254 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

He fears the cure might suffer by delay,

And life be lost but for a moment’s stay.

Thus oft, though deep within the veins it lies,
By magic numbers chased, the mischief flies ;
But if it hear too slow—if still it stay,

And scorn the potent charmer to obey,

With forceful lips he fastens on the wound,
Drains out and spits the venom to the ground.”

In this account the voice is alluded to, and it is to the
voice of the charmer that the Psalmist refers. Mr. Roberts
says that the following form of words is considered in India
the most potent charm :—“O serpent, thou who art coiled
in my path, get out of my way, for around thee are the
mongoos, the porcupine, and the kite in his circles is ready
to take thee.”

The Egyptian charmer also employs vocal sounds, and a
form of words, to draw these venomous creatures from their
retreats. Mr. Lane says, “He assumes an air of mystery,
strikes the wall with a palm-stick, whistles, makes a cluck-
ing sound with his tongue, and spits upon the ground,
generally saying, ‘1 adjure ye by God, if ye are above, or if
ye be below, that ye come forth; I adjure ye by the most
great name, if ye be obedient, come forth, and if ye be dis-
obedient, die! die! die!’” In these cases it is of course the