OF SERPENTS. 219 



writhing in the air. Dogs also are bred up to oppose them. 

 Father Feuillee tells us, that being in the woods of Martinico, 

 he was attacked by a large serpent, which he could not easily 

 avoid, when his dog immediately came to his relief, and 

 seized the assailant with great courage. The serpent en- 

 twined him, and pressed him so violently, that the blood came 

 out of his mouth, and yet the dog never ceased till he had 

 tore it to pieces. The dog was not sensible of his wounds 

 during the fight ; but soon after his head swelled prodigiously, 

 and he lay on the ground as dead. But his master having 

 found hard by a banana tree, he applied its joice, mixed with 

 treacle to the wounds, which recovered the dog, and quickly 

 healed his sores. 



But it is in man that these venomous creatures find the 

 most dangerous enemy. The Psylli of old were famous for 

 charming and destroying serpents. Some moderns pretend 

 to the same art. Cassaubon says, that he knew a man who 

 could at any time summon a hundred serpents together, and 

 draw them into the fire. Upon a certain occasion, when one 

 of them bigger than the rest would not be brought in, he 

 only repeated his charm, and it came forward, like the rest, 

 to submit to the flames. Philostratus describes particularly 

 how the Indians charm serpents. "They take a scarlet robe, 

 embroidered with golden letters, and spread it before a ser- 

 pent's hole. The golden letters have a fascinating power ; 

 and by looking steadfastly, the serpent's eyes are overcome 

 and laid asleep." These, and many other feats, have been 

 often practiced upon these animals by artful men, who had 

 first prepared the serpents for their exercise, and then exhib- 

 ited them as adventitiously assembled at their call. In India 

 there is nothing so common as dancing serpents, which are 

 carried about in a broad flat vessel, somewhat resembling a 

 sieve. These erect and put themselves in motion at the 

 word of command. When their keeper sings a slow tune, 

 they seem by their heads to keep time ; when he sings a 

 quicker measure, they appear to move brisk and lively. All 

 animals have a certain degree of docility ; and we find that 



