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Snake charmer

Snake charmers were roadside entertainers who made their snakes 'dance' to the music they played on their flute. Snake charmers were mainly Indians although some Malays picked up the skill from the Indians at a later stage. In the pre-war days, the snake charmers were commonly found along Cantonment Road, Tanjong Pagar, Elizabeth Walk and other open grounds or hotel grounds.

History
Snake charmers arrived in Singapore from India along with Singapore's early immigrants. Most of them came from Poona in Maharashtra. Snake charmers often sold medicated ointment in front of the Tiger Balm Company along Cantonment. They became a popular tourist attraction in the 1950s and 1960s. Although considered poisonous and dangerous, snakes are worshipped in Hinduism. Any attempt to hurt or kill a snake is considered blasphemous. Pythons and Mambas (also known as Mango snakes) were commonly used by the snake-charmers. In Singapore's early history of snake charmers, cobras were originally the favourites. However, local snake charmers avoided them because of the high death toll amongst snake charmers from the bite of the cobras. Snake charming is usually a family trade where the charmer receives training from an early age .

Job Scope
The snake charmer had to first capture a snake. He ventured into the wilds and searched for a snake. On spotting a suitable snake, he used snake hooks and sticks to catch it. Once it was caught, their fangs were removed. He then put the snake into a gunny sack, brought it home and slowly tamed. The snake charmer often carried the snake in his arm to subdue its animal instincts. Snakes learn to recognise the smell of their owners after some time. That however did not prevent the owner from getting bitten at times. The python was considered a particularly dangerous species because it would constrict its victim, breaks its bones and subsequently swallows the victim, animal or human, as a whole. The black cobra either bit the victim to kill it or spat its venom into its victim's eyes, thereby blinding the victim. In any case, the snake charmer and his new pet would take a few months to establish a bond. The captured snakes were usually reared on a diet of beef, chicken, eggs and water. Some snake charmers simply bought the snakes from others to save themselves the trouble of hunting down a snake. Such snakes were available at pet shops or animal stalls in Chinatown.

The snake charmers played a kind of "flute" called naskar made of a bamboo stem and a coconut shell. The truth is snakes lack the ability to hear and thus do not hear the music. Instead they were responding to the vibrations produced by the tapping feet of the snake charmers. The snakes were also following the swaying movements of the snake charmer as he played his naskar. With time, the snake charmers perfected their skill so much so that it seemed like the snake was dancing to the tune produced by the naskar.

Before a show, the snake charmer would bathe their snakes in water, towel-dry them and brush them. The snake charmers themselves on the other hand were markedly different, often dressed in filthy sarongs and gaudy turbans. Each snake had its own basket. The snake charmer carried the day's selection, often a python or a mamba, in a basket on his head. He would stop at the streetside where there was a suitable traffic flow of pedestrians, then open the lid of his basket and start playing his naskar. The snake in the basket would start 'dancing' and a crowd gather around the scene. Sometimes the show would go on for as long as half an hour. At the end of it, children willingly parted with their pocket money and adults with a few coins. The snake charmer could earn around S$2 or S$3 in the pre-war days which was then considered a fortune.

Development
Snake charmers captivated the public for many years. There were a few who enthralled adults and children, both locals and tourists, in tourist spots like Sentosa, Mount Faber, hotels, exhibitions and private functions. But that too, is an extreme rarity in Singapore today.



Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References
Dying occupations of Singapore (pp.16-17). (1978). Singapore: Raffles Interact Club.
(Call No.: RCLOS 331.70095957 RAF)

Lo-Ang, S. G., & Chua, C. H. (Eds.). (1992). Vanishing trades of Singapore (pp. 75-79). Singapore: Oral History Department.
(Call no.: RSING 338.642095957 VAN)

Fading charm of the snake charmer. (1980). Goodwood Journal, 1st Qtr., 17-19.
(Call no.: RCLOS 052 GHCGJ)


Further Readings
Sullivan, M. (1993). "Can survive, la" cottage industries in high-rise Singapore. Singapore: Graham Brash.
(Call no.: RSING 338.634095957 SUL)

Chan, K. S. (2001, May 21). Chinatown's non-chinese legacy. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 12.

Lee, J. (1997, April 26). Bringing back life to the streets. The Straits Times, News Focus, p. 3.

National Archives of Singapore. (n.d.). Archives & Artefacts Online, Singapore. Retrieved December 14, 2002, from www.a2o.com.sg

The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Commerce and Industry>>Labour and Employment>>Vanishing Trades
Snake charmers--Singapore
Business, finance and industry>>Economics>>Labour economics
Arts>>Theatre>>Variety shows



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