Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-07-07
vENoMous REPTILES.
Ehe MAnuer In Whc,i CObras Are Caught
by Natives Uf India.

The Manner In Whict COOras Arc Cau9nt
by Natives vi India.
MIR. G. T. auckland, +. q. s., the
originator Of the crusade against
snakes in India, mentions that, having
seen a cobra bite fowl, he watched
and saw the fowl fall dead within thirty
seconds from the time 1t was bitten.
This occurred in, the house Of friend
who had engaged an itinerant snake
charmcr to exhibit snakes to party OF
guests. Observing that some people
have n peculiar faculty for handling
snakes. Mr.. auckland mentions that in
a work published not long ago by Mr..
F. B. Simson, a 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 1t.
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 g.
I the stick and catch hold Of the tail
The snake is powerless, and you car
: do what you like with It. You shoult
: have an earthen pot brought and let TIN
. snake pass into 1t, as snakes Will al
, ways 60 into any dark place."
. Mr.. Simson says that he had an ele
1 phant driver, or mahout, who was
: great snake-catcher and very reckless
. He writes thus:
!. II never saw him press down til
h snake with a rod such rs l have d.
Il scribed; but he caught numbers 9
,. snakes Of all sorts. and sent them aliv
q to his house. His movements were s
q rapid. and generally in jungle wit
Il his back to me, that I never made OF
u exactly why he did not get bit H
3. used to Jump off his elephant. leavin
ID the animal in my guidance. and in
IN moment afterward he had the snake
IA neck in his hand. He said he caugl
ID them by the tails. swung them und
IN his arm, and held them there while
he slipped his hand up to the back OF Il
de head. He then gave the snake son
as of his clothing to amuse itself wit
ar and ON which to expend it's venom.
CO then wrapped the reptiles up in a loo
tn cloth and took very little trouble wi
m. them. l have seen him catch snak
a.. scores of times; but l rather disco'
mo- aged him, as did not like the idea
cy having live venomous snakes at larf
,rn or even in earthen pots or boxes.
~. the same time lie received good pri'
nv for his snakes"
ma Some people who are used to ha'
Of ling snakes seem to lose all feeling
YER apprehension regarding them.
AL Joseph Fayrer had no fear Of the
on But he was very nearly bitten one d
;nc He and friend were busy examini
,le the peculiar anatomy OF portion o
oL. cobra's tail. The cobra was in
,re and a native assistant was supposed
IN be holding down the lid Of the box
r. MS to allow only the tail to protru
,,v~ Somehow the native became carel
tIo and he relaxed his hold on the lid
on;. that the cobra suddenly put out
.nv head to see what Sir Joseph Fay
yit;. was doing with its tail. Luckily it
m. more pleased than offended ut
,ovo liberties which were being taken
rht its tail, but it was unpleasant for
heir Joseph Fayrer to find his face ain
tonchiuO the cohru's mouth.
~. DR.. Richards was another off
do. who assisted Sir Joseph Fayrer in
,t.ar experiments with snakes. DR.. K
,tor. ards came one day to see a lady pat
';na at my house. He arrived IN pa
ana quin which was put down on
al - portico. He went to the lady's r
ann, and paid her brief visit. and
Ids he came out of the room he went t.
! o,d palanquin and brought over to
sftor me in order to prove by experiment
'.na my presence that particular kin
wv wood, which native fakir declare
be an antidote to snake poison. WI
J. no value. 1t is unnecessary to rec
thou. ulate the experiments. but his FAM
ity with the deadly snake was {