The Red Cloud chief., 1896-11-13
EGYPTIAN SNAKE CHARMERS.
Account Of n Performance said to Have
Taken Ilace In Cairo.

charmer" is borrowed FROM "a Paris pa
per. The reader is cNpected to use Ia,
own discretion as to believing or cS
planning it.. The incident is said 10 h"''
taken place in Cairo, where the narrator.
Monsieur NigourouX, while walking tie
streets with a friend fell in with Il
"mild-looking youn- man" who pro-
iessed to bc a snake-charmer. The two
visitors engaged him 10 come to their
hotel the next day and give them an ex-
hibition of his powers.
Guards were stationed around the
building to prevent the charmer from
Getting into it before the appoint:l
time. When ne arrived he was let inn.
the Gretcourtyard. lie was as,rd if there
were any snakes there.
eyes hr replied. ~ great many"
As a precautionary measure ne was
conducted INTO an interior court in the
center Of the pnlace. There he wa
uskcd if he could catch a snake. Tt'
charmcr whistlcd for few seconds, and
then listened attcntiycly.
YES" said he. there is a snake on
this SIDE pointing to the wall. y
bargain was then maI" sit, Inn. tn
rate being a shilling a make. I!,i..
mediatcly went 70 work vi = The "
Of a MAJ who understood -. 'uo'~~ri
and was perfectly sure Of I've r, ep't,
Standing in the center Of the court,
gazing at the wall where ac said ~
reptile was concealed, hy BEGAN to r..
cite Il prayer or criuraticn in Arab,
in which he addressed the serpent. say.
ing IN substance t,It everything .
every creature must vel, - ~ T,U :
% God. He also invoked So'ovon a
some celebrated Mussulman p~rrsIrac"..
While he was rcciting this formula he
sometimes stood perfectly s,raigh'
sometimes he leaned forward. and lat.
~ he fell on his knees. When he hdt
finished hc picked up a little rod Tat
lay beside him. and scratched the wall
with it, advancing toward the door o.
the building lead =" to the court. 1T
the door BE- stopped ard said:
"llcrc he is; come and lolk at him"
The party advaI cCd, ard on a line
with his arm at the place where he hal
directed the rod. they distinctly ssw
the head of a snake protru, in~ frow g
hole in the wall. The suak,-choru..
-.aahed Che head and pulled ,utaIDu
'h.u and wrigglirg reptile. He mad
| IL '1stnn it, fangs in his garment. Then
he pulled violently ana showed IL,
snakes teeth in the stuff. At last ho
threw the reptile on the ground. -v.
cited it,, and tossed il into his leather
bag.
How did you know he was asked
that there was n snake in that wall?'
II smelt him." was the answer.
And certainly there seemed to be ne
room To suspect a trick. One Of tn
party remarked that the charmer mig,
possibly have snakes concealed in his
clothes. The fellow Immediately threw
of his blue blouse. which was his OIL,
covering. and shook it in the prcscnr,
of the asscmblage. He was asked {.
there were any more snakes i'm tia,
court. After Il moments inspection h.
replied:
I'm this wall there is a big one ant
a little one"
He was told TO catch the little on,
80
first. lie recitcd his prayer and adlt,
10 II a command TO the big snake to Il,
sou while he CAPTURED the little one
Then y" proceeded with his wand Mo-.
~" wall, rs before. When he rcaclc,
-" door he called us. saying: Here h
-"
The head was sticking out of the holc
We grabbed il, pulled out the snake. ant
'FnIC lis fangs in the manner drscr' be
above. Put the r2pti'n 1t h'm ~ .
arm and drew blood. The Bite IL.
bother him. He threw the snake o.
the ground among the sp ctatora, WI
stood in utter amazcment. Then /.
wen 10 work again.
II was the big snakes turn now. y
was ynnkcd out ike the other two. No
w~ithstanding the apparent impossible
~ of fraud, the thing was so surpr.t
, ing that doubts We're still expressed.
/ LET him come into the garden" sal
. one of the spectators. land catch snake
there; then we will he convinced"
= The charmer was led out into IN
garden. Near n heap of rubbish an
, weeds he began to whistle. then he al
= nounced a snake.
= "ics, there are two" said he. The
D STOPPING down he pulled one out. an.
: ms hc lad left his leather bag in q
q courtyard. he put the head of the re-
n t'l' into his mouth and held il the,
while he secured the second.-N. y
Sun.