The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-16

gar Of the country Is something too hor-
rible TO speak or and so everybody falls
back on the pipe We drank a little OF
the native whisky. which Is very bad, ana
or NhiGh the natives partake very spar
ingly. 1 remember that, when our glasses
We're returned empty. they were imedi-
ately smashed 10y the attendant. No mat
ter how low may be the caste OF the Hin
600 no matter what his condition, he
considers himself far superior 10 the EI-
ropean. Any thing the latter touches Is
denied and Is broken Immediately after
using. The price IS added to what the
French call the consommation. The price
Is SO Insignificant that nobody thinks OF
complaining. But IL was something Of a
shock to me 10 think that this wretched
being who served me could not be induced
al any price, 10 touch the glass that had
used.
All at once. as we sat smoking and talk
ing, there came loud shouts from the other
side OF the village. which seemed 70 evi-
dence that something had happened; and
we hastily retraced out steps. The pco-
pie were again assembled in the same
place. 1t took us but a couple OF mo-
ments TO reach them, and they appeared to
show all signs of excitement mingled with
fear. Between their outCries, ] could dis
tinguish the noise of the tom-toms in the
distance Evidently. the charmer and his
assistants were on their way back from
the bush. But what was TO happen neNt2
That they were still alive was evident
But what had they done2 We We're not
long kept in suspense for, very soon, there
emerged from the low growing weed The
two assistants, marching backward, and
salaaming at every few steps. The beat
ing Of the tom-toms got more noisy and
came nearer.
And then we Witnessed a most marvel
lous sight The chief still played his dis
eordant flute or whistle. He also was COM
Ing backward toward us. lie emerged
from the Jungle alone, walked slowly, and
played continuously. And then appeared,
crawling through the weeds. the writing
bodies Of several snakes evidently CO.
bras, even at that distance.
But these were only the forerunners.
They were the nearest to the strange and
weird magician. For, after them, came
more and more, dozens, yes, by the fifty,
] should say even by the hundreds. They
writhed and they crnwlcd, and they al
most tumbled over each other, keeping up
a continuous Kissing, as II angry at being
disturbed but still under the potent charm
OF the music. For music must be the
power that can so ensaVe these REPTILES.
OF their surroundings, and follow at will.
The appearance of the charmer seemed
to exert a beneficial effect on the people
around, instead Of flying, as they would
do under ordinary circumstances, they re-
manned stock still and watched the strange
procession. 1t came up nearer and near
er. the flute player still walking slowly
and more slowly backward, and the snakes
a moment did he stop his sounds He
played continuously. / presume the charm
might have been broken, had he, for a
moment. hesitated. And thus the strange
procession passed u.s. slowly going fur
Their and further, and disappearing in the
gloom. 1t was ten minutes, at the least
before the last reptile crawled past What
he was TO do with all these snakes, what
became of them, what became of him,
never learned. But, when he had com
| pletely disappeared from view and his
etro,,a,a comma t,to,1 tisf, tis. sa,a t,oO,i,
| around fell on their knees
| bowed their heads to the
ground, and offered up loud prayers
| to the Diety, for their salvation. Evidently
they believed the last snake Of the neigh
| borhood had disappeared for good. and
| that peace would be with them thereafter
1t was the must curious and impressive
| sight that ever witnessed in my life and
proved the wonderful power that these
| charmers possess over the reptilian king
| DOM Frederick Bancroft.