198 ISLAND OF CEYLON. 



fo that in India it is held to be the emblem of Prudence ; it is 

 alfo held in veneration equal to a deity. The legends of the 

 country are full of flrange tales relating to its acSlions ; they call 

 it Ne//a Pamdou, or the good ferpeni ; it is often rcprefented 

 twifted round the deities, under the name of Calengam^ in me- 

 mory of the victory of one of their gods, over an enormous 

 Naja. 



This certainly is not the Beaf Adder. The Indian jugglers, 

 efpecially thofe of Malabar, have a power of taming thefe 

 dreadful animals, and inftructing them to dance, after the in- 

 harmonious and flow air of their flagelets. The ferpent firft 

 feems aftoniflied, then begins to rear himfelf, and fometimes by 

 a gentle motion of the head, and with diftended hood, feems to 

 liften with pleafure to the notes. This is faid not to be peculiar 

 to thofe which are accullomed to the exercife, but even the 

 fnakes newly taken, will fhew the fame difpofition, and fling 

 themfelves into the fame attitudes. 



Nieuhoff giwQ% a plate of thefe jugglers, and their fnakes, and 

 Kcempfer a much better. 



I SHALL mention here two or three Indian ferpents, defcribed 

 by M. d''Obfofiville, notwithftanding I am uncertain of their 

 native place ; one is called, in French^ le Javelot, a fpecies of JV?- 

 culus, of a green color, five or fix feet long, and moft fatal in 

 its bite. It generally lurks, extended or fufpended, among the 

 branches of trees. So fituated, that they either can dart on their 

 prey, fuch as little birds or infe(5ls, or remove themfelves with 



* See Voyages aux Indes Orient, par M. Sonnerat. Tom. i. p. p. 168, 169, tab. 45, 46, 47. 



a fpring 



