HOW A TREATY WAS MADE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1215, 20 January 1886, Page 5

HOW A TREATY WAS MADE.

During the French conquest of Algeria negotiations for peace were entered upon with the sheiks of certain Arab tribes, and a meeting for the settlement of terms was arranged to take place at the French head-quarters. The French officers received their guests of the desert with great hospitality, and a banquet was given in their honor. At this the utmost splendovr was unfolded, in order to dazzle their eyes and captivate their simple minds. At its conclusion an adjournment to a large hall was proposed. Here M. Houdin, the celebrated conjurer, who accompanied the French forces, was to j give an exhibition of his skill, which to them seemed supernatural. They stared in open-mouthed wonder at all the tricks that were performed, and a feeling of awe crept over them as they saw the mysterious appearance of various objects. But the greatest marvel to them was the apparent manufacture of cannon balls. The conjurer passed around among them a high hat. This they examined very carefully, but without being able to discover anything unusual in its make or appearance. When it was returned to him, M. Houdin placed it on the floor in the middle of the stage, in full view of the audience. He then proceeded to take from the hat cannon-balls apparently without number, and rolled them across the floor into the wings. This terminated the performance. The chiefs consulted amon^ themselves, and at last came to the conclusion that it was useless to oppose an army that could turn out its ammunition in so easy a manner. They therefore signed the required treaty, and departed to tell their friends in the desert of the wonderful power of the invaders.