of the Old World. 125 



Then breaking out into a long, wild cry, he rolled 

 his eyes, foamed at the mouth like a maniac, and 

 seizing a double-edged sword plunged it into the 

 centre of the cloth, through the basket under 

 which he had placed his child, repeating the 

 stroke twice in different places. Dark streams of 

 blood were seen running from underneath the cloth, 

 the sword being also stained ; and at each blow 

 shrieks and groans appeared to rise from under 

 the basket. For a moment all was still, and every 

 face transfixed with horror at the supposed crime ; 

 loud murmurs were heard among the men, and cries 

 of alarm arose among the females, who rushed wildly 

 about screaming and beating their breasts; then the 

 juggler coolly made an obeisance to the idol, and 

 lifting up the bloody cloth and basket, displayed 

 to the excited spectators only the veil pierced in 

 three places, and the cord with which the child 

 was bound. The child had vanished. 



All were thunderstruck, and some of the by- 

 standers seized the juggler and threatened him with 

 their vengeance if he did not restore the child he had 

 spirited away by magic. He shook them off, and 

 bowing again to the image, called thrice the name of 

 Chandbee, and the little girl came tripping in from 

 somewhere outside the circle and embraced her father. 

 Our applause was long and loud, and when the little 

 maid went round with the plate, the numerous dona- 



