SNAKE-CHARMING. 75 



from a whistle or small flute. It is said that these mysterious 

 jugglers are able, by some sympathetic action they possess, 

 to plunge these dangerous enemies into a sort of lethargy and 

 death-like rigidity, and to bring them at will out of this mo- 

 mentary torpor. It is certain, at any rate, that they handle 

 these animals, whose bite is extremely dangerous, with consider- 

 able impunity, and without having in any way neutralized or 

 intercepted the venom. It is supposed by some that these charmers 

 take the precaution of exhausting the venom of the Cobra every 

 day by forcing it to bite something several times before exhibiting 

 it. It is also certain that they more frequently draw the poison 

 fangs a wound from which can kill in the course of two or three 

 hours. 



The Asp (Naja haje) has a less dilatable neck ; it is of a greenish 

 colour, and marked with brownish spots. It is smaller than the 

 former ; is found in the west and south of Africa ; and is espe- 

 cially common in Egypt. It was said to have been this Reptile 

 which caused the death of Cleopatra. 



[The genus Hamadryas of Cantor (Ophiophagus of Giinther) 

 differs very little from the true Cobras, but has a less developed 

 hood, and a single small tooth placed at some distance behind the 

 fang. The only species, II. elaps, attains to thirteen feet in length, 

 and is proportionately formidable, being much less timid and 

 retiring in its habits than the Cobras of the genus JWaja. it 

 preys Habitually oil other Snakes, and seems to be more plentiful 

 eastward of the Bay of Bengal than it is in India. In Burmah it 

 is styled the Gnan, and Mr. Theobald tells us that its venom is 

 fatal in a few minutes. " One of these Snakes," he adds, " was 

 brought in alive, and a snake-charmer came up to display his 

 command over the animal. At first (as I am told) the Snake 

 seemed cowed by the authoritative ' Hah ' of the man ; but sud- 

 denly, through some carelessness on his part, the Snake struck him 

 on the wrist. The poor fellow at once ran off home to get an 

 antidote, but fell down before reaching his own door, and died in 

 a few minutes. When at Tongku," continues Mr. Theobald, " I 

 heard a case of an Elephant being killed by one of these Snakes, 

 which I have no reason for doubting. The Elephant was a fine 

 powerful male, and was pulling down with his trunk some creepers 



