The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-01
Indieg. where 4 is eyeryvhere regarded

Indies, where " Is every Nuefe teRAIeeU
with the horror Of pestilence, feel.
ing most natural when we consider that
no less than 5000 persons annually
perish from its bite in tie Indian pen
insula alone. The Hindoos hold this
reptile in reverence and resent any at
tempt at its destruction. In coloring
this reptile differs materially, according
10 season and location. Most frequent
" il is a deep olive on the back, white
below, with hooded neck on which APP
pears markings somewhat resembling
eyeglasses, cxeept that the bow rs
longer. But again it may be brown
with black eyeglasses; or the body may
BIO deep brown with no ye.glhsses ut
all, or only couple Of white spots on
the neck; again the reptile appears
with black body with single white
SPOT on the neck. Numerous and varl-
able as the markings are they belong to
a single species. As the collection OF
snakes / am gathering for the fair is in
tended to be complete in every respect
/ will have the hooded snake in its varl-
Gus coloripgs.
The most peculiar thing about the
hooded snake, or cobra di capello, Is
the curious dilatable neck, which 1t
spreads on the slightest irritation.
This power IS Afforded by means OF elon-
gated ribs, which may be thrown out or
depressed at will. When expanded the
neck is several times the width OF the
head, by which a covered hood Is
formed, on the back Of which is the sin
guIar decoration called eye-glass marks.
The superstitious Buddhists regard this
marking as the imprint OF Buddha, and
explain it by declaring that when Bud
dha became weary with the work OF
the creation lie sought repose under
the shade OF tree, but the sun moving
while he thus slept poured its rays into
his face.
"A cobra, perceiving the exposure OF
the philosopher, spread its hood and
remained bent over him, thus shading
his face until his sleep was finished.
Upon waking Buddha perceived what
kind office the serpent had rendered
him, and thereupon promised to repay
the cobra with like kindness. This
promise he soon forgot, but was re-
minded Of it under peculiar circnm:.
stances. Years afterward great bird
lowering over the earth began deyour-
ing the cobras, until tho speciebecame
well-nigh extinct.
"Thereupon, in q spirit OF despair,
the cobra that had shielded Buddha
besousht him, and referring to his
promise petitioned the god to give pro-
lection to his specie, which Bpddha
did By placing tho markings upon the
cobrn's head. thereby frightening the
great bird, and preventing its further
attacks. The natives, therefore, re-
garded the reptile that once received
the favor Of the found Ter OF their religion
as too sacred Tor molestatlon, although
its bite is so venemous that none ever
receivers from it.
HINDus TO GIVE EXHIBITIONS.
"lt is also my intention TO have
Hindus at the fair" continued Mr..
Burns. "What more interesting exhi-
bition could there be than couple of
Hindus sitting outside their huts, which
will be produced true to nature, charm
ing cobras with music, and men and
women snake charmers will be secured,
and the thousands OF visitors will be
convinced OF the truth OF tho stories Of
charming snakes by music. :.
at is q strange TACT, not lsss difficult
than the accepted scrIence. OF mesmer-
ism, that music exerts fascinating
power over many creatures, and sensi-
bly and powerfully upon the cobra.
Sometimes, It is true, that the fangs OF
these performing reptiles are drawn,
but not always, nor by any save by the
counterieIterJ and fakirs. Those who
have studied the habits and disposition
OF this snake arc able TO handle 1t with
impunity, aud seemingly to make 1t
dance to their pipings. Thus may be
seen in every part OF India Hindus 60
ing about from place to place with
baskets filled with cobras. Whenever
nm audience seems promising the bas-
kets are deposited, music OF fife, tam
bour, and drum starts up, at which the
snakes crawl forth at their own vol
ition, and go writhing among the
charmers. I want to reproduce this
very interesting exhibition true to life
at the fair"
elbow many snakes will be seen at
the fair?"
"Well, in round numbers, about 1000.
OF course, there are not that number Of
different species, but | will have them
Of all sizes, shapes and colors. Reptiles
are classed by naturalists as ophtda, a
Greek word, meaning serpent, and IN
der this head follows the numerous
species which have becn divided by La
capede into eight genera, each Of which
are again subdiyidcd into several classes.
The eight genera comprise the boa,
which contains eleven species: the
vipers, OF which there are 196 species;
rattIesnakes, with twenty.six species
snakes under which namo the harmless
reptiles are classed, twenty-four species
the anghis bobena, double.headed,
five species; langrata, one; coecila, two
and acrocboid. ono, The collecting OF
the various species will occupy my time
till the time the fair opens"