In this world no living mortal is without grief; if such an one
perchance there should be, then he is not of the sons of
Adam.
_Further Note as to Snakes._—There are several kinds of snakes known in
the district by snake-charmers, but some of the most important are as
follows. First and foremost is the well-known Cobra; one is called
Kooruj; another Mushkee, of a black colour; a third Chujlup, or hooded,
from the hood being like Chuj, or a winnowing basket; a fourth is termed
Kukkur, also a hooded snake, but of a light colour.
Of miscellaneous snakes there are Batung, Bhullard, and the Theer-Maâr,
a small snake found in the roofs of houses. Another has a spotted body,
is small, and has a broad head; this is called Phissee, or Kurnndâwah.
Another is the Sangchūr, a snake of most rapid movement, having a dark
body, very glossy skin, with white spots here and there. Of this snake
the charmers stand in great dread, for it is instant death to be bitten
by it.
To show how deadly this is, they say that the snake calls out, “Get out
of my way, for fall you must at once, and I don’t want you to fall on
me.”
Snakes, as has been already said, are worshipped by Hindus, and the
Cobra is a special object of worship, as being intimately connected with
many of their idols and deities, especially by the worshippers of the
Lingam, the form under which Siva is worshipped, the most bigoted
perhaps of all Hindu sects.
When the child of a Hindu is suffering from a disease called Sokrâh, or
Sūkh-Chari (atrophy), or wasting away, it is usual to have it washed
under a Cobra, and the water thus falling over the snake on to the child
is believed to have healing properties.
The well-known “Bezoar” stone (from the Persian words “zahr,” poison,
and “pād” against, a concretion found in the stomachs of goats or
antelopes), for the cure of snake poison, and is called in the district
“Zahr Muhra”; and again to cure dogs of distemper it is a common
practice to wash them with the cast skins of snakes, called
Khainchillee. It may be added here that snakes, it is said, can be
killed with snuff thrown into their eyes and mouth.
Some have doubted whether it could be possible for snakes to be charmed,
especially as many naturalists have asserted that the greater part of
them are deaf. The Authors can, however, certify to the fact that hooded
snakes can be brought under the spell of a shrill musical pipe even when
in concealment. The pipe the Indian snake-charmers use is called a
“Tunbi;” or by some a “Banshī” or flute is used.
However, to continue this subject might as we have before said, lead us
into Ophiolatry, which is outside the scope of these Explanatory Notes;
but we may say this, that the change of skin by the Serpent has no doubt
been easily associated by some minds, with the springing up of a fresh
life, or an endless existence; and so has been one of the means towards
the worship of this Reptile.
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