Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-09-24
THE SNAKE CHARMER.
A Strange Performance " Witnessed N
Cairo, Egypt.

- oil dASS W lluSSSSu
Cairo, Egypt.
Guards were stationed around tue
building to prevent the charmer from
getting into it before the appointed
time. When he arrived he was ed
if there were any snakes tLere.
Yes he replied, "a great many"
AS a precautionary measure he. was
conducted into an interior court in The
center CT the palace. There he was
asked if he could catch a snake. Inc
charmer whistled for a few seconds,
and then listened attentively.
YES said he, there is a snake On
this side" pointing to the wall. a bar-
gain was then made with him, ne
rate being a shilling a snake. He I'M
mediately fell to work with the air Of
a man who understood his business
and was perfectly sure of the result.
Standing in the center of the court,
gazing at the wall where he said the
reptile was concealed, he began to re-
cite a prayer of cOnjuratiOn in Arab c,
in which he addressed the serpent, say
ing in substance that everything and
every creature must yield to the power
of God. He also invoked Solomon and
some celebrated Mussulman person
ages.
While he was reciting his formula ne
sometimes stood perfectly straight,
sometimes he leaped forward, and
lastly he fell on his knees. When he
had finished he picked up a little ed
that lay beside him and scratched the
wall with it, advancing toward the
door of the building leading to the
court. At the door he stopped and
said:
Here he is; come and look at him.
The party advanced, ana on line
with his arm at the place where he
had directed the rod, they distinctly
saw the head of a snake protruding
from a hole in the wall. The snake
charmer grabbed the head and pulled
out a long, thin and weighing reptile.
He made it fasten it's fangs in his gar
ments. Then he pulled violently and
showed the snakes teeth N the stuff.
At last he threw the reptile on the
ground excited it, and tossed it into
his leather bag.
How did you know" he was asked
that there was a snake in that wall?'
Il smelt him." was the answer.
And certainly there seemed to be 10
room to suspect a trick. One of che
party remarked that the cha1mer mis- ht
possibly have snakes concealed in his
clothes. The fellow Immediately threw
off his blue blouse, which was his o., y
covering, and shook it in the presence
of the assemblage. he was asked if
there were any more snakes in that
court After moments inspect a.
he replied:
I'm this wall there is a big one anC a
little one" :.
He waS told to catch the little one
first. He recited his prayer and ADDED
to it command to the big snake to lie
still while he captured the little one
Then he proceeded with his wand
along the wall, as before When re
reached the door he called us, sayil g,
Here he isl
The head was sticking out of the
hole. He grabbed it, pulled out the
snake, and broke it's fangs IN the mdE-
ner described above. But the rep te
bit him in the arm and drew bloud.
The bite didn't bother him He threw
the snake on the ground among The
spectators, who stood in utter amaze
ment. Then he went to work again.
1t was the big snakes turn now. He
was yanked out like the other two.
Notwithstanding the appa1 ent impos
sihility fraud, the thing was so sur
prising that doubts were still y
pressed.
Let him come into the garden
said one of the spectators, "and catch
snakes there; then we will be con-
vinced."
The charmer was led out into the
garden. Near heap of rubbish I'd
weeds he began to whistle, then he az
nounced a snake,
Eyes, there are two" sal, he. Tnei
STOPPING down he pulled o. : out, AMI.
as he had left his leather bag in the
courtyard, he put the head of the p
tile into his mouth and held it tn re
while he secured the s9cond-Now
York Sun.