funambulists

Then one more plunge into a river, and another stream spanned by a bamboo pole, which we negotiated like funambulists, dragging the steeds below us by their halters, -- then Balingasag.

The Great White Tribe in Filipinia 1914

There was one place where the Agus River had been spanned by jointed bamboo poles; while we crossed like funambulists, depending for our balance on a slender rail, the Moros leaped into the rushing torrent, near the rapids, swimming like rats against the stream, and reaching the other side ahead of us.

The Great White Tribe in Filipinia 1914

Why, no; that would be a sad task for the most skilful of funambulists or theological tumblers, seeing that many of these varieties stand related to each other as categorical affirmative and categorical negative: it's heavy work to make _yes_ and _no_ pull together in the same proposition.

Theological Essays and Other Papers — Volume 1 Thomas De Quincey 1822

Walsh, who was a sublime old blockhead, suggested to Pope that 'correctness' was the only tight-rope upon which a fresh literary performer in England could henceforth dance with any advantage of novelty; all other tight-ropes and slack-ropes of every description having been preoccupied by elder funambulists.

Theological Essays and Other Papers — Volume 2 Thomas De Quincey 1822

Lolling and sleeping on soft silken cushions in the Kathisma, or Emperor’s box, Arcadius could occasionally diversify his satiated boredom by looking on while funambulists walked upwards and downwards on tight ropes, or gymnasts, to the stupefaction of the mob, balanced a pole on their foreheads, on the top of which a little boy would go through all sorts of antics.

Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom 1831-1903 1895