Page:On the Coromandel Coast.djvu/320

308 himself at the bottom of the ocean of milk. The gods assisted by the demons, twisted the great serpent Vasuki round the mountain named Mandara, and placed the mountain on the back of the tortoise. They divided themselves into opposite parties, and using the serpent as a rope, they churned the sea with the mountain, the back of the tortoise serving as a pivot. The first thing recovered was the amritam or nectar, which conferred immortality upon all who drank of it. The demons, eager for its possession, contended with the gods for the precious liquid. In the struggle that ensued some of the amritam was spilt upon the earth. It fell upon the sacred coosham grass and the serpents licked it up. As they did so the grass slit their tongues as a punishment for their temerity. Ever since then the tongue of the snake has been forked. The old race of serpents have long since departed. The only sign left is the rainbow, which was formed by their dying breath as it escaped from their bodies and rose heavenwards.

The head of the snake is said to contain a small red pearl, which is highly prized as a charm. It brings the wearer good luck. I never had the good fortune to possess such a treasure.

The treatment of snake-bite is full of superstition and devoid of common sense. Charms and the repetition of muntrums are relied upon implicitly with the application of the snake-stone, which is a porous substance of the nature of pumice-stone or calcined bone. It is supposed to draw out the poison if bandaged tightly upon the wound. If the patient dies after these remedies, it is considered that his death is the fulfilment of the will of the gods, and what is written by them cannot be effaced by man from the book of fate.

The natives believe that a snake hears and sees with its eyes only, and that it cannot do both at once. If it