kind of mineral earth, of a yellow or reddish cast; in this the diamonds are found.

A quantity of the earth being dug out, it is thrown into a cistern of water, and after being allowed to soak for some time, is stirred about, and then suffered to rest till the gravelly matter has sunk to the bottom. The water is then let off, and fresh supplied, until the earthy substance is washed away, and the gravelly alone remains. This is thinly spread on a smooth surface prepared for it, and examined with such care, that the smallest gem does not escape the notice of the searchers.

To prevent fraud by the concealment of the stones, the miners work naked, except a piece of cloth round the waist, and are narrowly watched by overseers appointed for the purpose. No strangers nor women are permitted to approach within a certain distance of the works: at present they are abandoned, but the neighbouring inhabitants still explore the heaps of earth formerly thrown up, and occasionally find diamonds about the size of a large pin's head, which they sell for one or two rupees each.

The diamonds of Purtyall are usually small, seldom exceeding thirty carats, and they are frequently of a yellowish or reddish tinge, and sometimes streaked with black. Those above fifteen carats pay a duty, but all under that weight are exempt.

THE SNAKE CHARMER.

WITH all his boasted reason, man, in all ages and in all countries, has been the dupe of imposture. This may be attributed, in some measure, to his fondness for the wonderful: he, who by his superior knowledge of the arts, or by his dexterity of hand, can produce some effect apparently contrary to the usual course of nature, is by the generality of mankind, looked up to as possessed of supernatural powers.

For the purpose of acquiring this ascendancy over the minds of their fellow men, and of procuring a comfortable subsistence without the inconveniences of labour, persons have attempted the most dangerous experiments, and undergone the most painful preparations.

There is, perhaps, no animal more abhorrent to our nature, none that is more dangerous, than the venomous serpent tribe. Yet, in all ages, there have been men who have, for the sake of gain, become familiar with these terrible reptiles,-carried them in their bosom, suffered them to twine about their bodies, taught them to dance, and even, as the Psylli of Egypt, devoured them alive.

In India, these creatures are so numerous as frequently to lurk in the houses, to the great danger of their inmates. This circumstance has been

taken advantage of by a species of impostors, who pretend to be possessed of a power by which they can compel the animals to come forth from their retreat, and suffer themselves to be taken alive.

These men are provided with a number of serpents of a venomous species, chiefly the cobra-dicapello, or hooded spectacle snake, whose bite is speedily mortal, but which are rendered harmless by drawing out their poisonous fangs. These they teach to dance to the sound of a pipe, and perform other amusing tricks.

Some English gentlemen, who suspected that their pretended power of charming serpents from their holes was a mere trick, sent for three of these men, and desired them to clear a certain space of such intruders, and to kill the snakes as fast as they were taken.

With this latter condition the men refused to comply, alleging that they had promised the serpents to do them no harm, if they would suffer themselves to be caught. This refusal increased the suspicions of the gentlemen, and they resolved to watch them narrowly.

Dressed in long robes, which reached to the ground, the jugglers walked over the prescribed space, singing an air, which was the pretended charm: when the foremost of them came to the door of an outhouse which was said to be the haunt of a serpent of extraordinary size, he

halted, and continued his song, until, suddenly darting forward, he produced a snake, which he said had just appeared from its hole,' though no one saw it until in the sorcerer's hand.

Confirmed in their conjectures, the gentlemen now desired the Indians to lay aside their robes, with which request they reluctantly complied: but from this moment no snake was caught, though they continued their conjurations for more than an hour.

Finding themselves thus detected, the men at length explained the secret of their art. They have constantly a number of tame serpents of different species. When called upon to exercise their art, they take care to inquire what kind of serpents infests the premises, and provide themselves accordingly, by putting some of the same species into the pockets with which their robes are furnished.

When they have performed their incantations. as long as they think proper, they suddenly cry out that a snake is appearing at its hole, dart forward, and seem to seize it, producing one which they have dexterously drawn from their garment. The simple Hindoos firmly believe their professions, and thinking that their premises are actually freed from these dangerous intruders, grow less cautious, and are bitten before they are aware.

Let not young persons suppose, from the pre

ceding remarks, that, though we feel an instinctive abhorrence of the serpent tribe, and are justified in destroying them if they infest our houses and endanger our safety, they are useless in creation. They serve to thin the numbers of birds, mice, toads, frogs, and other animals that would multiply to our great annoyance without their aid.

The poison too, with which many of them are furnished, is not intended to injure man, but for their own defence, and to provide them food. From the slowness of their motions, and the feebleness of their teeth, their prey would frequently escape, were it not that, if once bitten, death soon ensues, and the creatures are sure to find their victim at a short distance, even though they could not hold it.

By a diligent attention to the works of nature, we shall get rid of many of our foolish prejudices, and see reason to admire the goodness of God in creating those things which we have been taught to consider as scourges rather than blessings; and when we cannot plainly see the use of any thing, let us attribute it to our ignorance, rather than to the want of benevolence in our great Creator.