Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-12
Rononar,e and the Snake Catcher.

When Napoleon B0naparte was III EgyP', w
determined u ascertain as mach as possible abou
the habit and customs of the people; in the prac
tice so common among the Egyptians, of snake
charming or catching. One day he sent for one
of these snake. .cachers, and said to him by means
of his interpreter There is serpent in this
house, if you find it. you shall have two sequins
for yourself and two for yovr men,"
I The man having Frustrated himself, called FOL
two buckets of waller. As soon as they were
brought, he undressed himself, then filling bis
mouth with water, and creeping on his belly like
the reptile he.soughf, sqnired it through his teeth
So as to initiate the Kissing ofa serpent. Having
crept in this manner through the ground floor, he
placed himself before Napoleon, and said with a
savage laugh, "Mafiche, ,NIafche !" which means,
'ihere is nome" The General also laughed, and
said show is this? Is the fellow, in earnest,
able to tell 2" He then ordered the interpreter
clearly to explain that the reptile had been seen.
II know it. replied the fellow; Il smelt him as
| / entered the house," sHere we are," said the
Generaln chief" "lhe acliun is now going to begin
Well let the serpent appear and Will give the
two sequins more"
The man Immediately recommended creeping,
and squirted water on all sides. He ascended, In
the same manner, staircase leading to an upper
sIOIy, occupied UJ DOuIIlCuuos n WHS vain WI
rider opened into several apartments. 1t was
lighted by sky light at the further end, which
gave view of the country, and at The bottom Of
this sky-light was placed the water fountain, this
spot being the coolest In the house. The opening
itself sufficiently large to give, from the other
extremity of the currider, view of the beautiful
blue Egyptian sky. On attaining the landing
place Of this corrider the juggler paused, and be-
..sI o.~,.,;.. H. ,,,e oIoeolu f,llnwpd bV the
General-in chief and number OF officers attracted
by curiosity. The general did not lose sight Of
the fellow for an instant, and was determined, II
he discovered the least trick, to take him in the
act. On seeing him shudder and close his eyes,
Thy man is beginning his part" said the gener-
al 10 Junut. And, in truth, the snake catcher was
in most extraordinary state. Habitualy pale,
as all swarthy skins art, he became every moment
paer. He called for more water, washed bis
body squrted and hissed as before but produced an
ether kind of Kissing. He looked on each side OF
the landing place, and made sign with his hand
to keep silent, still. creeping upon his belly, ad-
vanced to the right side of the corridor. which was
the darkest part of it, In short time after squr-
ting his mouthful of water, he exclaimed in low
tone, "There he is!"-'I should be delighted to
do him the honor Of hospitality" said the Gener-
ain chief ''But my friend, isuspect that thou
art laughing at US. Do you know that this rascal,
with his Kissing. has been making fools of US for
the last hall hour, in forcing US to run, without
umbrellas, after his imaginary serpent2" The
snake catcher continued to hiss and creep. On a
sudden, black round body resembling the branch
Of tree. appeared in relief upon the pure azure.
which was visible through the sky-lght. 1t was
handsome serpent, real, alive, and about six feet
long, At this sight, the fellow redoubled his his
sing and squirting and the serpent, after uncolng
itself from around the fountain, hissed in its turn
but its mote was much more piercing.
The eyes of the reptile shone, in this sombre
corridor, with blood colored flame. 1t gllded
along the fountain and stopped then slight noise
was heard it was the reptile rising upon its tall
The snake. catcher could not do the same. because
he had no tail but he raised himself hall up, and
made a slight motion. In an instant the reptile
dar,ed at him. He was waiting for this attack and
at the very moment it was made, caught The anil
NAL with one hand around the throat. which ne
squeezed with such violence as to force open lis
mouth, into which he spat. The effect was ma
gical; the reptile seemed to have received its
death blow. The man afterwards extracted its
fanqs. or rather the venom contained in small
vesicles attached to its jaws. He then played
with it, made it dance. and put it round his neck
s.The snake catcher" said Napoleon, SIS lucky
charlatan."