THE WELL JUMPERS OF DELHI.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIII, Issue 3250, 13 February 1933, Page 7

THE WELL JUMPERS OF DELHI.

(By R. Miles.)

If a competition were organised to discover the . strangest profession in the world, the “Well Jumpers of Delhi’’ might with justification claim the prize. Hundreds of years ago, a favorite amusement of the Moguls of India was to order certain of their followers to throw themselves down a specially constructed well at Delhi, 80 feet deep and eight feet wide. As the unhappy victims fell down the narrow shaft, their bodies were dashed from side to side of the well till only a battered, lifeless corpse splashed into the water below. From a specially constructed balcony, or alcove, the Mogul and his court could watch their dreadful descent In ease and comfort. Countless wretches, composed of discredited favorites, court intriguers, prisoners of war, criminals, or slaves slaughtered to suit the caprice of the Mogul, met their doom in this terrible fashion.

Someone discovered, however, that by letting the body relax and drop without any resistance, it was possible to fall to the bottom without being dashed to pieces. In time, a race of men grew up who made a living in this perilous fashion. At first they were maintained by the reigning prince and performed for his amusement. The decline of the Moguls and the coming of the British, however, robbed them of their patronage and for many generations now their descendants have had to rely on the generosity of pilgrims and tourists. Even to-day the last descendants of the Mogul Well Jumpers still cling to the profession of their forefathers. The Government of India, however, consider their art is so dangerous that they are forbidden to teach it to their children. - It is probable that in a few years' time this queer profession will cease to have any followers.