The Washington times., 1903-10-18
THE ART OF SNAKE-CATCHING =.

away among the stones. from which no
amount of stone pulling would bring
him. But III go down there again some
day and bring the fine old fellow home.
Among the extraordinarily danger
Gus snakes to catch in India is the cobra
and it's many species. As a rule, the
East Indian catches his snakes in q
simple and rather cruel manner. Pro-
vided with longhandled and deep nets,
the natives surround a huge tract of
grass and set fire to it, The flames
spread with lightning rapidly. and all
sorts of small game is burned before X
has time to escape. Yet much escapes
and as the snakes flee in panic and
bob out of the threatened field they are
netted and placed in boxes ready for
shipment to various parts Of the coun-
try where they are exhibited
Work of Snake Charmers.
"A far more interesting way of catch
ing these deadly reptiles is that en-
ployed by the snake charmers. Wheth er
another species of snake would be infiu-
enced by the strains of music is not
known, but il has been seen repeatedly
by the most credible authorities that the
Hindoo can. and does, charm the cobra
simply by playing 10 II from a sort Of
rough flute or fife. The following Incl
dent happened in Bombay, where an
English civilian found n huge cobra
quartered in a dried-up cistern- ehe
cistern with the snake in it was prac-
tically useless, and it was Impossible TO
dislodge the tenant unless by visit be-
low, for he had crawled among the rock
lining OF the basin. and only the tip of
his tail was visible. The landlord was
advised TO send for a native snake
charmer, and the white-turbaned fakir
arrived, bringing an earthen pot and his
flute.
Armed with these harmless instru-
/ ments. the man was lowered into the
cistern, playing his squeaky tune as he
| descended until. arrived at the bottom.
he settled himself on his heels and kept
up his tune necessarily. For all of
twenty minutes he played before the
music had effect Then the snake glided
out of its nest inch by inch, coiled on
the floor i'm front of the charmer, and.
raising it's head oscillated IL, never tax
/ ing it's eyes from the man. For many
/ minutes the charmer played until he
| reached out for the reptile, and, grasp
\ ing it i'm his bare hands, brought 1t to
| sunlight. where he laid it on the ground
and continued the tune The English
man wanted to have the dangerous ser
pent killed. but the native begged SO
hard 20 be allowed 10 keep the hne
specimen for his charming exhibitions
that he was allowed to take it away In
! his earthen pot. Two weeks later the
| news was received that the new captive
had turned on it's master and had klleo
/ him with a bite in The thumb.
Taking a Regal Python.
zone of the most difficult reptiles t.
capture Is the regal python. also ma
tive Of India. that giant snake ina
measures as long as thirty feet in eN
IRENE cases. This immense constructor
has in his wonderful coils the strength
to crush an OK. A ten-foot python coul'
shoot its head forward. strike big mar
in the chest. fell him. and crush hin
bone from bone-and the pythons caugh
by the snake catchers are twice anC
sometimes three times as long.
"a suitable specimen located, thu
snake man and his assistants set on
on the hunt. According 10 tradition tn
method is TO feed the reptile a calf ant
then to fall on him and capture hin
when I'm a lethargic state. AS matter
Of fact. however. II makes precious lit
tie 0lHeTence WnelueE Ieu OF not OuNi
the snake is attacked he turns 10 a per
feet hurricane Of fury. and nothing bu
men throwing themselves upon him IL
overwhelming numbers can subdue him
1T is a rare thing for one Of thes
big snakes to fee upon the approach o
man. They lie perfectly still, coiled ant
ready TO spring, but Offering no attacl
unless threatened. While some men ap
; pear in front of the snake and rivet hi
attention, others steal up behind, an
before the monster can realize where h
is, he is grabbed by the throat and tn
neck and at every foot along his entir
body, and actually showed under al
avalanche of men.
The fight between the men and tn
. big snake Is one of endurance solely
With every ounce Of strength in his her
culean frame the MISUNDERSTANDING
| to acknowledgement monster hurls hi
: coils like tremendous springs, trying t
J shake off the unwelcome load that
holding like grim death to his might
! frame. With arms locked about tn
thick body the men hang on. Tefusin
to be shaken off, and gradually IN
giant snake is tired until the coils weak
en- more and more, and at last the car
4 tive can be borne away like a long pieC
a of piping or like a section of a giar
{ fire hose"