'the indians frequently pull out the snakes ' teeth , so that they never afterwards can do any mischief by biting ; this may be easily done , by tying a bit of red wollen cloth to the upper end of a long hollow cane , and so provoking the rattle-snake to bite , and suddenly pulling it away from him , by which means the teeth stick fast in the cloath , which are plainly to be seen by those present . '