Our boys in India . hingbut sand before: but they had looked so long that it was timefor breakfast; and, assuring Scott that he would see jugglers inIndia till he would wish that there was no such thing in theworld, Richard turned away, and they entered the hotel court. The guests had begun to gather on the broad veranda,where already there were two snake-charmers performing. These fellows are plenty just now: there must be some^thing up in the city that draws them here, said Richard, asthey approached the little group gathered about the charmers. They were two wrinkled old Hindus, with eyes t
Our boys in India . hingbut sand before: but they had looked so long that it was timefor breakfast; and, assuring Scott that he would see jugglers inIndia till he would wish that there was no such thing in theworld, Richard turned away, and they entered the hotel court. The guests had begun to gather on the broad veranda,where already there were two snake-charmers performing. These fellows are plenty just now: there must be some^thing up in the city that draws them here, said Richard, asthey approached the little group gathered about the charmers. They were two wrinkled old Hindus, with eyes that lookedlike snakes eyes, and motions that were so subde and quick, ^2 OUR BOYS IN INDIA. that Scott thought there must be some affinity between themand their serpents. In httle baskets before them there wereseveral snakes coiled away; and each charmer was playing ona rude gourd flute to a huge cobra that was coiling and un-coiling and weaving before him in time to the music. They .-=•7 F . -T y--, ? > .;^^. SERFENT-CHASMEBS. would hiss, and dart their heads at the charmers sometimes;and the way the charmers dodged them showed that they didnot think them entirely harmless, as they spread the broadhoods just below their heads, and displayed every symptom ofanger. Then one of the charmers stood up, and, catching thesnake about the neck with one hand, threw him three timesabout his head, and let him fall upon the ground. There helay, rigid and stiff, at full length, and straight as an arrow. SCOTT IN THE MYSTERIES OF INDIA. [\-^ I have killed my snake, cried the Hindu; but I havea good cane instead. And, taking the creature up by thetail, he pretended to walk about, leaning on him. Will any one buy my cane? he asked, offering it toseveral of the bystanders, who shuddered, and drew away. Hesmiled; and, thrusting the head of the rigid serpent under histurban, he began to push up the rest of the body, till at lastall but the tip of his tail had disappeared. Then he removedhis
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