387 



repairing a house a few years before, had found a considerable sum 

 of money in a similar receptacle; guarded in the same manner by a 

 large cobra di capello, or hooded-snake, of which several persons 

 were witnesses. This Parsee was a man of consequence, and 

 head-broker to the Dutch factory at Sural. Such an accumula- 

 tion of wealth made a great noise in the city; but instead of de- 

 stroying the extraordinary centinel, he brought it a bason of milk, 

 and burnt incense, which caused it to retire while he removed the 

 treasure; one half of which he wisely presented to the nabob, and 

 dedicated part of the remainder to charitable purposes. After this 

 adventure he was considered to be a lucky man, and prospered in 

 all his undertakings* 



I wished very much for one of the ancient psylli, or a modern 

 snake-charmer, in my train at Nurrah, to have called forth the 

 serpent who had guarded the treasure confided to his care until 

 its owner most probably carried it away, but forgot to liberate the 

 centinel. Having acted faithfully in his trust, his life ought to 

 have been spared. I have mentioned the power of music over 

 the dancing-snakes at Bombay, and the fatal accident which enr 

 sued there; I have since had many opportunities of witnessing the 

 effect of these charmers upon the serpents in Guzerat; my garden 

 at Dhuboy was infested with them, and I have every reason to 

 believe they were attracted from it to follow these musicians. It 

 may appear extraordinary in Europe, but as I have already ob- 

 served, there is an allusion to it in the Hebrew poetry; and the 

 ancients were doubtless well acquainted with their power, if any 

 such they possess. Medea is said to have charmed the dragon 



