Venoms; venomous animals and antivenomous serum-therapeutics . Fig. 91.—I^^dian Snake-charmer at Colombo (Ceylon). 232 VENOMS This man instals himself on deck; we sit down on the seatprovided for the officer of the watch, and the sailors form a basket is placed on the deck and uncovered ; the Cobrais coiled up at the bottom of it. The juggler squats a few pacesoff and commences to play a slow, plaintive, and monotonous air,with a kind of small clarinet (tig. 92), the sounds of which recallthose of the Breton Fig. 92.—Musical Instrument used by Indian Snake-charmers to Char
Venoms; venomous animals and antivenomous serum-therapeutics . Fig. 91.—I^^dian Snake-charmer at Colombo (Ceylon). 232 VENOMS This man instals himself on deck; we sit down on the seatprovided for the officer of the watch, and the sailors form a basket is placed on the deck and uncovered ; the Cobrais coiled up at the bottom of it. The juggler squats a few pacesoff and commences to play a slow, plaintive, and monotonous air,with a kind of small clarinet (tig. 92), the sounds of which recallthose of the Breton Fig. 92.—Musical Instrument used by Indian Snake-charmers to Charm Cobras.(For this figure I am indebted to the kindness of Dr. Pineau.) By degrees the snake moves, extends itself, and then assumesan erect posture, but without quitting the basket. It begins toappear uneasy and endeavours to recognise its surroundings ; itbecomes agitated and irritated, expands and spreads out its hood,breathes hard rather than hisses, and frequently and quickly shootsout its slender forked tongue ; several times it makes a violent dartas though to attack the juggler ; it frequently trembles, or rathergives sudden starts. The juggler keeps his eyes always fastenedupon the snake, and gazes at it with a singular fixed stare. Aftersome time, about ten or twelve minutes, the Cobra becomes lessanimated, grows quiet, and then sways as though influenced bythe slow and monotonous rhythm of the musician; it keeps inces-santly darting out its tongue. Little by little it is brought to 2m a sort o
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