Information on a Snake Charmer
The traditional concept of a snake charmer revolves around the image of a person sitting cross-legged and playing a flute to charm a deadly snake, normally a cobra or a viper, into rising up and swaying back and forth. Snake charming may also involve the charmer kissing the top of a snake's head, staging a fight between a snake and another animal (e.g., a mongoose) or placing part of the snake into his mouth. Essentially, any street performance that makes use of a snake is considered to be snake charming.
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Geography
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Snake charmers are found most prominently in city centers, heavily-touristed areas and rural festivals throughout northern Africa (particularly Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia), India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the southeast Asian nation of Singapore. Snake charming is not as popular across these nations as it once was. BBC News reports that snake charmers in Bangladesh are becoming increasingly rare, as interest in the performances wanes.
History
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Snake charming most likely began in northern Africa or India. Snake charmers have been practicing their trade for centuries across much of the same area where they can be found today. Historically, snake charmers have been nomads, traveling from village to village performing for spectators.
In the mid-20th century, snake charming became something of a novelty in the Western World, and tourists began associating the practice with India and northern Africa. Snake charming has fallen out of favor in recent years and was officially banned in India with the passing of the Indian Wildlife Act in 1972.
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Significance
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Snakes and snake charmers are held with a special regard throughout much of the area where snake charmers perform. Cobras especially play a large part in Hinduism, where they are seen as the protectors of the gods. Snake charmers in some rural areas have been viewed as mystics and may still be called upon to remove snakes from homes.
Snake charmers learn their trade at an early age, and the practice is often passed down from father to son. Snake charming is the sole occupation and livelihood of many families, according to BBC News.
Misconceptions
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Snakes react to the sound of a charmer's music. However, snakes do not hear sounds in the same way that humans do. Snakes that have been charmed are actually using their vision to mirror the movements of the snake charmer.
When a cobra rises from an enclosed space (like a snake charmer's basket) and spreads its hood, it is simply demonstrating its normal defensive behavior. Cobras are normally reluctant to strike, using intimidation as a way to defend themselves. These snakes have not been mesmerized or charmed, but are rather behaving in the same way they would in the wild.
Criticisms
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The conservation group Tortoise Trust reports that many of the snakes used in the performances of snake charmers are mistreated. Snake charmers will regularly sew the mouths of snakes shut, leaving only a small hole out of which the tongue can dart. Venom glands are commonly removed as well. These practices, while ensuring the safety of the snake charmer, often put the lives of the snakes in danger.
Infections in the mouth can arise from these surgeries, and snakes which have had their mouths sewn shut cannot eat. Often snakes will die of starvation or infection. When snakes become ill or weak, they are dispatched and replaced, often with a wild-caught snake.
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References
- Photo Credit inde,cobra image by jean claude braun from Fotolia.com
