East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-06-22


1 felt somewhat fatigued with the
heat of the sun, which was just then
excessive, and ventured to call on my
friend for short shelter, despite the
full conviction that l should find him
indulging in that midday ''siesta," so
co common a luxury in the Europeans
living in that climate, and yet SO fear
fully productive of liver CONGESTION,
PLETHORA and splenic disease.
was not mistaken, "Never mind
me come in, old boy" was my friends
salutation, which l answered in per-
son by entering his bedroom, darked
and cooled by artificial means. Max
ing my way to his bedside, / was sur
prised by seeing two very bright OBJ
iests yglstep ipp the corner oE.pgeEo ofthe room.
quickly retired on being assailed by a
loud and unmistakable hiss. Involun
tarially scream in duett was per-
formed by my friend and myself, and
the native servants were somewhat
startled by shrieks of "a snake !! a
snake! Get gun"
A consultation was held-of course
outside the room, and / need not say
distance from the door. Various re-
suits were arrived at some suggesting
shooting, others smoking. One, ap-
parently more courageous than the
rest, proposed that the snake should
be caught and then destroyed.
However,, as the originator of this
bright idea did not seem in haste tc
carry his suggestion into practice, and
as none of us wished to deprive him
of the honor, it was agreed to send tc
the native bazaar for an Indian snake
charmer.
He came, tall, muscular native, {
strip of cloth round his waist, his hail
long and matted, except on the centre
of his head, which was shaved Close
in circle, and a turban covering it
bearing over his shoulders two baskets
and his musical instrument, made on
of gourds, with a single bamboo pip
coming from its upper end, and tw'
smaller ones from its lower, which
being pierced with holes, are playe'
upon like the Aute, whilst the breatl
is blown through the upper and singh
one.
Before he was allowed to enter tn
+ room, he was searched, and his bas
kets and instruments taken from him
{ Nothing could have been concealed
for his clothing was reduced to IT
minimum, and he only carried
. short iron rod.
: He was shown the hole in whic
we supposed the snake TO be, for noN
the SNAKES head had disappeared
He laid down on the floor, and plaC
n ing his face close to the door exclain
cd. iH
"Burah sap; asbit burah." (Bi
snake, your honor, very big.
Without any more preparation h
s commenced digging around the hol'
and removed some of the brick woI
In few moments he showed us III
tail of the reptile, and with sundry il
carnations in Hindostanee, and Q,
rious contorions of his body, seize
hold of the tail and gradually dre'
forth the snake. 1t proved to be
fine specimen Of the cobra--a 5lacl
shining, wriggling, deadly cobra, fl,
feet long, at the thickest part eight
ches round, with a hood measurin
when extended, five inches across
This reptile he handled freely Will
it was yet kissing and darting i
l. tongue out every second. Taking
y into the yard orcompound he release
n. it. The reptile wriggled towards hi
III and when within foot or so rear'
to itself up, spread out the enormol
hood, and prepared itself to strike
its captor. But the charmer was n
to be wounded. He seized his prin
tive musical instrument and CONNIE
i'd ced very slowly to produce low al
y, soft tones, very harmonious, but II
" connected Tho snake seemed asto
IS, ished his hood gradually collapsed, /
head and about foot of his body tn
was raised from the ground began
sway from side to side, i'll perfect ha
mony with the music, and slower al
no no quicker, as the time was decreased
I'd, increased. As the man played lou
he er the snake got more excited, un
aa na its rapid and unusual movements h
ms quite exhausted it, and it at leng
=, subsidized.
iG Again the charmer seized it, q
M m quick as lightning ran his hand up
Ss. Ss. body, holding 1T firmly by tho thro
the BY pressing on the neck the oobr
the mouth opened, and he disclosed
fangs, poison bags and apparai
complete, thus proving beyond
- doubt, that it was not a trained
tanned animal he had been treats
ant ant Like plaything.
s em A fowl was now obtained
az Sf. placed about a foot from the rept
which now set free. With the sa
movement it raised itself foot fi'
;. the groend, spread out its hood, 4
East with loud hiss, apparently OF sa
snr zr faction, darted upon and seized