The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-05-05
AN HOUR WITH A SNAKE CHARM.
ER.


'Seeingis believing so says lko prov.
erb, and If any one is anxious to haye
doubts removed on any subject, no pro-
cess will be found so eEeclsaI ss that Of
careful ocular demons,ration. more es-
pecially when that evidence is sceplical.
ly examined before its reception as
tguth. Such was my intention when,
for the 6rst time in my lifc, 1 was lately
introduced to an Irdian snake cbarmer.
DuriRg professional ride through
the station in which SIN quar,ered, !
felt somewhat fatigued with tho heat Of
the sun, wbiSh was just then erccssige,
and ventpted to cali on 3 friend loE Q
shoEt shelter. deYite The fpll lGonyic5en
lhat should ftad llm indulgingin that
midday 'siesta. $50 common q lnTury to
the Europeans diving in this climate, aud
yet SO lsOSlully prodRcti&e Of liver con.
On,phle'hors, apd Gpienetic disease.
was not ,Rirtaken. Never mild
me; come in, old d'boy.' was my friends
,Salution. which answered. in person by
entering his bedroom. dMkencd ana
cooled by artificial means. Making ny
way to his bed side, / WAS surprised at
seeing two very bright objects Elisten.
ing in the corner Of ahs room. ad.
vancNd lowarl them, hut moe quickly
retired, by being assaied by lloyd and
uumistokable hiss. Iuroluntariy 9
scream in duet was performed by my
friend and myself, and the native ,er.
wants were somewhat startled by
Shrieks OLA snake! Get gupI'
A consHltation was hsld-of course
outside ofthe room, and need not say.
some distance from the door. Yasious
results we're arrived at; some suggested
shooting, others smoking. 0RS ,Eppar>
Aplly more courageous than rtko rest,
proposed that the snake should be
caught, and then destroyed.
However, as the originator Of this
bright idea did not seem in haste TO car.
ry his suggestion into practice, and os
none of us wishing TO deprive him of
t;he honor; at vas agreed TO sendto the
native bazar for an Indian spake cho5m-
,sL In the mean tine we thought
another look could do no harm. Care.
fully and slowly was that door opened.
Ne1gously and treublingly we peoped
,ip-grOdually advanced. looking every.
Mhere-jumped at tho least rustic or
sound. presenting q sorry spectacle Of
Eier MOjesty's Britiah soldiers. But
soldiers d9pit like suakes.-Why should
t.hcyl
why. he's gone!
Take care Look in the bed, cup.
board drawer, hooks and cornOrL.' No
AAnHkeI
Then, for the frst time, We laughed.
Halle! what's that piece af fp'ielt pear near
by Jovc,iir his tsill'
'Phe"! Dept ;pepk, FO shall lose
Here's the .OharmOr'
10 came, . tall, muscular native, q
slip ofclOth round his waist, his hair
long aud matted except on the con,et Of
bis head, which was shaved close ;in p
circle, and turbin covering it. bearing
on his shoulder two baskets ,Rnd hiS mu.
.Dical inStrpmont, paap out Of a gourd
With q single bamboo pipe, coming from
its upper end, and tFo smaller ppsu me-.
from its lower, which being pierced with
holes, Are played pp9p like aple, whilst
the breathis blown through tko upper
Snd single one. ~"
Before he ERG allowed to enter the
room hO was searched and his baskets
and instruments taken from him..
Nothing conld have been concealed, for
his clothing was reduced 10 its mini.
mum, and he only carried a short iron