144 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



It is also advisable immediately to bind a ligature under the 

 wound, until the venom is sucked entirely out. Even if 

 the animal poison is swallowed in considerable quantity, it 

 is quite harmless, as it becomes decomposed by the chyle. 

 The poultry which I killed in the experiments I made, 

 my cook, who was a Mahomedan, would certainly have pre- 

 pared for the table with great repugnance, owing to their 

 not having been Halal, t. e., killed in the name of God, by 

 letting their blood flow, but had perished whilst the blood 

 was in them ; my sweeping man, however, a Bangee of 

 the Pariah caste, eat them with avidity, and grew corpulent 

 upon the fare. 



The following case may prove that all large serpents are 

 not dangerous, but on the contrary, sometimes even useful. 

 One day my domestics caught a large one in the surde- 

 khana or teikhana ( cellar), which they had killed and thrown 

 it into the street. When I observed its extended stomach, 

 I was desirous of knowing the contents, and having caused 

 it to be opened, we found a rat, which had been swallow- 

 ed by the serpent whole, and my domestics regretted having 

 destroyed such a brave rat-catcher. 



Speaking of serpents, I may mention here a particular 

 disease, which they designate at Lahore, Mar-ashekh (serpent- 

 love ), and which, according to their statement, occurs only 

 in the Punjab. I never heard of it in any other place ; and 

 I mention it, hoping that the English physicians, particular- 

 ly those now living in that country, will take the trouble to 

 investigate the subject, and ascertain whether this disease 

 is peculiar to the Punjab, and why it occurs only between 

 the Indus and the Sutlej. 



Should the investigation of this curious disease lead to 

 a satisfactory result, and should any one be successful in 

 capturing a real musk-deer in the Punjab, 1 should be 

 much gratified, and science would be enriched. 



The faqueer Noor-oo-Deen, at Lahore, who at present 

 enjoys great respect from the English, for his extended 

 knowledge and eminent merits, was the first who directed 

 my attention to the disease I have mentioaed, a short time 



