201 LEAVES FROM THE 



intendence this highly amusing and instructive esta- 

 blishment is so well conducted, would not have permitted 

 the exhibition to take place, if there had been the least 

 danger. Besides this, I observed that the charmers only 

 used their own serpents, which they had, I presume, 

 brought with them ; and I confess that the impression 

 upon my mind was, that they had been rendered in- 

 noxious by mechanical means.* 



We have already seen that the gift or power of charm- 

 ing serpents is believed to be hereditary, like the alleged 

 craft of the Dowsers, as they are called, of Cornwall, who 

 use the divining rod with success in so many instances. 

 The Arab lad, who is only fifteen, but who is said to 

 have left a wife behind him in 'Egypt, when asked how 

 he obtained his power, stated that his father was a holy 

 man, and not afraid of serpents, — that neither is he 

 afraid, and that they cannot hurt him. The old man, 

 Jabar Abou Haijab, states that they belong to a tribe 

 known by the name of Rufaiah, who have handed down 

 the mystery of serpent-charming from father to son for 

 many generations, and over whom serpents have no 

 hurtful power. The tribe, it would seem from the ac- 

 counts of these Arabs, derives its name from Rufai, a 

 Mahommedan saint, whose tomb is said still to remain 

 at Busrah, and to it the Rufaiah make pilgrimage. It 

 is stated to be the haunt of numerous serpents, whose 

 mouths are closed by the saint, so that the pilgrims go 

 boldly among them without fear or harm. 



The serpents which figure most prominently in the 

 performance of these Arabs are the Egyptian cobra, 

 Naia haje; and the cerastes, Vi2Dera (cerastes) caudalis. 

 A sketch of the history and habits of these snakes may 

 be deemed not misplaced. 



The Egyptian cobra, which wants the curious spectacle- 



See post, p. 388. 



