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CHARMING A NAJA. 41 
At first when I saw him he had the snake around his 
body, but he held it firmly just below the neck, and I 
could see by the muscles of his arm that he had to use 
great strength. As long as this part of the body is held 
- firmly the snake loses much of its great power of crush- 
ing one to death as the boa-constrictor or python does 
THE SNAKE OHARMEB. 
with larger animals, and as small snakes do with smaller 
game; but with this naja the danger would have been 
the venomous bite. 
Then with his other hand he took the tail of the snake, — 
and gave it a swing and gradually unfolded the reptile 
from his black body, which was warm and shining with 
ie 2: 
