He
had a tinselled turban on his head. His body was rubbed over with a
yellow paste, made, most probably, from the sandal-wood. Around his
ankles were rings, hung with little bells, which he made to tinkle, as
he was swinging, by striking his legs together. He wore a dark or black
pair of pantaloons, which came a little below the knees, and which had
a border of gold around them. He held a handkerchief in one hand, and a
knife somewhat resembling a dagger, in the other. These he kept in
constant motion, by moving his arms. On one occasion, a bunch of
plantains was tied to one of the long ropes which you see hanging down
by the side of the swinger. These he drew up, and afterwards scattered
over the people on a house opposite to him. [Illustration.]
After following the car for a quarter of a mile or more, we went before
it, and there witnessed another appalling sight. There were five or six
men, who had the rods of iron which I just mentioned passed through the
skin of their sides. They were dancing along, and, as they danced, they
made these rods go backward and forward through the skin.
After the car had reached the place from which it set out, the end of
the beam from which the man was swinging was then lowered and he was
untied.
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