The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-02-12
SNAKE CHARMER IN CAIRO,
WAS 115 YEARS OLD AND HAS RE.
GENTLY DIED.
Powers ALLEGED to Be
Developed by a Diet of Snakes
Heads.


Heads.
From the New York Sun.
The Algerian papers report tho death Of
the famous snake charmer, Hadj-Aliben.
Bheikh- ben-Aisa, aged 115. This fact
has led NJ. Vigouroux to relate in a Paris
paper an experience he had in Cairo last
spring with snake charmer.
At Cairo there is an old palace which
is now used as an orphan asylum. NJ.
Vigouroux, accompanied by friend,
was walking leisurely in one of the
streets of the old city. They1 noticed a
mild looking young man carrying a
black leather bag, such as is always cars
ried by serpent charmers. His face was
pale, somewhat feminine, and his gait
was loose and indolent; but his eyes
were strange and singularly piercing.
They at once engaged him to come the
next day to the palace of Engha- Hanem.
Guards were stationed around the build
ing to prevent the charmer from getting
into the ipalaee before the appointed
time. When he arrived he was led into
the first courtyard. He was asked if
there were any snakes there.
eyes," he replied, ga great many"
As a precautionary measure he was
conducted into an interior court in the
center of the palace. There he was
asked if he could catch a snake. The
charmer listened attentively.
eyes," said he, "there is a snake on
this side," to the wall. A bargain was
then made with him, the rate being a
shilling snake. He Immediately went
to work with the air of man who I'm
derstOod his business and was perfectly
sure of the result.
Standing in the center of the court,
gazing at the wall where he said the rep
tile was concealed, he began to recite a
prayer of cOujuration in Arabic, in which
he addressed the serpent, saying in sub
stance that everything and every Great
ure must yield to the power of God.
He also invoked Solomon and some cell
ebrated Musulman personages. While
he was reciting this formula he some.
times stood perfectly straight, some
times he leaned forward and lastly he
fell on his knees. When he had finished
he picked up little rod that lay beside
him, and scratched on the wall with it,
advancing toward the door of the build
ing leading to the court. At the door
he said:
"Here he is; come in and look at
him."
The party advanced, and on a line
with his arm a. the place where he had
directed the rod, they distinctly saw the
head Of snake protruding from a hole
in the wall. The snake charmer grab
bed the head and pulled out long, thin
and wriggling reptile. He made it fast
en- its fangs in his garment. Then he
pulled violently and showed the snakes
teeth in the stuff. At last he threw the
reptile to the ground, excited it, and
tossed it into his leather bag.
''How did you know" he was asked,
"that there was snake IN that wall?''
81 smelt him." was the answer.
And certainly there seemed to be no
room to suspect taxing in the exploit.
One of the partyl remarked that the
charmer might possibly haveisnakes con-
cealed in his clothes. The fellow i'm
mediately threw off his blue blouse,
which was his only covering, and shook
it in the presence of the assemblage. He
W as asked if there were any more snakes
in that court. After moments inspec-
tion he replied:
"In this wall there is big one and a
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 he reached
the door he called us, saying. "Here he
isr'
The head was sticking out of the hole.
He grabbed it, pulled out the snake and
broke its fangs in the manner described
above. But the reptile bit him in the
arm and drew blood. The bite didn't
bother him. He threw the snake on the
ground among the spectators who stood
in utter amazement. Then he went at
work again