452 VARIOUS LETTERS ofmy account even of this extraordinary animal* — In Riley's Narrative of his Shipwreck on the and fifteen broad, paved with tiles and plastered within. The windows had also been secured by an additional grating made of wire, in such a manner as to render it impossible for the serpents to escape from the room : it had but one door, and that had a hole cut through it six or eight inches square : this hole was also secured by a grating. In the room stood two men, who appeared to be Arabs, with long bushy hair and beards ; and I was told they were a particular race of men, that could charm serpents.

" A wooden box, about four feet long and two wide, was placed near the door, with a string fastened to a slide at one end of it ; this string went through a hole in the door. The two serpent-eaters were dressed in haiks only, and those very small ones. After they had gone through their religious ceremonies most devoutly, they appeared to take an eternal farewell of each other : this done, one of them retired from the room, and shut the door tight after him. The Arab within seemed to be in dreadful distress. I could observe his heart throb, and his bosom heave most violently: and he cried out very loudly,' " Allah houahiber,'* three times; which is, as I understood it, God have mercy on me.* " The Arab was at the farthest end of the room : at that instant the cage was opened, and a serpent crept out slowly ; he was about four feet long, and eight inches in circumference ; his colours were the most beautiful in nature, being bright, and variegated with a deep yellow, a purple, a cream colour, black and brown, spotted, &c. As soon as he saw the Arab in the room, his eyes, which were small and green, kindled as with fire ; he erected himself in a second, his head two feet high ; and darting on the defenceless Arab, seized * N. B. This is a misinterpretation of the Arabic words here used, which, literally translated, signify, God alone, is reat !— J. G. J.