The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-09-16
EGYPTIAN SNAKE CHARMERS.
Account of q Performance Said to Hsvt
Taken Place in Cairo.

The following story of snake
.harmer" Is borrowed from Paris pa
per. The reader is expected TO use his
own discretion as 10 believing or ex-
planning it. The incident is said TO have
taken place in Cairo, where the narrator,
Monsieur Vigouroux, while walking the
streets with friend fell in with u
"mild-looking young man" who pro-
fessed to be 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 appointed
time. When he arrived he was let into
the first courtyard. He was asked If there
were any snakes there
YES" he replied, "a great many"
As precautionary measure he was
conducted into an interior court in the
center of the palace. There he was
asked If he could catch snake. The
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
bargain was then made with him, the
rate being a shilling snake. He i'm
mediately went to work with the aig
of q man who understood his busineS,
and was perfectly sure of the result
Standing in the center of the court.
gazing ut the wall where be said the
reptile was concealed. he began TO re-
cite a prayer or conjuration in Arabic.
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 personages
While he was reciting this formula he
sometimes stood perfectly straight,
sometimes he leaned forward, and last
ly he fell on his knees. When he had
finished he picked up a little rod thar
lay beside him, and scratched the wall
with 1t, advancing toward the door OF
the building leading TO the court. a;
the door he stopped and said:
"Here he ia; come and look at him"
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 tho wall The snake-charrner
grabbed the head and pulleA out 4 long.
thin and vriggling reptile. He made
It fasten its fangs in his garment. Then
he pulled violently and showed the
snakes teeth IN the STUFF. At last lie
threw the reptile on tho ground. ex-
cited IL, and tossed ID into his heather
bag.
How ID y~a In &c ,.-s 1sked
'tA1t Tier, vas a sn.ke q hat wall ?"
II smelt him." was t-c -Lswer.
And certainly the -.--e,. - DC No
room to suspect n trick One of the
party remarked that the charvner nigh:
possibly have snakes concealed IN his
ciothss- The fellow Immediately threw
OF his blue blouse. which was bis only
covering. and shook IL in the presence
Of tho assen biage. he was asked IL
| thero wcre any more snakes in that
court. Af.er a moments inspection h
| replied:
IN this wall there IS big one and
q little sRe"
He was told to catch the little one
first He rccited his prayer, and sddoi
20 10 a command 10 the big snake 70 lie
stii while he captured the little one.
| Then be proceeded with his wand along
the wall, as before. When he reached
ths door he called us. saying: Here Ia
isl
The head v7s sticking out II the hole.
He grabbed II. pulled out t-.e snaLe, ard
broke its falgs In the manner dezs.rit.a
sboTe But the reptile bst him IN the
arm and drew blood The bite dsdH',
bother him. He threw the snake On
the ereund smong the spectator. who
stood in u-ts- arazzeznent Then DO
vest 20 work szain.
| Il was The b,g snakes turn nov. H-
vas yanked out Ike th- other ,v,. Vet
rvithst1nd1ng tho aprsreDs tnpo<zibiIi-
I ty Of fraud the thing wss 40 surpris-
ing thst eoubss were SIN e-p--ssed.
lie; him con-. into the gzrc~us." salf
sns OF the spectators. ~szd catch snakes
sAer-; then -. uil DO conTinrsz1--
The chairman was led cut irto ERE
garden- Near = heap # rub5ish znA
weeds he oezaE 20 whistle. tam be az
Oouneed snake
Yea. there ere two E4sd he. T-kSn
stnsPins down ke puiIed on~ Sat. snd.
- lie had Iefr his leather bag IN -
eSuITTsrd, he VEt the bad - fhe r-T'-
;il- into his mouth azi bid J, there
while he secured tie secszj--S. l.
Sun.