Reptiles 



eccentric motions, then, removing his hands, kept perfectly 

 quiet. Thinking danger past, the reptile rolled over, 

 starting away. It was caught and put into a bag. The 

 writer's idea had been to promote respect for himself in 

 a wild, almost lawless region, but the effect was too pro- 

 nounced. His assistants at once decided his powers of 

 black art were suspiciously dangerous. They dropped 

 away, one by one, until the ludicrous necessity was 

 presented of changing the location of collecting in order 

 to leave a bad reputation behind and secure men to 

 carry the snake bags." 



It may not be inopportune here to give a short account 

 of the art of snake-charming. Maybe the ingenuity in 

 this case is rather on the part of the charmer than of the 

 charmed. Be that as it may, the performance possesses 

 a wellnigh hypnotic fascination for the onlbokers. We 

 have witnessed the performance time and again in Africa, 

 but it is to India that we must turn for the greatest 

 development of the art of snake-charming ; on that 

 account we make no excuse for quoting the words of an 

 onlooker at a Hindoo performance : 



" Under the trees of a public square, the idlers gather 

 about a solemn Hindoo, whose shrill-toned reed has 

 attracted their attention. Sitting cross-legged before two 

 round, flat baskets, he begins a refrain upon his flute. 

 The music is strange and crooning, suggesting something 

 strange to follow. With a bamboo stick he presently 

 removes the covers of the baskets and several strange 

 apparitions arise into view from a mass of tangled bodies 

 within. These are specimens of the deadly cobra-de- 

 capello, their hoods spread widely. While the reptiles' 

 eyes stare with glassy monotony at the Hindoo, the 

 spectacle markings upon their distended necks seem to 

 cast ghastly grimaces upon those assembled for the exhibi- 

 tion. Seemingly imbued with a frenzy at the appearance 

 of the snakes, the performer quickens the strains upon 

 his flute. His body sways from side to side in time to 



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