Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-12


DR.. John Davy, in his work on CeyIon, denies
that the fangs are extracted from the serpents
which are exhibited and says that the only
charm employed is that of courage and conf
dence-the natives avoiding the stroke of the
serpent with wonderful agility addirg, that they
will play their tricks with any hooded snake, but
with no other poisonous serpent. In order that
we might get at the truth, we sought it from the
fountain head, and our questions were thus most
freely answered by Jubar. Abou HaiJab, Hamet
acting as Interpreter.
Question. How are the serpents caught in
the first instance:
Answer. take this adj, (holding up sort of
geological hammer mounted on a long haudIe,)
and as soon as have found hole containing
cobra, knock away the earth till he comes out,
or can be got at then take the stick in my
right hand, and seizng the snake by the tail
with the left, hold it arms length. He keeps
trying to bite, but push his head away with The
stick, After doing this some time throw him
straight on the ground, still holding him by the
tail ; allow him to raise his head and try to bite,
for some time, in order that he may learn hov to
attack, still ke ping him off with the stick
When this has been done long enough, | slide
the stick up TO his head and fix it firmly on the
ground; then taking the adj, and forcing open
the mouh, break off the fangS with it, careful
y removing every Portlon aud especially squecz-
ing out all the poison and blood, which wipe
away as long as it cor tnues to flow; when this
is done, the snake is harmless, and ready for
use.
@. Do the ordinary jugglers, or only The he
redliary snake-chaFmers, catch the cobras
A. We are the only persons who dare to
catch them, and wnen the jngglers want snakes,
they come to US for them. With that adj,
(pointng to the hammer,) | have caught and ia.
ken out the fangs of many thousands.
@. Do you use any other snakes besides the
cobras for your exhibitions?
A. No; because the cobra is the only one
that will fight well. The cobra is always ready
TO give bat lie, but the other snakes are sluggish
only bite, and can't be taught for our exhibi.
tions.
Q What do the Arabs do if they happen to
get bitten BY poisonous snake?
A. They mmediutly tie cord tight round
the arm above the wound, and cut out the bitten
part as soon as possible-some burn it; they
then squeeze the arm downward, so as TO press
out the poison; but they don't suck it because
it is bad for the mouth however, in spite of all
this, they sometimes die.
q. Do you think it possible that cobrus could
be exhibited without the fangs being removed ?
A. Certainly not for the least scratch of
, their deadly teeth would cause DEATH and there
is not day that we are not bitten, and no skill
in the world would prevent it.
5 Such we're the particulars given us by most
distinguished professor in the art Of snakecharm.
ing, and, therefore, they may be relied on as
correct the multer-of fact way in which he act.
cd. as well as related the snake catching bore
the impress Of truth, and there certainly woulC
appear to be far less mystery about the Graf
: than has generally been supposed.