84 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
doubtedly poifonous. If one of them enter a houfe, the charmer 
is fent for, who ufes a certain form of words. I have feen 
three ferpents enticed out of the cabin of a fhip, lying near the 
fhore. The operator handled them, and then put them into a 
bag. At other times I have feen the ferpents twill round the 
bodies of thefe Pfylli in all dire6lions, without having had 
their fangs extracted or broken, and without doing them any 
injury. 
The Egyptians pretend to numerous kinds of magic. The 
powerful influence of the name of the Divinity, Ifm Ullah^ an 
account of which is contained in the Kitah-el-rihani^ is fup- 
pofed to work various miracles. The mode of its application 
is divided into haUl^ lawful, and hardm^ unlawful. Though 
the pradice terminate in perpetual difappointment, the credu- 
lous, who ftill confide in it, are not few. There are three or 
four places on the mountain, above Kahira, to which the Arabs 
afcribe fome influence of magic. El Maraga, where they fay 
the earth trembles. Btr-el-kuffdr^ the well of the infidels. — Caf- 
faat el Moluk. — Ain el Sire^ a fpring of fait water, to which they 
attribute medical virtues. 
The dancing girls form a diftin£t clafs. They are always 
attended by an old man and woman, who play on mufical in- 
ftruments, and look to the conduct of the girls, that they may 
not beftow their favours for an inadequate reward ; for, though 
not chafte, they are by no means common. Their dances ex- 
hibit all that the moft luxurious imagination can pidure — all 
the 
