312 



EEPTILES. 



[Chap. IX. 



which the drawing is taken, was obtained by Dr. Tem- 

 pleton at Colombo. 



The use of the Pamboo-Kaloo, or snake-stone, as a 

 remedy in cases of wounds by venomous serpents, has 

 probably been communicated to the Singhalese by the 

 itinerant snake-charmers who resort to the island from 

 the coast of Coromandel; and more than one well- 

 authenticated instance of its successful application has 

 been told to me by persons who had been eye-wit- 

 nesses to what they described. On one occasion, in 

 March, 1854, a friend of mine was riding, with some 

 other civil officers of the Government, along a jungle 

 path in the vicinity of Bintenne, when he saw one of 

 two Tamils, who were approaching the party, suddenly 

 dart into the forest and return, holding in both hands 

 a cobra de capello which he had seized by the head and 

 tail. He called to his companion for assistance to place 

 it in their covered basket, but, in doing this, he handled 

 it so inexpertly that it seized him by the finger, and re- 

 tained its hold for a few seconds, as if unable to retract 

 its fangs. The blood flowed, and intense pain appeared 

 to follow almost immediately ; but, with all expedition, 

 the friend of the sufferer undid his waistcloth, and took 

 from it two snake-stones, each of the size of a small 

 almond, intensely black and highly polished, though 

 of an extremely light substance. These he applied, 

 one to each wound inflicted by the teeth of the serpent, 

 to which they attached themselves closely ; the blood 

 that oozed from the bites being rapidly imbibed by the 

 porous texture of the article applied. The stones ad- 



in two pairs ; eyes very small, over second upper labial shield elon- 

 the fourth and fifth labials ; one gated, 

 ante- and two post-oculars ; the 



