ON AFRICA. 431 accounts of their feats would fill a volume ; the following observations may suffice to give the reader an idea of these extraordinary fanatics. The buska and the el effah are enticed out of their holes by them ; they handle them with impunity, though their bite is ascertained to be mortal ; they put them into a cane basket, and throw it over their shoulders : these serpents they carry about the country, and exhibit them to the people. I have seen them •play with them, and suffer them to twist round their bodies in all directions, without receiving any injury from them. I have often enquired how they managed to do this, but never could get any direct or satisfactory answer ; they assure you, however, that faith in their saint, and the powerful influence of the name of the divinity, {Isim Allah,') enables them to work these miracles : they maintain themselves in a miserable way, by donations from the spectators before whom they exhibit. This art of fascinating serpents was known by the ancient Africans, as appears from the Marii and Psilii, who were Africans, and showed proofs of it at Rome.

Bu Telleese (Nyctalopia.)—This ophthalmic disease is little known in the northern provinces ; but in Suse and Sahara it prevails. A defect of vision comes on at dusk, but without pain ; the patient is deprived of sight, so that he cannot see For a description of these deadly serpents, see Jackson's Account of Marocco, &c. chapter on Zoology.