The craft of “snake charmers”

Muhammad Sharif Khan

306 N. Morton Avenue

Morton, PA 19070, USA

Typhlops99@outlook.com

2016

Snakes and people, together, have a long history that goes back to the time when we were not yet “people” and yet snake was not recognized with its attributes as today, while snake continued with its unfriendly habits. It explains our extreme attitude towards snakes, varying from deification to ophidiphobia - the fear of snakes.

The story of snake-man began when we were yet exploring our surroundings, experiencing new facts, real hard facts, and started recognizing howls with jackals, chatters with monkeys, growls and roars to cheetah and lion, we recognized them by their sounds in dark, in light by their shapes.

Since beginning we have been hunters and gatherers. For long, we knew there loomed something mysterious around thickets a small insignificant “wound” from its bite, unlike bite of a cat etc., caused in due course of time agonizing death. So we started fearing going in jungle, where from flashed glimpses imprinted in our memory “a long, writing, gliding animal,” it was the start of “Ophidiphobia” the fear of something that inflicts sudden agonizing death (the snake)!

Some among us were more mobile, sharp and cunning; roamed about in jungle waste, learning the ways of animals, where a man feared to tread. These men cashed our fear; they realized “snake,” is an animal, defends itself by injecting venom in the wound, unlike other biting animals. Thus they knew some animals are venomous other nonvenomous.

They used their knowledge to cash our fear by tricking us, and earn their living-it was start of snake charmers craft.

Snake charming in India

The subcontinent is predominantly agricultural. With changes in seasons flora and fauna changes. Rising temperatures in summer stir up reptiles and amphibians in their dens, and are frequently encountered everywhere: homes, fields, pastures, and deserts, so that snake bite cases are frequent, because of meager medical help, publically local hakims and vaids are relied on around, who claim to have herbal, Mantra and Dams cure for snake bite.

The snake-men, had already build up their reputation public street shows, floating convincing stories.

Adding mystery to snake Because of snakes swift graceful mysterious gliding motion, sudden appearance/ disappearance and reappearance from nowhere; bright lid-less eyes, fixed gaze, colorful beauty, strength to squeeze to death. Fatal consequences of bite, regularly shedding skin for a shinier and healthier one, suggested snake's longevity and immortality. Its strange ways aroused feelings of wonder, respect, fear; thus man started glorifying and worshiping it believing in its mythical powers. National heroes were personified as serpents with supernatural powers, reverend and worshipped. Snake shapes carved in wood, stone were placed in temples. Its pendent phallus-like shape related it to

In the subcontinent and Southeast Asia cobra is intimately associated with folklore, religion and art. In India annually two days, Nag Panchami (July) and Anat Chaturdashi (September) are devoted to cobra worship, (based on whatever folklores) all over India.

The snake charmers flock to cities and villages carrying live snakes, going from door to door, offering their snakes to devoted peoples to worship them. In return they get milk, grains, money and clothes.

Tracking snakes in field----an expertise of snake-man Catching snakes from wild is a lucrative business. Apart from supplying snakes to the anti-venous developing laboratories and scientists, most of the caught snakes are for display and worship, which is more paying.

There are several gypsy-type tribes in the subcontinent who earn their living by this business. In Pakistan mostly they belong to “Jogi” tribe who follow “kka” peer (saint), who permit jogies to catch snakes under certain conditions: every snake caught will be realized in wild within six months of its captivity. If a jogi dies of snake bite, he is believed to not have followed the condition. Every year, in month of September celebrations are held in honor of the kka peer. When snake effigies are made from kneaded wheat flower, and are taken from door to door, alms are collected; by the evening the effigies are buried. So the pledge to allegiance to kka peer is revived.

Failing to hold these cerebrations, is believed make their women barren and will remain childless, and every man in jogi tribe will die of snake bite. During marriage of daughters, parents give them present of live snakes, moreover, before accepting hand of a guy for daughter, his expertise in catching snakes is tested!

On Indian side likewise there are several snake catching tribes: in southern India “Irula”, Maharashtra “Mehr”, and in Orissa “Das” tribes are doing this type of business, every tribe has its own saint guru with almost similar instructions (Khan1993).

A note on snake bite first-aid. Never believe what a snake charmer says. Never panic if bitten, remain reassured and calm as possible. Keep the victim as calm and motionless as possible. Do not give any medicine without advice from the doctor.

Take the victim as soon as possible to the nearest hospital. If possible take the snake responsible for the bite with you. It will help doctors at the hospital to decide which anti-venom to use. Do not cut the skin at the bite site, do not apply a tourniquet or any else to the wound.

Keep the injured part of the body as motionless as possible, wrap a muslin cloth bandage softly around the bite-site.

	Snake charming is the practice of pretending to hypnotize a snake by playing an instrument called pungi, been or bansuri. A typical performance may also include handling of different nonvenomous varieties of snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts: as putting snake in mouth and getting it out of mouth, as well as other street performances, like juggling and sleight of hand. Snakes are so habituated that they to go into their "hide box" or “patari”. Usually the training consist of a repetitive tapping sound (vibration) on the cage. A snake can be trained within two months if not sooner. Simple conditioning! Typical
	Typical display party of snake charmers, with dazzling colored turbans, beard, bead necklaces, shaggy shirt and dahoti.
	From very childhood future snake-man starts playing with defanged cobras.
	Girls are not left behind.They start playing with non-venomous snakes. Wearing Eryx johnii (round her neck), holding Aphiesma stolata and  Coluber rhodorachis
	Common Sand boa, Eryx johnii. Commonly called the  Du Muhee. Usually displayed in the show as the “two mouth” snake (nonvenomous).
	The common Rock Python (non venomous) Python mourus. Often worn around neck during shows.
	The Tatari sand boa, Eryx tataricus (non-venomous).  Common called the matai.
	Common Royal Snake, Spalerosophis diadema (non venomous). Commonly called the Karar.
	Manka: a piece of charcoal, sponge etc grated in a round shape. A snake is said to keep it in its mouth; when takes it out it glitters in moon-light in which the snake dances!!?  Sold at a high price, if applied to snake bite, it reported sucks the venom from the wound! Gidar- singhi: a fluffy bunch of thin fibers, said to grow in the horns of a jackal. It is also believed  to grow in size. If kept in antimony powder (gives it yellow color). Posession of it is said to make the owner a  fortunate. Sold at high price.
	The fljute, punji or Been: the typical musical instrument of snake charmers.
	Snakes in Indian mythology: Lord Shiva-the god of fertility In a blessing posture with coiled cobra on head top, around neck, and around upper arms.
	Snakes in Indian mythology: Lord Shiva-god of fertility meditating With coiled cobra at head top and around neck.
	A devotee offering milk to cobra.
	Snake charmers often place tsnakes in thgeir mouth to impress their audiences. The redness in the man's eyes is due to exposure to the scorching mid-day summer sun as he roamed the desert in search of snakes.
	Daboia russelii is sledom used in snake charmer show. Probably because it is so dangerous.
	Echis carinatus is rarely displayed in snake charmer shows.
	The spectacled cobra, Naja naja. Perhaps the most commonly used snake by snake charmers.