Snake Charmers.
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! As we strclled through the market place
q Larsicse we met party tf Eisowy, or
snake cliarmcrs; they Consisted Of four
Soosys, or natives OF the province Of Soos
three Of whom we're musicians, their in
struments,b ,beirg long rude canes resem-
birg in form fute, but open at both
ends, into one Of Which the performer
blows, pro lncing melancholy but pleasing
no'cs. We invited. the risowy TO exhibi,
their snakes; to is they readily consen-
ted. They commenced BY raising I'D their
han Is as il holliag book, mn nteriag in
nnis,n prayer addressed to the Dei.y.
and calling upon Secdna E!ser, who IN
Morocco is leld IS The patron saint Of
snake char,ners.. Having concluded Il is
iNtca,ion, tie music struck up, and the
slahe clsarmer Ga, ced in rapid wLirls,
which no Strauss could have kept time To-,
round the bsket containing The rep hes.
This basket was made Of cane work w.
cred with goat skin. Stopping suddenly,
The, snake charmer thrust Lis bare arm IN
to the basket, and pulled out large black
cobra capella. or hooded snake; this he
handled as if it hal been hfs tnfbaf. and
proceeded 10 twine it around his he'd.
.dncingas before. whilst III. reptile seemed
70 otey his wishes, b. preserving its po-
si,inn on his head.


The cobra was then placed on the
sronnd. and sts,n,ing erect on its tail.
moved IFS head to and fro, apparently
keepi & i,ne to The music. Now whili.
ing round in circles still more r p,s " Than
le'nre. Il 9 isowy sgafa pu, his hand in
to the basket and palltd out successive,y,
and placed ON the ground two very ni-
sonons species oi serpents, natives of the
deserts oil Soos, called leffa. They were
Of notified color, with. Llack Spots; were
thick il. the body. :nd not above two feet
and halt Or q Z. { { ei long. #


The n.,me leffa is given. l imagine, Ly
the Moerellin Arabs tc this kind Of SER
pen,, frum iftir res smLlance, when in The
oct of darlipg II III. ir prey, 10. tie Arabic
letter Ia. le Icing merely tie article ffans-
passed.. These reptiles proved more active
and less docilc than the cobra; for, half
cpiled md holding their heads in slaut-
ing position really for an attack, they
watched with sparkling eyes the move-
ments Of the char,ner, darling al him with
open jaws every now and ihen,l as he
sentured Wi,lIin their feach, and throwing
fsrward their body with ansxing velocity,
while their tail seemed 10 remain on The
sams spot, and then .reooilinx back again.
The Eiso~y wasded of with his long aik
the attacks which they made npon lis
bare legs, and the leffas seemed to Z pend
their senon'upon the garment. :.


Naw. cal,ing OH Seedna Eser, he seized
hold Aaf sne ot The two serpen;s by tie
nare Of the neck and danced ronnd With
u; then opening its jaws with sm.l
sick. he displayed 70 Il e spectators the
fargs from whicia there 90 eli white and
oily substances. Hs dssn put III Islis to


