The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-10-26
4 Willy ORIENTAL
Guile of a Tricky Native Snake
charmer In india.
GATHERED IN THE SERPENTS.
Il Was No 7.ou5le to Him to Lure tho
Reptiles Into His Saske:. and the
Supply Was In No Danger Of Giving
Out and Losing Him job.

Among the numerous Objectionable
ind dangerous creatures peculiar 20
the orient uene IS more repulsive than
the snake. One shudders involuntarily
as one thinks OF It's wisgling BODY and
vicious characteristics. During my
residence il India I never felt safe
from its presence. had my closets,
bed and even my ba;aeub searched ev-
cry Gay lest one should be found coned
up n some corner. writes Eliz: X.
Van Bergen II the Christian lnte!li-
geoceE.
I was always on the watch for the
creatures and ever :n mortal terror OK
t-eadins on one. It never occurred to
me- to sleep without light. and 4
stick was always near at hand lest |
might find one unawarcs and be IN.
prepared to meet Il even looked
upon my thin mosquito curtain as Il
slight prosecton. fos it would at least
break its tal should a snake tumble
down suddenly from the ceiling
The creatures have decided pref
erence tor cool. lamp places and often
choose the bathroom and sometimes
the Tub for their tab:taton. much TO
the discomfort OF :ts rightful hab!tue.
It IS not una.loyed bliss to live IN Z
place infested with serpe1ts. With
such formidable enemies. one never
torsets~to be cautions. .oc 70 guard
against their presence ind sudden at
tack II makes one alert to be in the
midst Of danger and adds spice 70 life.
Wen, as ! started out to say. my
garden was infested with snakes. and
I was persuaded to have q native
charmer Summoned 70 lure them
away. His hideous occupation. weird
tncsntations and strange pets sur
round the snake cha-mcr with 4 Pc
culssr fascination. His magnetism
and sk.u are considered phenomenal
IN the east
This specimen was tci! aad Iank and
had deep. careraous eyes and en- ab-
sracted air. Some cf he creatures
were coIled around his wrist, which
made him still more repeliant- he
handled them as Il they were per
Sectjy harmless. About the neck be
wore chain with :: fute attached
Two o.ier jrsslers accompanied him.
sir"slarsy attired. but minus the
snakes. One carried q closed basSe:
on his arm
He stopped at q respectful distance
to make his "salaau." which IS the
customary salute Of the eolntry. Chen
he approached the aloe hedge which
ine2osed my grounds, squatted himself
tailor fashion on the grass and began
to produce weird. plaintire sounds on
the flute, to which music the septles
entwtned themselves around him and
seemed to sway their bodies 20 and
ho.
After some time 6 snake appeared.
gliding slowly and steaithily out from
tho hedge toward the spot where it
heard the enchanting music. The
charmer allowed 1t to come quite
close and to wind itself around his
arm Another followed and yet an
other, while the other two men stood
by holding basket ready to receive
them as soon Us they Cnwound them
selves. AZ least half Gozen ap-
peared and were disposed Of In this
manner. After being captured they
appeared IS II in str7or.
Horrifed With bis performance. !
legged him to stop and bade him
leave the place. He assented and.
picking up the basket. departed with
the snakes without ever ceasics to
play-Aas-uncemr sune- BIS compan-
Ions gathered up the rest Of his be-
,onsings and followed him. / paid a
certain sum :or each snake thu. dis
patched
BE came repeatedly thereafter ana
went through the same performance.
Up more reptiles and dtspos-
Ing Of them In the same way until !
began to suspect some tEickesy. Ee
refused to allow the snakes to be kill
ed. insisting that they were sacred and
must not he put to death It looked
as II be replaced the snakes IA the
hedge after removing them. and THIS
be multiplied their number and in
creased his gains
wss anary forced to have him re-
moved By the police and threatened
With punishment In order to keep him
away. Nothing would persuade me to
permit one OF the fellows to enter mE
premises again