The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-06-05
The Secrete of ke.Charmirg

In India the tavoritc snake for exhibit
hon is the cobra, partly because OF its
more striking appearance, and partly be-
cause, its deadly character being so we'll
known, any trifling with 1t appears to the
uninitiated public the more wonderful.
Nor, indeed, do the performances of the
Hindoo snake-c charming lose, on better
acquaintance, all their marvelousnesS, for
courage of high order, arising partly
from the confidence acquired by long
practice, is manifested in Selling and bag
ging the dreadful obhidian.
In most cases the charmer renders tn
reptiles harmless by drawing their poison
fangs, and the exhibition becomes then
merely one which exhibits the snakes
highly trained condition. On the other
hand, it often happens that the basket con-
tains the veritable death-dealer, and a
cobra with his fangs undrawn is nearly al
WAYS forthcoming if the temptation in mon
ey be sufficiently strong. But in the hand
ling OF the creature when once exposed
there is no hesitation, for hesitation means
death, and in the swift seizure and sud-
den release there is daring OF an except.
ional kind. The cobra strikes, when it
has really made up its mind to strike, with
lightning rapidity, and 10 dodge lightning
successfully requires considerable agility.
The snalle-charmers, however, when
put on their mettle, will grasp the erect
cobra with impunitv, owing solely to the
superior speed OF their movements, for by
feint they provoke the reptile TO strike.
and before it can recover its attitude seize
it below the Jaw. In the same way the
ichneuman or mongoose secures in con-
tests with venomous snakes comparative
immunity. 1t was for long time an
article of faith with writer's of popular
works on natural history that this animal
enjoyed complete immunity, but scien-
tifc experiment has corrected this fallacy.
A mongoose and cobra confined together
fought freely, and though the latter SEEM
ed to the eye TO strike his antagonist re-
peatedly, the mongoose on being exam
ined after it had killed the snake, Wa:
found 10 be untouched.
Another cobra was then brought on 10
the scene. and, being made TO close its
fangs on the mongoose's leg, the animal
confessed lis susceptibility to the poison
by dying in about four minutes. Ii was
therefore, by its superior activity alone
that in Jar fight with the reptile it had
escaped unhurt, and to the same cause
the snake>charmer owes the immunity
that attends his exhibition. But, as il
the case Of The mongoose, the snake-char
mer, when actually bitten, dies as rapidly
as any other creature, in spite of all the
powers of his charms, roots and snake
stone. The Hindoo spectator refuses tc
believe this, and enjoys, therefore, by his
credulity. pleasure denied to more in
telligent audiences, for if we could only
accept as truth the charmer'S statement
that he has really been bitten and the red
drops on the bitten spot were actually
blood exuding from the fatal puncture,
and could then believe that the root he
smelt, the stone he applied to the wound
and the charms he muttered were vert-
ably counteracting the magic of the cobra's
poison, The spectacle would be of surpas-
sing interest. since it would be miracle.
From The London Telegraph. q