After that we visited other "side shows," and saw more dejected Hindoos perform marvellous feats of jugglery and conjuring, with the aid of trained mongooses, monkeys, and goats. Also an extraordinary game of football by Burmese players, who catch a glass ball on their necks and ankles as dexterously as Ranjitsinhji catches a cricket ball with his hands. Also we saw the acrobats who balance themselves on a bamboo pole by gripping it with their stomachs—a trick which I have since practised with but incomplete success.
We also saw the juggling of an Indian humorist with two attendants, who, if they did not realise all the wonders we have read about Indian conjurers, did at least perform miracles with the English language and the linked sweetness of music too long drawn out.
The attendants sat on the ground and beat monotonous drums, what time the conjurer walked to and fro and played a peculiarly baneful type of Indian bagpipe.
"Ram, ram, ram, ram, kurte heren ugh!" sang the conjurer.
"Ugh! ugh! ugh! ugh!" sang the chorus, rolling their eyes and swaying their shoulders.
"Baen, deina, juldee, chup, chup!" droned the conjurer.
"Chup, chup, chup, chup," wailed the chorus.
"Hum mugurer hue! hum padre hue! hum booker se mur jata hue!" cried the conjurer.