232 



VENOMS 



" This man instals himself on deck ; we sit down on the seat 

 provided for the officer of the watch, and the sailors form a circle. 

 The basket is placed on the deck and uncovered ; the Cobra 

 is coiled up at the bottom of it. The juggler squats a few paces 

 off and commences to play a slow, plaintive, and monotonous air, 

 with a kind of small clarinet (tig. 92), the sounds of which recall 

 those of the Breton hiitiou. 



Fig. 92. — Musical Instrument used by Indian Snake-charmers to Charm Cobras. 

 (For this figure I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. Pineau.) 



" By degrees the snake moves, extends itself, and then assumes 

 an erect posture, but without quitting the basket. It begins to 

 appear uneasy and endeavours to recognise its surroundings ; it 

 becomes agitated and irritated, expands and spreads out its hood, 

 breathes hard rather than hisses, and frequently and quickly shoots 

 out its slender forked tongue ; several times it makes a violent dart 

 as though to attack the juggler ; it frequently trembles, or rather 

 gives sudden starts. The juggler keeps his eyes always fastened 

 upon the snake, and gazes at it with a singular fixed stare. After 

 some time, about ten or twelve minutes, the Cobra becomes less 

 animated, grows quiet, and then sways as though influenced by 

 the slow and monotonous rhythm of the musician ; it keeps inces- 

 santly darting out its tongue. Little by little it is brought to 



