CHAPTER V.

HINDOO AND OTHER ORIENTAL SUPERSTITIONS.

Gross Superstition of the Hindoo Religion-The Bramins and

their Privileges-Immolation of Widows-Ceremonies and

fanatical Sacrifices at Jaggernaut-Pilgrimages to Hurdwar

-Sacred Character of the Waters of the Ganges--Follies

committed by Hindoo Devotees-Tortures which they in-

flict on themselves-A Youth induced to sacrifice himself

to Bhyroo by a supposed Vision-Mutilation to propitiate

the Goddess Kali-Ghat-Wild Superstitions of the Malays

-Spirits in which the Malays believe-Pontianaks—Tuju

Jindang-The Polong-Mode of exercising the Polong-

The Penangalam-Charms to obtain Revenge on Ene-

mies—The Tuju and the Tuju Jantong-The Panaw, a

Charm of the Mahometan Malays-Desperate Conduct of a

Man who wore a Panaw-Incantations of the Shamans,

or Priests, in Siberia

CHAPTER VI.

ROYAL IMPOSTORS.

Pretenders to Royalty numerous-Contest between the

Houses of York and Lancaster gives rise to various Pre-

tenders Insurrection of Jack Cade-He is killed-Lam-

bert Simnel is tutored to personate the Earl of Warwick-

He is crowned at Dublin-He is taken Prisoner, pardoned,

and made Scullion in the Royal Kitchen-Perkin Warbeck

pretends to be the murdered Duke of York-He is coun-

tenanced by the King of France-He is acknowledged by

the Duchess of Burgundy-Perkin lands in Scotland, and

is aided by King James-He is married to Lady Catherine

Gordon-He invades England, but fails-His Death-

Pretenders in Portugal-Gabriel de Spinosa-He is hanged

-The Son of a Tiler pretends to be Sebastian-He is sent

to the Gallies-Gonçalo Alvarez succeeds him-He is

executed-An Individual of talents assumes the Character

of Sebastian-His extraordinary Behaviour in his Exami-

nations-He is given up to the Spaniards-His Sufferings

and dignified Deportment-His Fate not known-Pre-

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67

tenders in Russia-The first false Demetrius-He obtains

the Throne, but is driven from it by Insurrection, and is

slain-Other Impostors assume the same Name-Revolt

of Pugatscheff-Pretenders in France-Hervegault and

Bruneau assume the Character of the deceased Louis XVII.

PAGE

83

CHAPTER VII.

DISGUISES ASSUMED BY, OR IN BEHALF OF, ROYALTY.

Disguise of Achilles-Of Ulysses-Of Codrus-Fiction em-

ployed by Numa Pompilius-King Alfred disguised in the

Swineherd's Cottage-His Visit, as a Harper, to the Danish

Camp-Richard Cœur de Lion' takes the Garb of a Pilgrim

-He is discovered and imprisoned-Disguises and Escape

of Mary, Queen of Scots-Escape of Charles the Second,

after the Battle of Worcester-Of Stanislaus from Dant-

zick-Of Prince Charles Edward from Scotland -- Peter

the Great takes the Dress of a Ship Carpenter-His Visit to

England-Anecdote of his Conduct to a Dutch Skipper-

Stratagem of the Princess Ulrica of Prussia-Pleasant De-

ception practised by Catherine the Second of Russia-Joan

of Arc-Her early Life-Discovers the King when first in-

troduced at Court-She compels the English to raise the

Siege of Orleans-Joan leads the King to be crowned at

Rheims-She is taken Prisoner-Base and barbarous Con-

duct of her Enemies- She is burned at Rouen-The Devil

of Woodstock-Annoying Pranks played by it-Explana-

tion of the Mystery-Fair Rosamond

CHAPTER VIII.

MILITARY STRATAGEMS.

Characteristic Mark of a skilful General-Importance anciently

attached to military Stratagems-The Stratagem of Joshua at

Ai the first which is recorded-Stratagem of Julius Cæsar

in Gaul-Favourable Omen derived from Sneezing-Arti-

fice of Bias at Priene-Telegraphic Communication-Mode

adopted by Hystiæus to convey Intelligence-Relief of

Casilinum by Gracchus-Stratagem of the Chevalier de

Luxembourg to convey Ammunition into Lisle-Impor-

tance of concealing the Death of a General-The manner in

96

which the Death of Sultan Solyman was kept secret-

Stratagem of John Visconti-Stratagem of Lord Norwich at

Angoulême-Capture of Amiens by the Spaniards-Man-

ner in which the Natives of Sonia threw off the Yoke.

CHAPTER IX.

MALINGERING, OR SIMULATION OF DISEASES.

Former Prevalence of Malingering in the Army; and the

Motives for it-Decline of the Practice-Where most Pre-

valent-The means of Simulation reduced to a System-

Cases of simulated Ophthalmia in the 50th Regiment-The

Deception wonderfully kept up by many Malingerers-

Means of Detection-Simulated Paralysis-Impudent Tri-

umph manifested by Malingerers-Curious case of Hollidge

-Gutta Serena, and Nyctalopia counterfeited-Blind

Soldiers employed in Egypt-Cure, by actual cautery,

of a Malingerer-Simulation of Consumption and other

Diseases-Feigned Deafness-Detection of a Man who

simulated Deafness-Instances of Self-mutilation com-

mitted by Soldiers-Simulation of Death.

CHAPTER X.

MISCELLANEOUS IMPOSTORS AND IMPOSTURES.

Mary Tofts, the Rabbit Breeder, of Godalming-Progress and

Detection of her Impostures-Poisoning of St. André-The

Bottle Conjuror-Advertisements on this Occasion-Riot

produced by the Fraud-Squibs and Epigrams to which it

gave rise Case of Elizabeth Canning-Violent Controversy

which arose out of it-She is found guilty of. Perjury and

transported-The Cock Lane Ghost-Public Excitement

occasioned by it-Detection of the Fraud-Motive for the

Imposture-The Stockwell Ghost-The Sampford Ghost-

Mystery in which the Affair was involved-Astonishing

Instance of Credulity in Perigo and his Wife-Diabolical

Conduct of Mary Bateman-She is hanged for Murder-

Metamorphosis of the Chevalier d'Eon-Multifarious Dis-

guises of Price the Forger-Miss Robertson-The Fortunate

Youth The Princess Olive-Caraboo-Pretended Fasting

-Margaret Senfrit-Catherine Binder- The Girl of Unna

-The Osnaburg Girl-Anne Moore.

ix

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122

131

• 140

OF

IMPOSTURE, DECEPTION,

AND

CREDULITY.

"The earth hath Bubbles, as the water has,

And these are of them."-SHAKSPEARE.

"The prejudice of credulity may, in some measure, be cured by
learning to set a high value on truth."-WATTS.

LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY THOMAS TEGG AND SON,
73, CHEAPSIve.

MDCCCXXXVII.