180 SNAKE CATCHERS. 



fessed snake catchers in India are a low cast of 

 Hindoos, wonderfully clever in catching snakes, 

 as well as in practising the art of legerdemain : 

 they pretend to draw them from their holes by 

 a song, and by an instrument somewhat re- 

 sembling an Irish bagpipe, on which they play a 

 plaintive tune. 



The truth is this is all done to deceive. If 

 ever a snake comes out of a hole at the sound of 

 their music, you may be certain that it is a tame 

 one, trained to it, deprived of its venomous teeth, 

 and put there for the purpose ; and this you may 

 prove, as I have often done, by killing the snake, 

 and examining it, by which you will exasperate 

 the men exceedingly. 



It is, however, astonishing with what dexterity 

 they hide them about their persons, with very little 

 clothes on ; and it is amusing to see the manner in 

 which they draw the attention of the spectators 

 by their grimaces and volubility of tongue, whilst 

 they secretly deposit the snake in a hole, or under 

 wood. It is almost incredible, and I have known 

 several sensible men positively insist that it could 

 not be. I witnessed myself a circumstance which 

 proved it. 



