HINDOO DEXTERITY. 
153 
suddenly converted into stone,, amid the shouts of an 
applauding multitude. When he had sufficiently rest- 
ed himself after the toil of climbing, a strong cord was 
flung to him from below, which he caught, and 
drew from the ground a ball, apparently about six 
pounds weight, of solid iron : it was enclosed in a stout 
netting of twine, to which the cord was securely at- 
tached. 
Having drawn up the ball to within about three 
yards from his hand, the dexterous Hindoo, who re- 
mained still upon his head, gradually swung it back- 
ward and forward until he was able to describe the 
entire circle, when, swinging it round three several 
times, he elanced it from his grasp, sending it over 
the heads of the spectators to the distance of seventy- 
five paces, at least sixty yards. He now lowered 
his legs, and placed himself upon his back along 
the pole. When he had perfectly secured his equili- 
brium, six creases or daggers, with broad double- 
edged blades, were thrown to him ; these he caught 
successively with great dexterity, still maintaining 
his horizontal position upon the transverse bamboo. 
When he had possessed himself of the six daggers, he 
threw them one after the other several yards above his 
head, catching them as they fell, four always being 
in the air at the same instant; and this he continued 
for the space of at least two minutes, at length letting 
them drop one by one on his body, the handle inva- 
riably coming in contact with it, and the blade being 
always uppermost. 
The performer next took an iron rod about three 
feet long, and, standing erect upon the pole, placed the 
