Rice is a very popular theme in Oriental magic for obvious reasons. There is so much of it there. The sym-bol is very important to those in this region. To have a bountiful supply is important to them, that’s why the most famous trick is that of the Chinese Rice Bowls.
My first magic kit had the Rice Bowls in it. I love this trick and own several different versions of it. How-ever, none is better than the basic concept that is submitted here.
Effect: The magician explains that he will "hypnotize" a red ball so it will do what he asks it to. After hyp-notizing the ball, it is dropped into the jar. A bag of rice is poured into the empty jar until it covers the ball.
He waves the dagger over the jar like a wand and commands the ball to rise to the top of the rice. Within mo-ments, the ball mysteriously appears as it comes forth to the top of the rice.
The ball is taken from the jar. The knife is plunged into the rice. The handle is lifted and the knife clings to the blade. It is suspended without visible means of support. When the knife is removed, a spectator is asked to do the same thing, but fails.
Props:
A jar A knife A bag of rice A rubber ball
Preparation: Make sure that the jar you choose is the type with the top that turns inwards. This jar should be narrower at the top than at the bottom as in figure 1. For the trick to work, the opening must not be more than three to four inches. The smaller the better.
The knife can be any kind even a table knife, but it must have a point. If the blade is wide on the bottom, it won’t work. Whatever you choose, the more impressive looking the knife the better. If you can get one with a handle with a hole in it, you can tie a rope or sash to it to make it look East Indian. See figure 2. Use a rubber ball from a set of jacks.
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
Next, get a spool of black silk thread. Thread it on a needle and tie a knot on the end. Pierce it through the ball. Pull the thread through until you get to the knot. Then tie a knot on the other end. Now the thread is locked onto the ball. The string should be double the length of jar. Put a small button or bead halfway. Then put another bead on the end of the string.
To perform: Pick up the ball and the string in your hand but only show the ball. Say you are going to hypnotize it. Stare at it and pretend to hypnotize it. Drop it into the jar. Make sure the button hangs over the edge of the jar. See figure 3. Pick up the bag of rice and pour it through your fingers to show that it is normal.
Don’t say so. Never ever use the words ordinary when performing. It reminds them that there is a possibility that it might not be.
Hold the jar as in figure 4 so the bead or button does not fall in the jar.
Pour the rice from the bag into the jar until it covers the ball. Continue pouring until you have about a couple of inches to the top. Clip the bead between you finger tips and pull on the string just a little bit to get the ball free from the rice. Then re-grip the jar so it is on the palm of the left hand. Make sure your thumb is above the second bead as in figure 5.
Take the dagger and wave it over the jar. Command the ball to rise to the top of the rice. “The grains will part like the oceans did for Moses.” Pull down on the bead and the ball will rise bursting through the top. See figure 6.
Pause so the audience can grasp what just occurred. Take off the ball from the jar and place it off to the side.
Take the bag of rice and fill the top of the jar so it overflows. Make sure to pour more rice than it’s needed.
Rap the bottom of the jar sharply against the table a few times. It seems like you are just getting rid of the surplus rice, but in reality you are packing it tight in the jar. Brush off any rice that may be above the lip of the jar.
Pick up the knife, “Now the sea will become hard as cement.” Jab the knife into the rice a few times. This looks like you are just finding the right spot, but what
you are really doing is packing the rice even harder. You may need more rice, so pour more in. Plunge the knife again a few times. The last plunge should feel tight. Push it a little, but not all of the way. You don’t want it to stick yet. When the rice is firm enough, grip the knife tightly and pause. Then plunge it into the rice about three quarters down. See figure 7. Pause for affect. Then push down until you hear a crunching sound. The knife now should be wedged into the rice.
This takes practice to get the right feel. Now pick up the handle of the knife and the jar will come with it.
You can even swing gently on the sash. See figure 8. Catch the jar in your palm of your hand.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7 Fig. 8
Grip the bottom firmly. Give the blade a slight back and forth twisting motion. The knife will come free, but most important, it will unpack the rice. Now you can give the knife to a spectator to give it a try, but the blade won’t stick for him.
This is a trick that you need to do several times to get it right. With experience, you’ll find out that the more the rice that is packed into the jar, the more likely it will stick to the knife. You will not get this the first few times you try it. If you have trouble, then the jar or the knife is not right. Remember, once you plunge down, don’t go all of the way. Then push it in until you hit the bottom. You can feel the resistance when you do it this way. You’ll surprise yourself when it works. Once you get the feel, you have a trick that was done by the ancient Hindu fakirs.