pushing it up ; and so indeed there is, for when it is again 

 removed to allow another peep, the shoot has become a 

 sturdy little plant, throwing out leaves. Again the cloth 

 is laid over it, but very gingerly this time, for fear of injuring 

 the delicate tip, and again you wait. You would dearly 

 like to see beneath the cloth, as perhaps the juggler guesses, 

 for he carefully lifts the flower-pot up bodily in his two hands 

 that you may satisfy yourself that there is nothing under 

 it but the ground on which it stands. When he again 

 uncovers it there is a white bud and blossom ; the next 

 time, behold ! the little tree has borne a mango — an im- 

 mature green thing. Then, when you have stared at it long 

 enough to make sure you are not dreaming, it is veiled for 

 the ripening — the last stage before the final one when the 

 warmly-tinted, perfect mango is plucked and offered for 

 your acceptance, to be eaten, not only looked at : an 

 unmistakable mango, luscious but indescribable. 



It is hard to say what my thoughts were when I first saw 

 that done and tasted the magic fruit. Doubt as to the 

 reality of the thing was impossible, yet to my perception 

 the juggler did no more than I have said ; that is, he alter- 

 nately covered and uncovered the flower-pot after planting 

 his mango stone, playing between whiles on his little 

 droning instrument much in the fashion of the snake- 

 charmer. Afterwards flower-pot and fairy mango-tree 

 were bundled unceremoniously into the basket. 



Not then but later I was told why it is always a black 

 covering that is used — it is to exclude light. I was reminded 

 of the fact that the early processes of Nature are carried on 



