PLATE LX,
SURMUNGLA,
A n instrument formed of reeds ami played on by the hand. This as well
as the pipe, tabor, drum, and other musical instruments, is used by pretended
sorcerers, to entice serpents out pfSbeu holes, When they press
them with two pieces of bamboo, previously laid on the side of the hole
for the purpose 5 they pretend to be possessed of a specific against the
bite of ail venomous reptiles. Somte jof these people will put their hand
into a bagofthe most poisonous kind ofserpents, and take one out, which
they will teach to rear and move about to the sound of their music, and
which they pretend is done by means of certain incant ations. Tjhfifact,
however, is, that they provoke the reptile in private, by k in d t^
mritation, so that when it is let out from the bag, it becomes exasperated
against its tormentor. The serpents used in such exhibitions have
bee* previously deprived of their stings; and those charmed from the
holes, become stupefied by the din of the instruments, and suffer them-
selves to be put in a bag.