The Cobra.- 



-REPTILES. The Cobra. 



65 



great resolution, for it will not only attack its opponent, 

 but will repeat its attack, and pursue him with fury. 

 In these exhibitions, which we have witnessed our- 

 selves in Calcutta, it is generally believed that the 

 poison fangs of the Cobra are previously extracted, 

 and that the serpent is trained for exhibition by a 

 course of severe discipline. Dr. Davy, in his " Inte- 

 rior of Ceylon," distinctly, however, asserts that this is 

 not the case in that island. " Frequent exhibitions," 

 he says, " are made of this snake in Ceylon, as well 

 as on the continent of India, by men called snake- 

 charmers. The exhibition is rather a curious one, and 

 not a little amusing to those who can calmly contem- 

 plate it. The charmer irritates the snake by striking 

 it, and by rapid threatening motions of his hand , and 

 appeases it by his voice, by gentle circular movements 

 of his hand, and by stroking it gently. He avoids 

 with great agility the attacks of the animal wlien 

 enraged, and plays with it and handles it only when 

 pacified, when he will bring the moutli of the animal 

 in contact with his forehead, and draw it over his face. 

 The ignorant vulgar believe tliat these men really 

 possess a charm by which they thus play without 

 dread, and with impunity from danger. The more 

 enlightened, laughing at this idea, consider the men 

 impostors, and that in playing their tricks there is no 

 danger to be avoided, it being removed by the abstrac- 

 tion of the poison fangs. The enlightened in this 

 instance are mistaken, and the vulgar are nearer the 

 truth in their opinion. I have examined the snakes I 

 have seen exhibited, and have found their poison fangs 

 in, and uninjured. These men do possess a charm, 

 though not a supernatural one — viz., that of confi- 

 dence and courage. Acquainted with the habits and 

 disposition of the snal:e, they know how averse it is 

 to use the fatal weapon nature has given it for its 

 defence in extreme danger, and that it never bites 

 without much preparatory threatening. Any one pos- 

 sessing the confidence and agility of these men may 

 imitate them, and I have made the trial more than 

 once. They will play their tricks with any hooded 

 snakes, whether just taken or long in confinement, but 

 v.-ith no other kind of poisonous snake." 



Sir J. Emerson Tenneiit confirms Davy's statement, 

 and relates an instance in that island where one of 

 these performers, having been provoked by some of 

 his audience to attempt some unaccustomed familiarity 

 with a cobra, was bitten in the WTist and died the 

 same evening. 



The Cobra is venerated very much, and is even 

 made the subject of adoration in some parts of India 

 and in Ceylon. On the coast of Malabar its figure 

 is one of the most usual ornaments of the temples ; 

 and prayers are addressed and offerings made to it. 

 Tire Brahmins conjure and exorcise it, and the super- 

 stitious natives bring milk and various aliments out to 

 it in the forests which it infests, and the roads which it 

 frequents. Dr. Davy tells us, that in Ceylon the natives 

 in general venerate more than dread the Cobra. 

 Campbell, in his " Excursions in Ceylon," and Sir 

 .1. Emerson Tennent, in his history of that island, 

 inform us that this serpent is generally found living 

 in the deserted nests or conical moimds made by 

 Vol. II. 



the white ant or termite, and there, says the latter 

 of these authors, " it may be seen watching from the 







Tbe Cobrii tie Capello (Naja tripudians). 

 Fig. 20. 



Section of tlie neck ol :i cobra, to show tli.^ muscles tliat elevate 

 and depress the hood. 



apertures in them for the toads and lizards upon which 

 it preys." 



