Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-07-10
veNoMous REPTILES.
The Manner In v h.eu Cobrss Are Caught
by Natives al India.

The Manner In " it.si, C0brss Are Caught
by Natives of India.
Mr.. g. 4. Buckland. F. Y. S., the
originator of the crusade against
snakes in India. mentions that. having
seen cobra bite fowl, he watched
and saw the fowl fail dead within thirty
seconds from the time it was bitten.
This occurred in the house OF friend
who had engaged an itinerant snake
charmer to exhibit snakes to party of
guests. Observing that some people
have a peculiar faculty for handling
snakes. Mr.. auckland mentions that in
Il work published not long ago by Mr..
+. B. Simson, retired India civilian,
the following prescription for catching
cobras is given:
''When you come upon your cobra
make him rear up and expand his
hood. He generally does this quick
enough; but, should he delay, whistle
to him. initiating the snake-charmers.
He will then certainly raise his head.
| Then, with small cane or stick. or
the ramrod of gun, gently press his
head to the ground. The snake will
not object; he seems rather to like it.
When you press his head lightly to the
ground with the stick in your left hand,
| you should seize the snake firmly with
! your right, close behind the head, hold
ing his neck rather tightly; then let e.
the stick and catch hold of the tail
The snake is powerless, and you cal
do what you like with it. You shoul.
have an carihcn pot brought and let tn
snake pass into it, as snakes will a.
ways go into any dark place."
Mr.. Simson says that he had an ell
plant driver, or mahout. who was
great snake-catcher and very rockies,
He writes thus:
II never saw him press down TIL
snake with a rod such rs | have d.
scribed; but he caught numbers
snakes of all sorts, and sent them ali,
to his house. His movements were $
rapid, and generally in jungle wit
his back to me, that never made oil
exactly why he did not get bit H
used to jump off his elephant, leavin
the animal in my guidance, and in
moment afterward he had the snake
neck in his hand. He said he caugh
them by the tails, swung them undc
his arm, and held them there while h,
slipped his hand up to the back of tn
head. He then gave the snake som
of his clothing to amuse itself with
and on which to expend its venom. H
then wrapped the reptiles up in loos'
cloth and took very little trouble witt
them. l have seen him catch snake,
scores of times; but / rather discoul
aged him, as did not like the idea o.
having live venomous snakes at large.
or even in earthen pots or boxes. A.
the same time he received good prices
for his snakes"
Some people who are used to hand.
ling snakes seem to lose all feeling o.
apprehension regarding them. Sil
Joseph Fayrer had no fear of them.
Bat he was very nearly bitten one day.
He and a friend were busy examining
the peculiar anatomy of portion of =
cobr;l's tail. The cobra was in boz
and a native assistant was supposed to
be holding down the lid of the box Sc
rs to allow only the tail to protrude.
ooIilcuOW lle IluJlNe DeCdtlle chIelCSs
and he relaxed his hold on the lid, sc
that the cobra suddenly put out its
head to see what Sir Joseph Fayrel
was doing with it's tail. Luckily it was
more pleased than offended at the
liberties which were being taken with
its tail, but it was unpleasant for Sill
Joseph Fayrer to find his face almost
touching the cobra's mouth.
DR.. Richards was another officer
who assisted Sir Joseph Fayrer in hi:
experiments with snakes. DR.. Rich
ards came one day to see a lady patient
at my house. He arrived IN a palan.
quin which was put down on the
portico. He went to the lady's room
and paid her a brief visit, and wher
he came out of the room he went to tn,
palanquin and brought over to show
me in order to prove by experiment il
my presence that a particular kind o
wood, which native fakir declared to
be an antidote to snake poison, was o
no value. 1t is unnecessary to recapit
ulate the experiments, but his familiar
ity with the deadly snake was quite