The snake-charmer is often dressed in clothes of saffron
colour. He has red eyes and a dark face. He wears large ear-rings made of horn.
He carries, on his shoulder, two baskets hanging down the ends of a bamboo
stick. He plays a very sweet tune on his pipe, and it fills very hart with
delight. Children follow him wherever he goes. He sits down at suit able place
and place the basket beside him. He takes a few earthen posts out of it, and
places them in front of him. They have their tops covered with pieces of cloth
that are fastened with pieces of string. Then he plays upon his been once
again, till he is surrounded by a big crowd. At last he puts his been aside,
and takes out a snake from one of the posts. It tries to run as somebody, but
he catches hold of it from its tail. In the same way, he shows them a few more
snakes. Last of all he removes the lid of a small basket, and people are
frightened to see a big black cobra in it. It uncoils itself, spreads its hood
and raises it head, as he plays upon his flute again this marks the end of his
show he spreads out a sheet of cloth on the ground and appeals for charity.
People throw coins on it and take their way.
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