5i8 SNAKES, 



the name of the * spectacled cobra/ is held in the highest 

 esteem of all from the two spots being considered the 

 footprints of the god Krishna. These are the especial 

 favourites of the professional snake charmers. 



When it is borne in mind that snakes have been 

 tamed by persons of only slight experience, we can 

 easily comprehend that with a life's practice, and with 

 inherited facilities, the Oriental jugglers must acquire 

 peculiar expertness in dealing with their ' charmed ' speci- 

 mens. Originally, no doubt, the office of the professed 

 snake tamer was connected with the sacred rites of 

 serpent - worshipping communities, but has now greatly 

 degenerated into the trade of jugglers and tricksters. That 

 some of these do acquire extraordinary skill in dealing with 

 their dangerous captives cannot be denied. Profound faith 

 is placed in their performances by the natives, who attribute 

 to them supernatural agency. From being close observers 

 of reptile character, they know how far to venture on 

 familiarities. They thoroughly understand the movements 

 of the sluggish and timid serpents with which they are 

 toying ; and while keeping up a perpetual gabble to divert 

 the attention of the spectators, aggravated by the tum-tum- 

 ming and so-called ' music ' to which the snakes are supposed 

 to 'dance,' they themselves keep just beyond striking reach, 

 and provoke the snake to follow the waving motion of their 

 hands. The true object or impulse of the snake is to bite 

 the irritating cause, the pretended motive is ' dancing.' To 

 follow the movement of the object which provokes them is 

 instinctive, music or not ; and without any din and cackle 

 and jargon, the cobras would do this all the same. Long 



