REPTILES. 



Indian Jugglers, exhibiting tamed Snakes. 



The Indian Nnja, or Cobra de Cupello, attains to five or six feet in length, and sometimes, it is said, 

 even to fifteen feet. The head is covered with plates, and the skin of the neck is capable of being so 

 expanded, as to form a thin hood. When irritated, these snakes elevate the upper part of the body, 

 expand their hood, and spring on the foe with great quickness, and its bite being deadly, an encounter 

 with them is very dangerous. Their color varies, .some being light and others dark. The natives rather 

 venerate than dread this snake, thinking it harms no one unless provoked. They have superstitions about 

 it, such as that it is a visitor from another world, is superior to man, &c. 



In India, at the present day, the serpent charmers are a well known division of the numerous caste of 

 jugglers that are found in every district. Mr. Forbes, in his "Oriental Memoirs," appears to attach some 

 credit to their powers of alluring the Cobra de Capello, and other snakes, from their hiding-places, by the 

 attraction of music. Mr. Johnson, however, in his "Sketches of India Field Sports," says, " The professed 

 snake catchers in India are a low caste of Hindoos, wonderfully clever in catching snakes, as well as in 

 practising the art of ledgerdemaiu ; they pretend to draw them from their holes by a sons, and by an instru- 

 ment somewhat resembling an Irish bagpipe, on which they play a plaintive tune. The truth is, this is all 

 done to deceive. If ever a snake comes out of a hole at the sound of their music, you may be certain 

 that it is a tame one, trained to it, deprived of its venomous teeth, and put there for the purpose; and 

 this you may prove, as I have often done, by killing the snake and examining it, by which you will exas- 

 perate the men exceedingly." 



The account of Mr. Johnson certainly appears the more probable version of this extraordinary story; 

 yet enough remains to surprise, in the wonderful command which these peeple possess over the reptiles 

 that they have deprived of their power of injury, and taught to erect themselves and make a gentle, 

 undulating movement of the head, at certain modulated sounds. There can, we think, be no doubt that 

 Hie snake is taught to do this, as the bear and cock of the Italians are instructed to dance. 

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