The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-05-18
THE A o 8
The Manner In Which the Most ycnoznous
MAntbet oftht STAKE Family Is
CAPTURED,

- MI. C. 7. Buckland, F. u. S., the
originator of the crusade against stakes
III india, Ill Inn9nla,t's Magazine, men.
tious that, having seen a cobra Bite 81
fowl, he watched annGa saw the fowl fall
dead within thirty seconds from 80
time it was bitten. This occurred in
tho house Of d friend who had engaged
an itiileraht snhkeseharmer to exhibit
snakes to Il party Of guests. Observing
that sotpe people hayle 4 peculiar ficrl;
" iof iialldliilg sp8Ees. MI Euckland
mentions that in II work published mo-
long ago by Mr.. +. b. Simson, a retired
India civilian, the following prescrip-
ton for catching cobras is given:
"When you come upon your cobra
make him rear up aud expand his
hood. He gehetally does this quick
stbu9t'. hit. should he dflav: whistle
to him, initiating the snake-charmeis.
He will then certainly raise his head.
Then with a small cane or stick, or the
ramrod of a gun, gently press his head
to the ground. The snake will not oh.
ject; be GEMS rather to like it. When
you press his head lightly to the ground
With The stick hi yotif ieIt hind, you
should seize the snake firmly with
your right; CLOSE behind the head, hold
Jig lis hfs.c;f rraalhcr tightly. ihod let 90
the stick and catch hold of the
tail. The snake is powerlcss, and you
can do what YOU like with it. You
should have III ,earthen pot brought
nnd let The snake passinto it. MS snakes
will always go into any dark place"
M. Ct,.,,E,n e,,.c tI,t H., MI nn
elephant-driver, or mahout, who was a
great snake catcher and very reckless.
He writes thus:
81 nevcr saw him press down the
snake with Il rod such as | have de-
scribed; but he caught numbers of
snakes of al sorts, and sent them
alive 10. his. house, fiis movements
were SO rtpid! and GENERALLY III jungle
with his back to me, that | never made
out exactly why he did not get bit. He
used to jump off his elephant, leaving
the animal in my guidance, and in Il
moment aftelward he had the snakes
neck in his hand. He said he caught
them by the tails, swung them under
his arm and kept them there while he
slipped his hand up 70 The back Of the
head. He then gave the snake some of
his clothing to muse itself with, aud
on which to eNpend lis venom. He
then wrapped the reptile up in Il loose
cloth and took very little trouble with
them. have see him catch snakes
scores of times; but | rather discourage
ed him, as | did not like the idea OF
having live vcnomous snakes at large,
Or even in cnrthcn pots or boxes. Al
the Same time he Received good prices
for his snakes"
Some people who are used to handle
snakes seem to lose all feelings of ap-
| prehehsion regarding them. But he
| was very nearly bitten one day. He
and a friend were busy examining the
peculiar anatomy of a portion of a
cobra's tail. The cobra was in a box,
and a native assistant was supposed to
be holding,down the lid of the box 50
as to allow only the tail to protrude.
Somehow the native became careless.
and he relaxed his hold on the lid, SC
that the cobra suddenly put oul its
head to see what Sir Joseph Fayrcl
was doing with its tail. Luckily j,
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.
DIR. Richards was another officer who
assisted Sir Joseph Fayrer in hi cx,
| pcriments with snakes. Dir. Richard,
came one day to see y lady patient u.
my house. He arrived in II palanquir
which was put down on the portico
He went 10 the lady's room and paiC
her n brief visih and when he came out
of the room he Went TO the palanquil
and broughtout a large cobra which h.
had brought over to show me in order
to prove by experiment in my presence
that IL particular kind of wood, which
a native fakir declared TO be an anti
dotc TO snake poison, was OF no value