There was no
deception. They passed through the skin, on the sides of the backbone.
To these hooks were attached yellow ropes, by which he was fastened to
the beam, as you will perceive in the picture. This being done, the men,
five or six in number, who had hold of the ropes fastened to the end of
the beam which you see resting on the ground, and which was then, of
course, high in the air, drew him up until the beam lay horizontally.
Then, after making him perform one circular motion around the car, they
elevated him, as you see in the picture. When thus elevated, it was
thought that he was forty feet from the ground. All being ready, the
people seized the ropes which you see in front of the car, and began to
draw it. Mr. Chandler and myself accompanied it through the streets,
until it came to the place from which it set out. The distance of ground
passed over was at least half a mile, and the time in which the journey
was accomplished exceeded an hour. Of course he was swinging more than
an hour. As the car passed through the streets, the people threw
plantains from the tops of the houses to the crowds below.
The man who was swung was adorned with flowers and other ornaments.
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