possibly the worst
performance of the Indian conjuror. From a physiological point of view
the gullibility of the audience is astounding. Wherever one goes in
England, France or America, in fact anywhere out of India, and the
conversation turns to Magic, one is asked about the Mango Tree trick,
and whether one has seen it done. I have heard the most gorgeously
elaborated descriptions of this trick, given not only by persons who
had heard about it but, I regret to say, by persons who said that they
had seen it done. On one occasion on board ship a Eurasian, who hailed
from ---- and indulged in the Mahommedan name of Macpherson, gave me
the following details of the trick as he had seen it performed, of
course many many years ago. When he was only two years old I expect.

"A conjuror came into the compound, and my father told him to clear
out. The man, however, persisted in remaining, saying that he had
something very wonderful to show us. My father eventually agreed to
watch the performance. We all sat down on the verandah, which was of
solid concrete, and the Jadoo-wallah took off his "dhoti" or loin
cloth, and squatted in front of us. He produced a mango stone and put
it under some loose earth, which he had gathered up from our own
garden. He played on his flute, and as he did so the stone began to
sprout until the little shrub was about two inches high. He then
watered it a little and again began playing the most beautiful music
to it. The little plant grew higher and higher as he did so, until it
was quite two feet high with a number of leaves upon it. He then
watered it a second time, and again played his flute until the tree
was four feet high with fruit on it. He then stopped his music and cut
one of the mangoes off the tree, which my father ate and found to be
delicious."

That was Macpherson's story.

I have never seen the trick done this way, and do not know of anyone
who has. But I have an explanation to give. In fact four explanations.
These are:--

That Macpherson and Baron Muenchausen were relations.

That Macpherson's cousin was Louis de Rougement.

That the trick as above was explained to me late at night, after
Macpherson had had "one or two."

That it was never done at all. Of course I do not want to call
Macpherson a liar. It would be rude. He is a bigger man than I am, and
he might meet me again.

I will now describe the mango trick as I have seen it performed many
many times.

[Illustrati