Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-11-10
Subduing A Cobra.

ASNOlNllS " dSOllSSpOluCil VI d ICY
Ion paper, the Spoila Zeylancia, the cobra
is not as dangerous a snake as his popu-
lar reputation would make him. In at
least two instances, Instead OF fascinating
birds, this writer says that he saw cobraS
chased by birds. On another occasion
he witnessed the catching of cobra, and
watched a native make it dance. In
neither instance did the snake seem to
have any surprising kind OF power. The
first case happened near Horana.
A group OF people was gazing at the
top Of large bread-fruit-tree. asked
hem what they were looking at, and they
told me that a crow was fighting an intru-
der into its nest, situated at the very top
of the tree. The crow was circlIng at
close quarters, and pecking hard al the
nest, cawing loudly all the time. The
nest was some forty feet above ground.
Presently a snake came out of the nest
and started climbing down the tree, with
the crow in hot pursuit behind it pecking
at il all the time, the snake Kissing hard at
every blow. 1t took refuge about ten
feet down, in a clump OF dead ferns from
which it was chased out by the crow. 1t
came from branch TO branch until it
reached a large horizontal limb, which
stretched out about twenty feet.
Here the snake was at great diSadyan-
tage, as it could not turn upon the crow.
The latter seemed to know it, and its
tactics were excellent. 1t would peck
hard near the spine, close TO the tail, and
then peck near its neck. AT each peck
pieces Of the snakes skin were torn out,
and the snake would stop; but as soon as
it started moving, the crow would peck
at it again with extraordinary surety of
aim. After fully fifteen minutes on the
branch two large patches had been torn
out OF the snake which was evidently be-
coming exhausted.
On another occasion two Indian snake
charmerS came to my small bungalow at
Hanwella. They had three snakes with
them, and proceeded to make them dance,
as usual. stopped them, and told them
that had seen all that before, and asked
them whether they could compel wild
snake to dance, and If so whether they
could catch one for the purpose. One OF
them expressed his willingness TO do so.
Ten days previously had chased a
cobra ofthe species called by the natives
''tom-tom beater," that is, the black CO.
bra with the red spectacle mark on IFS
hood. The Cingalese, believe, think
that they are reincarnationS OF low-caste
natives. They are certainly fiercer and
more active than the common brown CO.
bra.
had noticed at the time that it had TAX
en- refuge in an ant-hil near the edge OF
the paddy-field which formed one boun-
Diary of the new clearing upon which my
bungalow stood, and situated about two
| hundred feet from it, led the charmer
to this ant-hil. When had assured him
that a snake almost certainly occupied the
hole. he squatted down opposite TO it and
started blowing into reed-pipe, which
gave a sound similar to that of bagpipe
After long time, and when had al
most given up the idea OF the snake being
there still, the cobra protruded its head
about an inch out If the hole in order,
presumably, TO see what was going on.
The charmer pounCed upon it, and seiz-
ing the head of the snake between his
thumb and two fingers so that it could
not open its mouth, he pulled it out of the
white ants nest and brought it TO the
bungalow.
He then tried TO make il dance by hold
ing small piece OF white root above ist
head. The snake tried to escape several
times, but was brought back again, and
ultimately was induced to dance with its
hood extended SO far as could Judge,
it was the same snake that had noticed
before