Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 2.djvu/182

DEENA AND HIS NEPHEW HOOSEINEE— SNAKE CHAEMEES. (104) EENA has brown eyes, and is dressed in white, with red blankets: both he and Hooseinee reside at Benares.

Their occupation is exhibiting harmless snakes, and catching or charming venomous ones. Their tribe is migratory; going from place to place during the cold and hot months of the year, and remaining in one spot during the rainy season. They are Mussulmans of the Soonee sect, and have a great veneration for the memory of a deceased Fakir or saint called Madar Shah, who is buried at Mukunpore, in the Cawnpore district; they believe that the three most sacred places on earth, are Mecca, Meduia, and Mulcunpore, and the three objects of worship are—Moulah, namely the Almighty, Mahomed, and Madar Shah.

They are considered great liars by the rest of the natives; and are not allowed to associate or intemarry with other Mahomedan sects, who hold them in disrepute, as well on account of their profession, as on account of the heathen ceremonies with which their occupation is connected, many of which belong to the ancient aboriginal snake worship of India.

Diet, the same as every Mussulman.

Interesting anecdotes of the astounding feats of these snake charmers will be found in almost every narrative of travels in India.