When the Jadoo-wallah has sat himself down with his bag and baskets in
their correct places he usually proceeds to show the following
tricks:--
The cups and balls.
The bamboo sticks.
The ring on the stick.
The ball in the glass box.
The bunder-boat.
The bowl of rice.
The coloured sands.
The rope trick.
The egg bag.
The swastika.
The dancing duck.
The mango tree.
The basket trick.
I will attempt to describe each trick for the benefit of those who
have not actually seen them performed, and will then attempt to give a
lucid explanation of how these tricks are done.
THE CUP AND BALLS
The performer has three cups of wood, somewhat similar to crude wine
glasses overturned, the base of the wine glass forming the handle by
which the cup is manipulated. Under these he places, without
detection, little woollen or cloth balls and extracts them in the same
mysterious manner. Similarly he shows two balls, one under each of two
cups, and by a drone on the "bean" or musical instrument, one ball
flies magically from the one cup to join its mate under the other.
Various combinations and permutations of this sleight complete the
experiment which is accompanied by a running patter of "Go Bombay" "Go
London."
In my opinion this trick is the only one in which the Indian conjuror
shows any aptitude at sleight-of-hand, and the average Jadoo-wallah is
very good at it. It is a trick that at first needs a little practice,
but it is easy to learn and can be made into a first-class stage or
drawing room entertainment. One of our greatest exponents in London
performs the trick with three breakfast cups inverted, three lumps of
sugar, some walnuts, and tangerine oranges to a most amusing patter
about Cuthbert, Clarence, and Algernon, who are represented by the
three lumps of sugar and undergo all sorts of misadventures in the
night clubs in the West End of London.
The explanation is simple.
[Illustration]
Instead of three balls the performer has four. One of these he
conceals in the palm of the hand by which he lifts the cup. The handle
of the cup can be grasped between the outstretched fingers--(first
and second)--and the ball is securely held by the muscle at the ball
of the thumb. By bending the first and second fingers that hold the
cup, its lip is brought in close proximity to the secreted ball. By a
sharp or jerky movement forward to place the cup on the ground, and at
the same time releasing the muscle of the ball of the thumb, the
woollen ball naturally finds its place under the cup and the deception
is complete. The performer then picks up one of the three exposed
balls and pretends to place it in his bag or into the other hand. A
blow on the "bean" and Hey! Presto! the ball appears under the cup
that a moment ago was placed apparently empty on the ground.
[Illustration]
I will not go any further into the combinations and permutations,
which are unlimited, of the trick. Once a person has mastered the easy
dexterity described above to get the ball into the cup, he can devise
further developments for himself. The diagrams given will, I trust,
clear up any misunderstanding that may be left after reading my
explanation. If there is still any uncertainty, for a few annas or
pence, any itinerant conjuror will show the sleight, and ten minutes
practice ought to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion.
This may be a fitting opportunity to disabuse the minds of some about
the amount of practice undertaken by a really first-class performer. I
consider that a man who is an expert needs no practice at all.
Sleight-of-hand to him is just as innate as hitting any shaped ball
with any shaped stick, is to a man with an eye for games. The artists
who drew these illustrations, draw anything instinctively. Years of
practice will never make the faces of a pretty girl that I draw look
less like an amphibious cow. But I have frequently given performances
of two hour's duration without any previous practice whatever, beyond
a quick rehearsal to see that all the various properties are in their
correct places, ready at hand when wanted. I do not want the person
who wishes to do a few tricks like the cups and balls, and those which
I will describe later, to be discouraged under the impression that not
being a born conjuror it will be useless for him to attempt small
tricks without constant and monotonous practice. A little attention
and trouble will make him "hot stuff" with the cups and balls and will
lead him on to higher things.