METHOD OF CURING f ttEMSELVES. 21 1 



secrets that enable them to cure the bites of 

 all snakes : I questioned them frequently on 

 the subject, both \vhen sober and intoxicated, 

 and at last, for a small reward I believe they 

 disclosed all they knew, which I shall relate, 

 and that they do not know of any infallible 

 remedy,, their refusing to catch cobra de rnoni- 

 loes is a proof. 



Whenever they attempt to catch snakes > 

 there are always more than one present, and 

 a second person carries with him a goor 

 goorie> which is a smoking machine made 

 generally of a cocoa nut below, with an 

 earthen funnel above, containing fire balls; 

 In this fire they have always secreted, a small 

 iron instrument about the size of a prong of 

 a table fork, curved into the shape of a snake's 

 tooth, tapering from above, and whenever they 

 are bitten, they first put on a tight ligature 

 above the bite, then suck the part, and as 

 soon as blood appears, they introduce this 

 instrument red hot into the two orifices made 

 by the teeth, and take some bazar spirits, if 



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