Podrobnosti o knize
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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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.
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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.
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131
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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.