Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1901 — The SnaKe Charmers of India. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The SnaKe Charmers of India.

Of all persons in the world there is none with a calling more weird than that of the snake charmer of India. Our picture today shows two of these Hindus sitting by the roadside, while their peculiar pets, the snakes, sport before them for the amusement of the passers-by. The serpents shown in the picture are the terrible cobra-di-ca-pellos, or hooded snakes, of the East. In their native state they are deadly creatures, but the jugglers, before handling them, first extract their fangs. Then they teach them to dance and keep time to music. In some of the Hindu temples the cobra is an object of worship, being carefully fed with milk and sugar by the priests. The natives have many superstitions about this snake, and even believe that the Deity sometimes assumes that form. When kindly treated the cobra becomes quite tame. Music has a special attraction for the cobra, and he will often come from his hiding place when a flagolet or flute is played in his hearing. When a house becomes infested with the serpents the snake charmer comes into use. He plays his flageolet, and the serpents come forth and are killed.

SNAKE CHARMERS IN WEIRD PERFORMANCE.