ORDER OPHTDIA. 381 



that when in a house or garden, people are disturbed by the 

 presence of an animal of this kind, they address themselves 

 to an enchanter to expel him. This operation the conjurer 

 performs by making the serpent come creeping to his feet, 

 which appears charmed by the sounds of his flute or by his 

 magic incantations, and he takes the reptile in his hands 

 without receiving any hurt, taking care, however, not to 

 kill him. " On a certain day," says the writer, " a soldier 

 having knocked down a viper, which was thus charmed out 

 of a guard-house by an enchanter, the latter appeared in a 

 strange consternation, took it up, and proceeded to inter it 

 with great ceremony in a hole, where he placed a little rice 

 and milk, as an expiation of the injury committed against 

 the viper race." 



We know generally that the Phoenicians, the Egyptians, 

 the Greeks, and the Romans, were accustomed to worship 

 serpents. Some modern Egyptian and Indian enchanters 

 pretend to tame, handle, and even eat with impunity rep- 

 tiles of this species. In IMalabar, in particular, the naja, is a 

 kind of object of reverence and adoration. Its figure is one 

 of the most usual ornaments of the pagodas ; prayers and 

 offerings are addressed to it. The Bramins conjure and 

 exorcise it, and the pious souls fetch it milk, and various 

 aliments in the forests which it infests and the roads which 

 it frequents. The traveller, Dillon, relates that during his 

 stay at Cananor, a secretary of the prince was bitten by a 

 cobra di capello. The prince, terrified, convoked an assembly 

 of the priests, who, after having explained to the reptile 

 the reasons why a great value was attached to the life of 

 the individual in question, concluded by threatening to burn 

 it alive unless the man recovered ; prayers and menances, 

 however, produced no effect. The victim expired, and the 

 animal, instead of being punished, was set at liberty, with a 

 profession of excuses for having detained him, and a mul- 

 titude of profound reverences 



