The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-04-16

CLEVER TRICKS
tOF FAkIRS.
Schemes Used by Indian
Snake Charmers.
While Handling Deadly Cobras
Which Generally Have
Fangs Removed.

The main contention OF the snake
charmer, Whether lie be East Indian
or Yankee, is t1at lie is absolutely
immune from the bites Of the most
poisonous snake, and the manner in
which ne allows himself to be bitten
by a cobra or adder never fails 10 inn
press not only tee native but also
the white man unacpuainted with the
tricks of these humbugs. For aum-
bugs they really ar although it must
be confessed that they provide a very
interesting end fascinating entertain
ment.
AS a matter of fact snake cha-mers,
almost without exception play either
with snakes whose fangs and poison
Gus glands nave been removed or use
nonvenomous reptiles which they pass
off as dangerous varieties.
And when they have ATTEMPTED TO
charm snakes without removing TIE
poison their exhibition has invariably
come to a tragic end, in spite OF their
skill and dexterity in handling and
the supposed magical antidotes which
they carry with them
Often this Is simply a piece Of tree
root for which great medical qualities
are claimed when nplied to the wound
Some astonishing and inexphcable
brought about by what is known as
the snake stone. This Is about the
size of ten-cent piece, dark in col
or and is said to be taken from the
palate of a snakes mouth, although
only one snake in thousand has it.
When wetted and applied to a wound
1t appears TO have some suctional pro-
perry. by which it takes a firm hold
of the skin, and its removal requires
some force. 1t is said to draw the
poison out of the wound almost in
simultaneously.
There are really two kinds of East
Indian snake charmers, viz: the Jug
glers, who profess ID hypuotize snakes
by the musical pipe and other means
and make them perform all sorts of
tricks while In that condition. and
the professional snake finder, VINO
guarantees to rid house of any rep
tiles with which 1t may be infested.
Tie snake finder works by smell as
well as by music, or at least educated
sense Of smell watch enebles MIN
to discover the proximity of concealed |
snakes; which is simply another piece !
of bluff, for tee arrangements made |
by the snake finder easily permit of |
trickery.
When native in India thinks there /
are snakes in els house ne sends for |
the "clarmer" to remove them. He |
arrives with enassistant, a crowd of |
natives and the show begins. Dne |
audience is ranged in a semicircle |
round the entrance TO the dwelling |
and within the ring tie two perfor-
mers move slowly about playing their
primitive pipes, VITA the object of
Turing the snake from its concealment
Then one of the two men will enter
the house, cautiously peer this way
and that, wnile the onlookers watch
CAREFUL for the capture. Dalting in
to a dark corner, he will make a grab
and enid the cries of the delighted
audience emerge with a fine cobra
held tightly by the neck.
A close examination Ct the snakes
mouth however. would reveal the fact
tnat it was quite harmless. The snak
is in fact, a pet animal carefully con-
cealed in tie first instance in the
loose folds of the clothing of the "cha
mer," and is smartly produced at the
psychological moment.
TEE house owner is however, thor
ougbly satisfied that his house is rid
OF the scourge pays tee snake char
mer lis fees, and the latter then makes
off in search of fresh fields and pas
lures new.