ssing down the mud.

[Illustration: CONCLUSION OF THE MANGO TREE TRICK.]

Finally he plants in the same way, the branch which has possibly two
mangoes upon it. It might even have ripe fruit, the means of
getting them there being just the same, though the ripe fruit being
brought to view will of course depend upon the season of the year at
which the trick is being shewn.

When the necessary monetary subscription that follows this trick has
been completed, the Jadoo-wallah sweeps the branches, earth, and all
away in one fell destructive swoop which does not allow his audience
to ascertain whether or no the tree had any roots.

Occasionally, instead of the basket lid, the magician uses three
sticks tied together in the form of a tripod over which he places his
cloth under which he works his mysteries. This was the method of Ghaus
Mahommed.

Many of my readers may say that the above cannot be the explanation of
the trick. All I can say is, that the next time they see the mango
trick being performed, let them take a copy of this little book and
refer to it as the trick progresses, when I feel confident that they
will accept this true and only explanation.

If they are still unbelievers, or rather believers in the real Magic
of the trick, let them offer untold gold to any man who will do the
Mango Tree trick in India in January, or February, culminating in the
tree having ripe or unripe fruit upon it. As far as I know, the Mango
Tree does not give fruit in these two months and the money will never
be forfeited.

Now that we know the explanation, does it not strike the reader as
amazing that such a crude, simple trick should have gained the
reputation it has done. I can only attribute the fact to persons like
our Mahommedan and Scotch friend Macpherson, who tell "traveller's
yarns" until they in time begin to believe them themselves.

CHAPTER VIII

THE BASKET TRICK

When we discussed the Mango Tree trick, I commented unfavourably upon
the veracity of our friend Macpherson. Let me here state definitely
that there is no such person as far as I know, though the description
of the trick as I have given it, was related to me word for word in
the smoking room of an outward bound ship. It was capped by some one
saying that they had seen the tree grown without earth, on the deck of
a steamer on its way to Australia. I make no comment on this version
of the Mango Tree trick. There are many people who describe trick