NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 197 



Cerastes of Alpin, Jaculus, and an Anguis raarinus. They were 

 brought me by a Psylli, who put me, together with the French 

 consul, Lironcourt, and all the French nation present, in consterna- 

 tion. They gathered about us to see how she handled the most 

 poisonous and dreadful creatures alive and brisk, without their 

 doing, or even oiFering to do, her the least harm. When she put 

 them into the bottle where they were to be preserved, she took 

 them with her bare hands, and handled them as our ladies do 

 their laces. She had no difficulty with any but the Viperne 

 officinales, which were not fond of their lodging. They found 

 means to creep out before the bottle could be corked. They crept 

 over the hands and bare arms of the woman, without occasioning 

 the least fear in her ; she with great calmness took the snakes 

 from her body, and put them into the place destined for their 

 grave. She had taken these serpents in the field with the same 

 ease she handled them before us ; this we were told by the Arab 

 who brought her to us. Doubtless this woman had some unknown 

 art which enabled her to handle those creatures. It was impossible 

 to get any information from her, for on this subject she would not 

 open her hps. The art of fascinating serpents is a secret amongst 

 the Egyptians. It is w^orthy the endeavours of all naturalists, and 

 the attention of every traveller, to learn something decisive relative 

 to this affair. How ancient this art is amongst the Africans, may 

 be concluded from the ancient Marsi and Psylli, who were from 

 Africa, and daily showed proofs of it at Rome. It is very remark- 

 able that this should be kept a secret for more than 2000 years, 

 being known only to a few, when we have seen how many other 

 secrets have within that time been revealed. 



Monsieur Jacqiiin wrote to Linnseus that lie had pur- 

 chased the secret of charming serpents, and that the 

 Aristolochia anguicida, the Mexican Aristolochia, or 

 Birthwort, was the plant used by the Indians for that 

 purpose. Forskhal also informed the illustrious Swede 

 that the Egyptians use a species of Aristolochia, but 

 without designating it. To return to Hasselquist: — 



The circumstances relating to the fascination of serpents in 

 Egypt stated to me, were principally, — 



1st. — That the art is only known to certain families, who pro- 

 pagate it to their offspring. 



2nd. — The person who know^s how to fascinate serpents, never 

 meddles with other poisonous animals ; such as scorpions, &c. 



