xiii ELAPIXAE 629 



their bite. The same applies, according to the most recent 

 observations, to the famous Mongoos. Sir E. Tennent, in his 

 Natural History of Ceylon, quoted several times in the present 

 book, makes the following remarks about the immunity of this 

 little creature : 



" I have found universally that the natives of Ceylon attach 

 110 credit to the European story of the Mongoos (Herpestes griseus) 

 resorting to some plant, which no one has yet succeeded in identi- 

 fying, as an antidote against the bite of the venomous serpents 

 on which it preys. There is no doubt that, in its conflicts with 

 the cobra and other poisonous snakes, which it attacks with as 

 little hesitation as the harmless ones, it may be seen occasionally 

 to retreat, and even to retire into the jungle, and, it is added, to 

 eat some vegetable. ... A number of plants, such as the Ophi- 

 oxylon serpentinum and Ophiorhiza mungos, the Aristolochia 

 indica, the Mimosa octandria, and others, have each been asserted 

 to be the Ichneumon's specific. ... If the Ichneumon were in- 

 spired by that courage which would result from the consciousness 

 of security, it would be so indifferent to the bite of the serpent, 

 that we might conclude that, both in its approaches and its 

 assault, it would be utterly careless as to the precise mode of 

 attack. Such, however, is far from being the 'case; and next to 

 its audacity, nothing can be more surprising than the adroitness 

 with which it escapes the spring of the snake under a due sense 

 of danger, and the cunning with which it makes its arrangements 

 to leap upon the back and fasten its teeth in the head of the 

 cobra. It is this display of instinctive ingenuity that Lucan 

 celebrates where he paints the Ichneumon diverting the attention 

 of the Asp by the motion of his bushy tail, and then seizing it 

 in the midst of its confusion. See Pharsalia, lib. iv. verses 

 729-734." 



There is a widespread belief in the efficacy of " Snake- 

 stones," which are generally pieces of charred bone, well polished, 

 occasionally pieces of chalk or some similar porous substance, 

 which, if pressed upon the bleeding wound, are supposed to 

 absorb the poison. Snake-charmers profess to prepare such 

 " stones," and to preserve the composition as a secret. The 

 manufacture is a lucrative trade. The Boers bought them, 

 imported from India, at high prices. Mr. Selous saw one, or 

 heard of one, that was kept as an heirloom. Snake-stones are 



