Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/79

Rh cities with their feats. Balls put upon the floor disappeared and were produced from their naked arms; pigeons, emerging from empty baskets, lit upon their shoulders, and many other wondrous things were shown. Among others, the dried skin of a cobra di capella (a snake whose bite is death) was laid down before us, and a small piece of dirty cloth thrown over it; on removing the rag, a huge living cobra lay coiled at our feet. They piped to it, and the venomous serpent, rearing itself, gracefully balanced and undulated before us with glistening eyes and head flattened to the shape and almost the size of a tea-plate. It seemed just ready to spring and plant its fangs; but the juggler, coolly stroking it, took it up, wound it about his neck, and then put it away in his bag. A few cents paid them for their trouble.

These visitors had not been long gone, when a loud and doleful cry of “Awkey ma! Awkey ma! fine things got, ma!” told us that some new friends were at hand. “What is this?” we asked. “Oh! the hawkers have found out that there is a new arrival, and have come to exhibit their goods," was the reply. The hawker (travelling merchant) drawing near, respectfully raising his right hand to his fore- Rh