Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-07
Il. wHITMORE.
Publisher and Proprietor


line famous East lnulan snake
charmers are impostors, and that
be has repeatedly detected them
attempting, by subtle impositions
and clever acting, to delude lockers
on into the belief that they were
dealing with ventable wild snakes,
when ali the time the dancing CO.
bras that made their appearance at
the sound of the pipe were some Of
their own tame snakes, placed in
certain spots beforehand.
These professional snake-catchers
are many of them, in addition to
their regular vocation, most expert
jugglers, and exceedingly adroit at
all kinds Of slight-of-hand tricks.
1t is their constant practice to
"turn down" a few tame snakes
in a garden hedge or somewhere
close in the vicinity of a house
they intend paying "a visit to, ere
they present themselves before the
sahib, the owner of the premises
and then, with every appearance OF
good faith, the rascals request per-
mission to be allowed to clear the
compound of snakes; at the same
time stipulating for reward oil
perhaps one rupee head for every
snake they succeed in catching. If
the gentleman Of the house should
happen to be griffin, or newcomer,
likely enough he will be induced to
lend an ear to so plausible a re-
quest, and at length promises these
crafty rOgues so much for each
snake they succeed in catching
Soon to his horror and amazement,
hideeus serpents of various dimen-
sions are produced from the straw
in an empty stall in the stables,
another from the garden hedge
and so on, till at last, perhaps, the
fraud is carried tco far and discov-
cred.
DR.. Fayres states that certain de.
scriptions of serpents- chiefly of the
genus naa-most undoubtedly are
susceptible to, and in measure
became fascinated on hearing musi
cal sounds. 81 have constantly
seen," he says, tame snakes in tht
possession of snake catchers, OF
hearing the sound of the pipe, cree
themselves and sway their heads
| from one side, and beyond doub
show pleasure at the strain but
have never once seen a wild SNAKE
90 through the same performance
and | believe that only tame rep
tiles carried about in baskets anC
broken in for such an exhibition
so conduct themselves. l have re-
pea'edly offered snake charmerI
five rupees to bring out from it
sanctuary, by means of music, {
cobra known by me to be at home,
but invariably all their efforts have
been in vain"
There are many who actually be
lieve in the efficacy of stones which
when applied to a snake bite, arr
supposed TO withdraw the poison
but if such a very simple remed,
were really efiectual, and a genuin,
specific, the snake-stone cure woulC
speedily be brought into universe
use. DIT would appear, however
that these people really prize theS,
so-called stones, for | have beei
present when money has been of
fered to them to part with one, bu
declined"
Perhaps the strongest argumen
against this snake-stone cure is tina
these very men often themselye
fall victims to the bite Of the cobra
though at the time in possession Q
= stone which they assert to b
capable of working a cure. More
over, when these professional snake
catchers haye.to deal with an IN
doubtedly wild cobra in full vigo
although as a rule they displa
extraordinary pluck, skill and resC
luton in capturing it, and on tn
. first favorable opportunity will wit
wonderful quiekneos seize hold {
and secure it-an attentive beholdC
cannot fail to remark the es
treme caution and watchful mar
9 agement they display on fir
clutching hold Of the animal, the