64 TRAVELS TO THE EAST. 
field with the fame eafe {he handled them before 
us; this we were told by the Arab who brought her 
to us. Doubtlefs this woman had fome unknown 
art which enabled her to handle thofe creatures. 
It was impofiible to get any information from 
her; for on this fubjeft Ihe would not open her lips. 
The art of fafcinating Serpents is a fecret amongil 
the Egyptians. It is worthy the endeavours of all 
naturalifts, and the attention of every traveller, to 
learn fomething decifive relative to this afiair. 
How ancient this art is among!! the Africans, may 
be concluded from the ancient Marii and l’fylli, who 
were frcm Africa, and daily {hewed proofs of it at 
Rome. It is very remarkable that this fliould be 
kept a fecret for more than 2000 years, being known 
only to a few, when we have feen how many other 
fecrets have within that time been revealed. The 
circumftances relating to the fafeination of Serpents 
in Egypt related to me, were principally, 1. That 
the art is only known to certain families, who propa- 
gate it to their offspring. 2. The perfon who knows 
how to fafeinate Serpents, never meddles with other 
poifonous animals ; fuch as Scorpions, Lizards, &c. 
There are different perfons who know how to faf- 
einate thefe animals ; and they again never meddle 
with Serpents. 3. Thofe that fafeinate Serpents 
eat them both raw and boiled, and even make broth 
of them, which they eat very commonly among!! 
them ; but in particular, they eat fuch a difh when 
they go out to catch them. I have even been told 
that Serpents fried or boiled, are frequently eat by 
the Arabians, both in Egypt and Arabia, though 
they know not how to fafeinate them, but catch 
them either alive or dead. 4. After they have eat 
their foup, they procure a blefling from their Sckeik 
(Eric!! or Lawyer) who ufes fome fuperftitious cere- 
monies, 
