_Of the Venomous Spider.--Charmers of Serpents.--Disease called
Nyctalopia, or Night-blindness.--Remedy for Consumption in
Africa.--Western Branch of the Nile, and Water Communication
between Timbuctoo and Egypt_.
Sir,
The venomous spider (_Tendaraman_). This beautiful reptile is
somewhat similar to a hornet in size and colour, but of a rounder
430 form; its legs are about an inch long, black, and very strong; it
has two bright yellow lines, latitudinally crossing its back; it
forms its web octagonally between bushes, the diameter being two or
three yards; it places itself in the centre of its web, which is so
fine, as to be almost invisible, and attaches to whatever may pass
between those bushes. It is said to make always towards the head,
before it inflicts its deadly wound. In the cork forests, the
sportsman, eager in his pursuit of game, frequently carries away on
his garments the _tenderaman_, whose bite is so poisonous, that the
patient survives but a few hours.
Charmers of serpents (_Aisawie_).--These _Aisawie_ have a
considerable sanctuary at Fas. They go to Suse in large bodies
about the month of July to collect serpents, which they pretend to
render harmless by a certain form of words, incantation, or
invocation to _Seedy ben Aisah_, their tutelary saint. They have an
annual feast, at which time they dance and shake their heads
quickly, during a certain period, till they become giddy, when they
run about the towns frantic, attacking any person that may have a
black or dark dress on; they bite, scratch, and devour any thing
that comes in their way. They will attack an _unjumma_, or portable
fire, and tear the lighted charcoal to pieces with their hands and
mouths. I have seen them take the serpents, which they carry about,
and devour them alive, the blood streaming down their clothes. The
431 incredible accounts of their feats would fill a volume; the
following observations may suffice to give the reader an idea of
these extraordinary fanatics. The _buska_ and the [238]_el effah_
are enticed out of their holes by them; they handle them with
impunity, though their bite is ascertained to be mortal; they put
them into a cane basket, and throw it over their shoulders: these
serpents they carry about the country, and exhibit them to the
people. I have seen them play with them, and suffer them to twist
round their bodies in all directions, without receiving any injury
from them. I have often enquired how they managed to do this, but
never could get any direct or satisfactory answer; they assure you,
however, that faith in their saint, and the powerful influence of
the name of the divinity, (_Isim Allah_,) enables them to work
these miracles: they maintain themselves in a miserable way, by
donations from the spectators before whom they exhibit. This art of
fascinating serpents was known by the ancient Africans, as appears
from the _Marii_ and _Psilii_, who were Africans, and showed proofs
of it at Rome.
[Footnote 238: For a description of these deadly serpents, see
Jackson's Account of Marocco, &c. chapter on Zoology.]
_Bu Telleese Nyctalopia_.--This ophthalmic disease is little known
in the northern provinces; but in Suse and Sahara it prevails. A
defect of vision comes on at dusk, but without pain; the patient is
432 deprived of sight, so that he cannot see distinctly, even with the
assistance of candles. During my residence at Agadeer, a cousin of
mine was dreadfully afflicted with this troublesome disease, losing
his sight at evening, and continuing in that state till the rising
sun. A Deleim Arab, a famous physician, communicated to me a
sovereign remedy, which being extremely simple, I had not
sufficient faith in his prescription to give it a trial, till
reflecting that the simplicity of the remedy was such as to
preclude the possibility of its being injurious, it was applied
inwardly; and twelve hours afterwards, to my astonishment, the
boy's eyes were perfectly well, and continued so during twenty-one
days, when I again had recourse to the same remedy, and it effected
a cure, on one administration, during thirty days, when it again
attacked him; the remedy was again applied with the same beneficial
effect as before.
_Offer to discover the African Remedy for Nyctalopia, or Night
Blindness_.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE LITERARY PANORAMA.)
Sir,
Having read your animadversions on the additional matter introduced
in my second edition of an "Account of Marocco, Timbuctoo," &c.
(see Literary Panorama for April last, p. 713.) wherein you
433 conceive that I am reprehensible for not having discovered publicly
the remedy alluded to as an infallible cure to the _Butellise_ or
_Nyctalopia_, I should observe that I was not apprised, (till I
read those animadversions,) that this was a disorder incident to
the inhabitants in Europe, or that it affected our seamen on the
Mediterranean station. But, if that be the case, and it should be
found expedient and beneficial to the interests of Great Britain,
that this remedy should be divulged for the alleviation of our
meritorious seamen in His Majesty's service, I am willing to make
the discovery to any respectable medical man who may be appointed
by Government as physician or surgeon on the Mediterranean station.