A trip through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria and southern France . nstra-tion of magic art given by an itinerant snakecharmer. The man produced from his bag severalvery large reptiles, and, to the accompaniment ofan air played on a kind of flute, he kept the crea-tures wriggling about him, while a crowd of in-terested spectators gathered and crowded and I, however, contented ourselves bylooking on from our seats in the car. The fakircharmed one of the serpents to such a degree thatit sprang at his nose and fastened its fangs throughthe flesh. Considerable trouble was experienced


A trip through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria and southern France . nstra-tion of magic art given by an itinerant snakecharmer. The man produced from his bag severalvery large reptiles, and, to the accompaniment ofan air played on a kind of flute, he kept the crea-tures wriggling about him, while a crowd of in-terested spectators gathered and crowded and I, however, contented ourselves bylooking on from our seats in the car. The fakircharmed one of the serpents to such a degree thatit sprang at his nose and fastened its fangs throughthe flesh. Considerable trouble was experiencedin opening the reptiles mouth, when it was foundthat four ugly wounds were left on the mansface. Two francs were added to the subscriptionowing to this unfortunate accident, but the snakecharmer offered, for one franc more, to pass aspear through his face. The sum was forth-coming, and taking a spear, the man pressed itagainst one cheek and caused it to pass throughhis mouth, and out at the other cheek; quite anelaborate operation for twenty cents, and quite [64 1. SFAX TO ENFIDAVILLE sufficient for Payne and myself, who, decidingthat we had seen more than enough, retired withan excellent appetite for our meal. It was partly owing to this exhibition by thesnake charmer that we witnessed, later in theday, the most extraordinary sight either Payneor myself had ever seen in our lives. The courier informed us that we could, if we sowished, with the permission of the governor ofthe town, be allowed to see the sacred Aisawadance, but it would be necessary for us to signcertain papers relieving the government of allresponsibility as to what might happen to theEuropean visitors, in the event of an attack bythe natives. These we readily signed, and thelarge sum of thirty francs, or six dollars, havingbeen paid for the entertainment, we waited forthe performance, which was to take place at twooclock. A poor lunch was served at the hotel, butas our appetites were akin to those of starving


Size: 1129px × 2214px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidtripthroughitaly00vand