Connecticut western news., 1875-12-24
EAST INDIAN MAGIC.

A Curious Instance of Snake Char ming.
 A very curious case was lately report
 ed m an American newspaper of snake
 charming boy. I will now give you an
 account of snake-charming operation
 in the East Indies, which came under
 my own observation, in which case a
 man charmed the snakes; the number of
 snakes affected upon which occasion, as
 we'll as the death-dealing powers of the
 reptiles, make the case, notable one.
 Some time after servant of mine had
 died of the bite of cobra, being in the
 neighborhood of Attock, on the banks
 of the Indus, when visiting some Hin-
 doc temples in the vicinity met wor-
 shipper named Mean Raj, who applied
 frequently to the officiating fakir, or
 priest, for deliverance from plague of
 cobra snakes which infested a blot of
 ground belonging to him to such de-
 gree that his servants were unwilling to
 labor upon it, especially as most of them
 went barefoot The church failing to
 help him, his friends recommended him
 to apply to the charmers. This he did
 by seeking the services of one Mungul
 Deen, who avowed his readiness to coax
 the snakes out of their holes to their
 death as effectually as St. Patrick is said
 to have done in Ireland. se.,..-
 l may here mention that snake charm
 CTS are magicians in the East, and &
 separate caste or class by themselves.
 The word "caste throughout India de- notes the particular calling to which an
 individual belongs. Eastern charmers
 or magicians are found frequently to be of the Brahminical or priest caste, which IS the highest order, in consequence of it's connection with the Hindoo religion and it's mysteries. The order of Brah- mins wear string over the shoulder, to distinguish them. This string, which is
 of peculiar construction and difficult of imitation, is conferred and placed on the body in infancy, with much religious ceremony attending the operation. Such snake charmers as belong to this caste wear the sacred string. Eastern charm CTS are nomadic in their habits, wander ing over India in every direction. Like the priests, they lead lives of celibacy, or at least pretend to do so. The Indian magicians appear to be thriving class of men, content if they can only show their fellow mortals their mystical pow CTS and gain living. On the occasion of which write, sort of grand stand, composed of wooden steps, arranged one above tho other, had been erected, from which to view the operation of charming the snakes. s -. Il sJs -s.a5 ..H
 a Mungul Deen, the charmer, was 8 fat, middle-aged man, with intellectual eountenance and sparkling eye. He wore 8 mustache, but no beard, which seems to be peculiarly affected by the Mahome- tans. Mungul had the light, copper colored complexion which obtains among the natives of the Upper Puniaub, in strong contrast to the coal l-black hue of the natives of Lower Bengal. His dress was freely decorated with all sorts of signs, including snakes of every form and size, was of white linen and scrupu- 1ously we'll adjusted, from tue becoming turban downwards. .s by Mungul, he first lighted small fire, into which he threw something which flashed up with blue blaze, and then the fire was allowed quickly to die out He then went fearlessly all over the ] he walked some sort of powder, the na- ture of which was known only to him. self after which he seated himself on 1t'~ J"HtUS SlLlSluS buc 1uoFlIAUl0 tum- tum around his neck, and hold ing an instrument in his hand which sound when played upon very much like that of 8 bag pipe. The spec tators, who were natives, except myself and two gentlemen named Harrison and Ball, who were travelling in India for their pleasure, showed their appreciation of the music by occasional howls of de- light. Mungul consecrated his instru- nents, throwing up his arms, and then began his music with wild discordant | slr. Not 8 snake had been seen as yet, | but as soon as what may call the con cert had fairly opened, snakes swarmed | rom all sides with heads erect and hoods | expanded. After while a large con- ,ourse of snakes, some hundreds in num- per, could be seen twisting and turning | 'n their tails to where Mungul Deen sat | um- drumming and piping as unconeern- 'd as If he were receiving visits from | ;he doves of paradise instead of the deadly enemies of mankind. The only | ,hange noticeable in him was that he | moved his head continually as if salaam- ng to the snakes. At last, when a very arge company of cobras was gathered | round the magician, and many an anxi- | 'us fear was expressed by the lookers-on | est he shOuld he st11n0 to death if was