# Bed of Nails/ rope trick

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bed-of-nails-rope-trick/125040>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 22, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bed-of-nails-rope-trick/125040 "2002-08-22T05:28:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jshsitar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@jshsitar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshsitar)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bed-of-nails-rope-trick/125040/1 "2002-08-22T05:28:24Z")

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I agree with the logic of the Bed of Nails act but find the the Rope Trick is inadequately researched.  
Re: Indian Rope Trick  
Here are some links.  
Truth about the rope trick  
… Ibn Batuta, who started the “rope trick” legend, recorded another dazzler. During a visit with the Sultan in Delhi he saw a man [www.uelectric.com/pastimes/rope.htm](http://www.uelectric.com/pastimes/rope.htm)

The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Article  
… of this trick is attributed to Ibn Batuta who witnessed it at Delhi in the 14th century.  
Then in the 17th century there is a graphic account of the rope trick …  
[www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011230/spectrum/main4.htm](http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011230/spectrum/main4.htm)  
It appears that some of the earliest accounts of the “trick” come from Buddhist Jataka stories which are Pre Christian in origin. Ibn Batuta wrote an account of his travels throughout the known Islamic world. I believe his book is called " the travels (or voyages) of Ibn Batuta"  
It was witten in 1355 and translated into English in the 18th century.