26 J. H. Rivett-Carnac—The Snake Symbol in India. [No. 1, 
The village where I was encamped was rich in Tandahs, mat-enclosures 
of betel leaf cultivation. The Baris who cultivate the betel-creeper or 
Nagballi or Cobra-creeper, as it is called, are, from their constant contact 
with the Nag-creeper, supposed to be on terms of friendship and to have 
influence with the snakes, and are often invoked to assist in curing persons 
who have offended, and who have consequently been bitten by the snake 
deota or deity. Besides the mantra given above, a remedy employed 
by the Baris is, I was told, to slap on the mouth the person who brings 
the news of the accident! These Baris are generally snake-worshippers, 
and as snakes are often found in the cool, well-watered and covered enclo- 
sures, in which the delicate creeper is grown, this desire to keep on good 
terms with the deity may readily be understood. I find too that I noted at 
the same time that those who worshipped snakes also worshipped the ant-hills 
or mounds of earth thrown up by ants. The holes of these ant-hills are held, 
correctly or incorrectly I cannut say, to be full of snakes. I should like 
further information on this point and would enquire whether the worship 
of ant-hills may not be on account of their pyramidical shape and hence 
connection with Siva worship P 
The “ Nag panchami” or 5th day of the moon in Sawan is a great féte 
in the city of Nagptr, and more than usual license is indulged in on 
that day. Rough pictures of snakes, in all sorts of shapes and positions, 
are sold and distributed, something after the manner of Valentines. I 
cannot find any copies of these queer sketches, and, if I could, they would 
hardly be fit to be reproduced. Mr. J. W. Neill, C. S., the present Commis- 
sioner of Nagpur, was good enough to send me some superior Valentines of 
this class, and I submit them now for the inspection of the Society. It 
will be seen that in these paintings, some of which are not without merit 
either as to design or execution, no human figures are introduced. In the 
ones I have seen, in days gone by, the positions of the women with the 
snakes were of the most indecent description and left no doubt that, so 
far as the idea represented in these sketches was concerned, the cobra was 
regarded as the phallus. In the pictures now sent the snakes will be seen 
represented in congress, in the well known form of the Caduceus or 
Esculapian rod. ‘Then the many-headed snake, drinking from the jewelled 
cup, takes one back to some of the symbols of the mysteries of bygone 
days? The snake twisted round the tree and the second snake approaching 
it are suggestive of the temptation and fall? But I am not unmindful of 
the pitfalls from which Wilford suffered, and I quite see that it is not 
impossible that this picture may be held to be not-strictly Hindu in its 
treatment. Still the tree and the serpent are on the brass models, which 
accompany this paper and which I have already shewn are to be purchased 
