COBRA DE CAPELLO. 
105 
briskly up and down, and from side to side, singing 
all the while. The terrified or enraged animal, 
keeping its eyes constantly fixed on the hand which 
threatens it, follows every motion, balancing its 
body and head on its tail, which keeps always fixed 
in the same spot ; and thus gives the appearance of 
a kind of dance. The reptile can continue this kind 
of exercise for about half a quarter of an hour ; but 
whenever the juggler perceives that his serpent 
grows wearied, and is about to fly from the combat, 
he gives over his song and removes the threatening 
hand. The snake now ceases its seeming dance, 
and extends itself on the ground, when the master 
seizes it by the neck, and replaces it in its box or 
jar.” 
From the observations of Kaempfer, as related by 
La Cepede, we are informed of the following me- 
thod which these jugglers use to train up their pu- 
pils to the dance. When an Indian has procured a 
cobra de capello for this purpose, he turns it out of 
the jar in which it is kept, and prevents its escape 
with a stick which he uses to provoke it to fight 
him, holding the stick in one hand and the empty 
jar in the other. Whenever the snake attempts to 
bite it is presented with the jar, against which it 
hurts its nose, and is obliged to start back. This 
exercise is continued till the animal, always foiled in 
its attack, and hurt against the jar every time it at- 
tempts to bite, is obliged to give up the unequal 
combat, but constantly keeps its eyes fixed on the 
hard substance which is presented towards it, and 
