Polynesian., 1851-03-15

SNAKES AND SNAKE CHARMERS.
Ia recent number of Bentley's Miscellany
contains long account Of the methods OF
Snake-Charming practised in the East.
which we find SO interesting that we give our
readers the substance oft
THE SNAKE cHARMERs IN LONDON.
At the present time there are at the Lon
don Geological Gardens two Arabs, who are
eminently skilled in what is termed &c Snake
Charming" In this country, happily for
ourselves, we have but little practical ac-
quaintance with venomous serpents, and
there is no scope for the development of ma
tive skill in the art referred to: the visit,
therefore, of these strangers is interesting:
as affording an opportunity of beholding feats
which have hitherto been known to us only
by description. We propose, therefore, to
give some account of their proceedings.
Visitors to the Geological Gardens will re-
mark on the right hand side, after they have
passed through the tunnel, and ascended the
slope beyond, a neat wooden building in the
Swiss style This is the reptile house, and
while our readers are bending their steps to-
wards it, we will describe the performances
OF the Serpent Charmers.
The names of these are bar-AbouHai-
lab, and med-Abou-Merwan. The
former is an old man, much distinguished in
his native country for his skill. When the
French occupied Egypt, he collected ser
pents for their naturalists, and was sent for
to Cairo to perform before General Bona
parte. He described to US the general, as
middle-sized man very pale, with handsome
features, and a most keen eye. Napoleon
watched his proceedings with great interest,
made many enquiries, and dismissed him
with handsome "bucksheesh. Jubar is
usually dressed in a coarse loose bernoose
of brown serge, with a red cap on his head.
The gift, or craft, Of s'.rpent charming, de-
scends in certain families from generation to
generation; and Mohammed, small active
lad, is the old mans son-in-law, although not
numbering sixteen years. He is quite an
Adonis as to dress, wearing smart, richly
embroidered dark-green jacket, carried
hussar fashion-over his right shoulder, a
white loose vest, full white trousers, tied at
the knee, scarlet stockings and slippers, and
fez or red cap, with a blue tassel of extra
proportions on his head. In his right ear is a
ring, so large that it might pass for a curtain
ring.
WHAT THE SNAKES ARE MADE TO Do.
Precisely as the clock strikes four, one OF
the keepers place on a platform wooden
box containing the serpents, and the lad Mo-
hammed proceeds to tuck his ample sleeves
as far up as possible, to leave the arms bare.
He then takes off his cloth jacket, and, open
ing the box, draws out large Cobra de Ca
pelIo of a dark copper color; this he held at
arms length by the tail, and after allowing
it to writhe about in the air, for some time,
he places the serpent on the floor. still hold
ing il as described. By this time the cobra
has raised his hood. very indignant at the
cruel treatment he is receiving. Moham-
med then pinches and teases him in every
way at each pinch the cobra strikes at him,
but. with great activity the blow is avoided
Having thus teased the snake for some time,
Mohammed rises and placing his foot upon
the tail, irritates him with a stick. he Co
bra writhes, and strikes sometimes at the
stick, sometimes at his tormentor's legs, and
again at his hands, all which is avoided with
the utmost nonchalance After the lapse Of
about ten minutes, Mohammed coils the CO.
bra on the floor, and leaving him while he
goes to the box, and draws out another far
fiercer cobra While holding this by the
tail, Mohammed buffets him on the head with
his open hand, and the serpent quite furious,
frequently seizes him by the forearm. The
lad merely wipes the spot, and proceeds to
tie the serpent like a necklace around his
neck. Then the tail is tied into a knot a.
round the reptiles head, and again head and
tail into double knot.
4 After amusing himself in this way for some
time. the serpent is told to lie quiet, and
stretched on his back, the neck and chin be-
ing stroked. Whether any sort of mesmeric
influence is produced we know not, but the
snake remains on his back perfectly still, as
if dead. During this time the first cobra has
remained coiled up, with head erect, appa-
rently watching the proceedings of the Arab.
After a pause, the lad takes up the second
cobra, and carving !: 10 the first r;:Shile r;:::SSiles
anu irritates beth, TO make them fight: the
j fiercer snake seizes the other by the throat,
and coiling around him, they roll struggling
across the stage. Mohammed then leaves
these serpents in charge of Jubar. and draws
a third snake out of the box This he first
ties in. variety Of apparently impossible
knots, and then holding him at little dis
tance from his face, allows the snake to
strike at it. just lodging back each time suf-
fciently far to avoid the blow. The serpent
is then placed in his bosom, next his skin,
and left there, but it is not so easy after a
time to draw it out Of its warm resting place.
), The tail is pulled; but, no the serpent is
around the lads body, and will not come:
after several unsuccessful efforts, Mohammed
] rubs the tail briskly between his two hands,
/ a process which, judging from the writings
of the serpent, which are plainly visible, is
the reverse of agreeable. At last Mo-
hammed pulls him hand-over-hand-as the
sailor say-and, just as the head flies out,
the cobra, makes parting snap at his tor
menter's face, for which he receives smart
cuff on the head, and is then with the others
replaced in the box.
Il HOW 1T Is DONE.