WOMAN FAKIR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 8

WOMAN FAKIR

LONDON AUDIENCES AMAZED

PET SNAKES AND CROCODILE

(From a Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, December 29.

Described as "the only female Yoghi in the world," a girl fakir named Koringa is the sensation of this year's Christmas circus at Olympia. Her feats have astounded London, and her performance is described as the most amazing circus act for years. A short, dark girl, she runs into the arena with two very large snakes. She kisses and fondles them, and then adds a crocodile to her collection of pets. She strokes and kisses it lovingly and sends it into a trance. But this is only a beginning. Attendants bring on a mass of broken glass. Koringa squirms her bare shoulders in it, no casualty resulting. Next, two large metal blades, apparently very sharp, are brought in. Koringa lies on these uninviting edges, a large stone is laid on her body, and an attendant breaks it with a sledge hammer. Koringa is unscratched. Next she performs a dance on swords, and then hangs from a sword by her chin. The climax is reached when she is placed inert and apparently unconscious in a coffin and sand is piled in. The coffin is sealed and she remains inside for five minutes, coming out unharmed and smiling at the end. Koringa was born in Bikaner, India. She claims to have lost her parents when young and poined the fakirs who taught her their art. She says that once in Madrid she was buried in a coffin for six days without illeffects.

For the first time for 16 years, the Earl- of Lonsdale was not present at

the opening performance of the circus, which was attended by many celebrities. The earl, who is 80, was too ill to attend. He usually presents bouquets to the women performers at the end of each act.