32 THE LAND-MARKS OF 



glands may produce rupture of its substance and con- 

 sequent blood poisoning. This, however, is but conjec- 

 ture ; and I have not further examined the subject 

 experimentally. 



Our method '^^^ method adopted by us in India, though 

 °*Tenom!°^ perhaps more dangerous, is infinitely more simple 

 and efificacious. The reptile is caught by the 

 tail, and the end of a walking-stick is then 

 placed upon the head, pressing it not too forci- 

 bly against the ground or floor. When secured, 

 the tail is handed over to an assistant, or it may 

 be let go, and with the hand the snake is seized 

 just behind the stick, which is then removed. 

 Care is, of course, required that the fingers do 

 not slip, as thej^ sometimes will, more particular- 

 ly when the animal is shedding its skin, and 

 that the animal is not held so tightly as to injure 

 it. SaTnp-wallahs hold the tail of the snake 

 between the toes of the left foot. Expert 

 manipulators do not require to use any stick, 

 especially for cobras, but at once place the 

 fingers upon the neck and then grasp it. To 

 remove the poison the creature is made to bite 

 through a strip of plantain leaf placed trans- 

 versely around a mussel shell, the concavity of 

 which is turned upwards. The fangs fierce the 



