Year: 1879

the poison Of the cobra is different from
that of all other yenomous reptiles, and
especially from that of the rattlesnake.
The bite Of the latter serpent convulses
the victim with pain, but the wound in
flieted by the cobra causes perfectly
painless death. The doomed person sinks
gradually into a calm, deep sleep, against
which no resistance can bo made, and from
which there is no awakening.


81 remember once being called by my
servant to look at his wife, who, he said,
had died in the night. That the woman
was really dead there was no doubt; but
what she had died Of was problem. She
had been large, strong woman, appar-
emily in perfect health, and when she re-
turned home the preceding night she made
no complaint of feeling i'll, She was very
drowsy, however, and as soon as she lay
down she fell asleep. This gave a clue as
to the cause Of her death, and subsequent
examination discovered two small pune
lures close together on the calf Of the leg.
She had been bitten by q cobra in the
night while walking carelessly through the
long grass, and, probably supposing that a
bramble had stung her, she went home
without dreaming that she had received
fatal wound.


"But though the vigorous cobras, when
they bite, always inhict fatal wounds there
is certainly some means by which they can
be rendered harmless. | do not mean by
pulling out the poisonous fangs, for that
would probably kill the snake, or in any
event, if done by jugglers, it would be
likely to be detected. should think,
however, that they might enrage the CO.
bra, and force it to strike three or four
times at a dog or some other animal This
would exhaust the poison, and until it was
renewed tho reptile would be harmless.
In its entirely wild state, however, the
cobra always seems TO have a supply Of
venom in reserve At least have never
heard of any one being bitten by one Of
these creatures in the field and recovering.
But once, while aud two of my friends
were sitting on the veranda of our bunga-
low, in Allahabad, juggler was announc-
ed. He was harsh-featured old man, and
his sole stock in trade consisted of heavy
canvas bag, which seemed to be empty.
At all events he turned it inside out, and
shook it and allowed US to examine it.
Then he threw it upon the ground, and
did not touch il any more until the exhi-
bition was over. We, however, looked
into it agnin, and walked over it, and sat
isfed ourselves generally that there was
nothing inside of ii. Then the juggler,
squatting down half dozen yards away,
began to wave his wand at the bag, and


mutter spells and incantations. Soon we
were startled by seeing the canvas quiver,
and then undulate in moro decided man.
ner, Then the mouth was pushed open,
aud an immense cobra glided out. 1t had
the appearance of wild snake, excited to


the utmost pitch of feroeity, and as il
worked its way rapidly along the verauda
its hood erect, the spectaclcs encircling its
eyes, and its tongue darting quickly in and


out, We all thought we should obtain q


better view of the reptile by climbing upon
the table. We got up there as quickly a.
possible, and the juggler seized the snake


around the neck and held it close to hi
, face. In another moment the COBRA
fangs were buried in the mans forehead
But this did not seem to disturb the mat
in the least. With the blood streaming
down his face, he grasped the snake tightly
forced open its mouth with slender stick
, and showed us that the poisonous fans
, was there, for he raised it up and pushed


it down with the little switch, Then h
put the serpent back into the bag, whert


it writhed for few minutes and lay still
When we looked in, it was not there, and


we rubbed our eyes, and thought we had
taken more brandy and soda than was gooC
for us. But there on the mans forehead
were the two little holes the unmistakabls
marks of cobras bite. They were al


ready changing from red to livid hue
and there seemed to be but little time t


be lost if the juggler's life was to be saved
Taking little pod, like a coffee bean, from
his pocket, he placed it upon the wount


on his forehead, where it stuck fast. The


flow Of blood soon stopped, and the man


having received his reward, made his sa
laam, and walked away with what seemed


to be an empty bag under his arm. Since
that time | have seen many jugglers bitter


by cobras apparently without evil result.
"These mon have wonderful iniiuenc,


over snakes. They tame them TO won
derful extent, and very often come to q
European bungalow, and offer to clear al
the serpents out of the compound or en-.
closed ground, for small consideration
If the proposition is accepted they squat
down upon the ground and play quick


horrible, jangling tune on reed flute


Very soon the owner of the compound il
astonished to see snakes of all kinds and
sizes coming out Of holes which he fondly


hoped were tenanted only by toads or rats
They move with soft measured motion
toward the musician, who quickly grasps
them and places them in his bag until
twenty or more are there; then, having, as


he says, cleared the compound Of snakes,
he receives his money and carries off his
prey, to let them loose on another man
property, and whistle them up again for a
new reward, for they are all his own tame
snakes, and come to him when he blows
his flute.


81 once had what believe was mar
yellous escape from being bitten by a cobra,
} | and Tom Norris, an old friend Of mine,
were riding along the road one moonlight
night 1t occurred to us that horse race
} would be an agreeable variation to the rou.
!, tine Of our somewhat monotonous horseback
excursions. We were soon tearing along at
at break-neck speed, but the race was
J quickly ended. Before we had galloped
hundred yards my horse struck his foot
against something, rolled over, and "came
a cropper." | was good deal shocked,
and when | recovered myself my horse
was out Of sight. Neither l nor Tom


Norris had the least idea in what direc
tiOn he had gone, and while my friend
gallopped along one road started on foot
on another. ! had walked about mile,
and was just passing the little postoffce,
when | saw something nearly four feet
high directly in front Of mo. Il was like
an upraised stick, and when in my haste
| had nearly walked over it, il shot straight
toward me. Mechanically, l raised the
ehort eiick I carria1 l., nv, han1 aud