A CHAT WITH A SNAKE-CHARMER. 273 



feet away from where I was sitting. The snake- 

 charmer readily consented, and began a kind of 

 a war-dance in the verandah, keeping step to a 

 weird tune he played on his calabash. The only 

 stitch of cloth he had on was a rag, some six 

 inches wide between his legs, fastened before 

 and behind to a cord round his waist, so that 

 it was impossible for him to conceal anything in 

 his clothing. I asked my servants to watch him 

 closely, while I did the same. After dancing a 

 measure or two, and approaching and receding 

 several times from the spot I indicated, he sud- 

 denly shouted " There ! Sahib, there ! " pointing 

 to the spot. All eyes were involuntarily turned 

 thither, and he leaped forward and pretended to 

 clutch something from the ground, and held up a 

 cobra about two and a half feet long. There 

 were shouts of approbation and wonder from my 

 servants in which I did not join. It is a common 

 trick among conjurors of all nations when some 

 sleight of hand is to be performed to call off 

 attention from the expert's hands to some other 

 spot. I was prepared for this, so did not look 

 at the spot the snake-charmer pointed to, but kept 

 my eyes on him, watching his every movement. 

 As he sprang forward to seize the supposed snake, 

 as quick as lightning one hand was thrust into 

 his hair, which was tied in a large knot somewhat 

 like that the Cingalese women wear, and from 

 this hiding place he drew the small cobra he 

 pretended to pick off the floor. 



The man quickly noticed that I did not join 



18 



