Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-24

INDIAN JuGGLERS.-"lt Is generally imagined,
saws Mr.. Caunter, "and by persons too who
have been some time resident in India, that the
cobra di capello, exhibited by all juggers in this
country, is perfectly harmless, in consequence OF
! its fanTs being extracted by these practised
adepts IN the art of legerdemain: but this is al
together mistake. The fangs are positively not
extracted, anG the creature is presented TO the
spectator, possessing all its natural powers OF
mischief unimpared The bite from snake
sLewn by any of these itinerant conjurers
would as certainly prove fatal as from one en-
conntered in the Jungle This vii, perhaps APP
pear strange to those who have heard OF these
reptiles being constantly shown IN the houses Oh
the curious. and more especially, when they are
told that this snake is frequently permitted 10 put
its head aga inst the cheeks of the children o'
those who show them. The dtXterity OF the
Juggers in managing these reptiles is truly eX-
Itranrdinary. They easily excite them TO the
most desperate rage, and, by certain circular
motion of the arms, appeaSe them as readlly;
then without the least hesitation, they Will take
them in their hands, coil them round their neckS,
and put their fingers to their months, even when
their laws are furnished with the deadestvenom,
and the slightest puncture from their fangs would
produce not only certain utaimost instant deatn
"The power which these people exercise over
this species Of venomous snake remains no ION
ger mystery when its habits are known. Ii Is
a remarkable PECULIARLY in the cobra di capello,
i
class that they have an extreme reluctance to
put into operation the deadly powers with which
they are endowed. The cobra scarcely ever
bites unless excited by actual injury or extreme
provocation; and even then, before it darts up
on its aggressor. it always gives him timely no
tice Of its design, not to be mistaken. 1t dlates
the crest upon its neck, which a large flexible
membrane, having on the upper surface Two
black circular spots like pair OF spectacles-
waves its head to and fro with gentle undula-
tory notion the eye sparkling with intense lus-
ire and commences hiss 50 loud as to be heard
at a considerable distance; so that the jugger al
ways has warning when it is perilous to APP
proach his captive. The snake never bites
while the hood is closed, and so long as this is
not erected it may be approached and handled
with impunity Even when the hood is spread,
while the creature continues silent there IS no
danger: its fearful hiss is at once the signal OF
aggression and Of peril
sThouob the cobra is so deadly when under
excitement it is nevertheless astonishing to see
how readily it is appeased even in the highest
state of evaporation, and this merely by the
droning music with which its exhibitors seem to
charm it, 1t appears to be fascinated by the dis
cordant sounds that issue from their pipes and
tomtoms.'
To all such armed creatures as the cobra
aforesid, we should be- tempted to use the greet
ing of the melancholy Jacques" God be with
YOU; let's meet as little as we can" NO less Gu
rious than the above are the accounts OF the Gle
phant fights at Lucknow, which, however, we
must pass to come to another well-authenticat-
ed marvel, which casts the exploits OF any other
glutton we ever heard Of far into the shade
"At village not above eighteen miles from
Benares where we halted for day, we were
visited by gaunt, grim-looking Hlndoo oil
some celebrity in the neighborhood oy his
capability, Of devouring sheep alta single meal
He was tall, bony person somewhat past the
prime of life, with thin, wiry frame, and
countenance Of the most imperturbable equa-
nimiry though as ugly as sheep eater might he
expected to be- He offered, for few rupees. to
devour an entire sheep. if we would pay for the
animal as well as for the different accessories
ofthe meal.
"There was something so extraordinary in the
PROPOSAL, that We willingly acquesced. We &C.
cordingly prepared to witness this marvellous
feat. by purchasing the largest sheep we could
find which weighed when prepared for cook
ing, just thirty two pounds. We purchased It
for one rupee, or twenty two pence.
Gan being now ready, the carnivorou; Ladra
commenced his extraordinary least Having
cut off the sleeps head with single blow of his
sabre and jointed the body in due form, he Sc
parated all the meat from the bones, the whole
quantity to be devoured amounted to about
twenty pounds. This meat he minced very fine, /
forming it into balls about the size of small
fowls egg. first mixing it with plenty Of spice
and curry powder. AS soon as the whole was
prepared, he fried some of the balls over fire, |
which he had previously kindled at the root Of |