Yon have, perhaps, often seen a well-sweep. The long beam in the picture
is swung in the same manner as is the well-sweep, with a single
exception. In addition to its usual motion, it is made to turn
horizontally. The cuts which you may have seen, in two or three of my
little books, differ much from the above; of course different machines
are used at different times. There are stationary swingings, as well as
swingings of the kind to which I just alluded.

Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the man who was to be
swung made his appearance for a few moments, and then disappeared. The
hooks by which he was to be swung, as well as the iron rods with which a
number of devotees were immediately to pierce their sides, were carried
through the streets, and held up that they might be seen by the people.
Soon afterwards the man again appeared with the hooks in his back, and
went up to the end of the beam to which he was to be fastened. This, of
course, was lowered. Notwithstanding the dense multitudes of people, I
made my way to the same spot, determined to be satisfied whether or not
there was any deception in the application of the hooks. 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. He
had a tinselled turban on his head. His body was rubbed over with a
yellow paste, made, most probably,