The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15 00:00:00

AlisidUalteSt Jifdhtgeittt.

EOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

PIECE WORK.—The Pall Mall Gazette in their article
on "Trade and Finance," remarks :—" The Glasgow
members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
wibely decided, at a large meeting held on Saturday
afternoon, not to contest the prolongation of the work-
ing hours from fifty-one to fifty-four per week. The
majority perceived that resistance would be hopeless,
the more particularly so as the weekly time is in Eng-
land fifty-four hours. It was pointed out, further
that as shipbuilding is generally paid for by the
hour, acceptance of the masters' terms involved no
pecuniary loss to the men. The rectgaition and
enforcements of this circumstance at the meeting
go to show that working men are not quite so imper-
vious to the advantages of piece-work as they are
usually supposed to be. The unions are inexorably
opposed to piece-work: it is inconsistent with their
principles. But it is doubtful whether the men
generally are so. And we cannot help thinking that
the Glasgow shipbuilders committed a mistake in in-
sisting upon a return to the fifty-four hours. It is
nothing to them how short the men work if they get
the full value in labour for the wages they pay;
rather it ia to their interest that the men should not
contract dawdling and indolent habits. What they
are concerned to insist upon is efficiency of lAbour
and that can only be secured by piece-work, well paid."

EFFECT OF GASLIGHT ON THE EYES.—The German
Minister of Instruction has recently issued a report on
the influence of gaslight on the eye. Tne conclusion
arrived at in this report—the result of frequent con-
ference with well-known physicians—is that no evil
results follow a moderate use of gas, if the direct
action of the yellow flame on the eye is prevented.
For this purpose screens or shades are employed.
Very great objections, however, exist to the use of
zinc or lead shades, most evils affecting the eye being
traceable to them. Their use, it is said, inevitably
tends to blindness or inflammation, and other harmful
effects. The milky-white glass shade is the best, as it
distributes the light and has a grateful effect on the
eyes. The burner should not be too close to the head,
as congestions of the forehead and headaches result
from the radiated heat. The glass plate below the
gas, employed in some places, is especially useful for
the purpose, as it causes an equal distribution of the
light—necessary where a number are working at one
burner—prevents the radiation of heat, and tends to a
steady illumination by shielding the flames from cur-
rents cf air. In cases of highly inflamed eyes, dark
blue globes can be very beneficially employed. With
precautions of this kind, no evil effects from the burn-
ing of gas need be feared.

ELECTRIC LIGHT IN THE BRITISH MIISEUM.—The
experiments with the electric light recently made in
the reading•room of the British Museum have satisfied
the trustees of its applicability fur the purposes of the
room as far as the amount and distribution of light are
concerned, although the full number of lamps was not
employed. On three occasions the light was turned on
at dusk, in order to enable readers to continue their
studies without interruption for another hour. As far
as could be ascertained, they were enabled to work
by it without difficulty, even at the tables where the
light was the weakest. The experiments were made
gratuitously by the Societi G6n6rale d'Electriciti,
who use the Jahlochiroff candles. They are discon-
firmed for the present, but a further trial of the light
will probably be made some months hence, with the
view to utilize it on dark days and for extending the
hours for wing the reading•rooni in the winter.

TAPE-WORM IN CIICUMBERS.—According to several
of our American medical contemporaries, Dr. Lei y,
of Philadelphia, has announced the discovery that
cucumbers are liable to be infested with tape-worm.
At a meeting of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences
he exhibited a specimen of tape-worm taken from the
inside of a large cucumber. It is said to have all the
characteristics of a true tape-worm, but belonged to
an unknown species, the peculiarity being that the
ovaries, containing the round yellow eggs, were con-
fined to the anterior extremity of the segment.—
British Medical Journal.

TAKING Him AT HIS WORD.—Affable Old Gent (to
well-known Civil Servant). "Quite Christmas weather
again, Mr. Paddles !"—lrish Postman. "Quite so,
Sorr ! quite so !"—(lmproving the occasion,)—
" R'member the postman, Sorr ! " [He'd brought
it on himself, so he "stumped up" like a " Gintle-
man."—Punch. _

PRIVATE LUNATIC ASYLUMS. —A return has just been
issued showing the number of licensed houses in Eng-
land and Wales for the care of lunatics, and the num-
ber of patients on January 1, 1879. There are 97 of
these licensed houses, 37 of which are in the metro-
politan district. In the 37 metropolitan licensed
houses there were 1,871 private patients (1,064 men and
807 women) and 190 pauper patients ; altogether, 2,061.
In the rest of England and Wales there were in
licensed houses 1,588 private patients (774 men and
814 women) with 540 pauper lunatics; altogether
2,128.
'OssixEss.—Scene,—The outside of an omnibus.—
Party (who doesn't know much about 'osses). And
what do you call the horse on the left hand side,
driver. Be looks a good sort.—Driver. Oh, that's the
off'un.—Party. Is it indeed? Dear me! Lost both
his parents. I s'pose, [But what on earth were they all
laughing at.]—Judy,

To KEEP WET OUT FROM GUN LOCKS.—In giving
hints to sportsmen going to Norway, Mr. Lock, in his
book on "Sport in Norway," gives some capital ad-
vice on this subject, which would be equally service-
able in wet weather in England. Sportsmen will do
well, he says, to remove the locks from their rifle and
gun, oil them with a little Rangoon oil, lay them on
the hob of the fireplace until they are quite hot, and
then wipe them as dry as possible with a little cotton
waste, so that there will be no surperfluous oil left to
clog the works. While the locks are getting hot, get
a little beeswax and melt ic in a cup, and with the tip
of a penknife carefully pay, as though you were using
putty to place in a pane of glass, though more
sparingly, the wooden ledges where the lock.plates
rest when in their places, in such a manner that none
of the wax gets into the places hollowed out to re-
ceive the works of the lock. When the warm locks are
put back in their places, and screwed up tight, the
wax will adhere to the edge of the lock plates and the
wood wherein they bed and effectually render them
impervious to wet. The sportsman can afterwards,
when stalking, push his rifle through wet grass, and
use his fowling-piece when the water, after a shower,
drops from the trees upon him as he forces his way
between the wet branches, without fear of the wet
making its way into the locks.
THE CHANCELLOR'S KICKSHAWS.—Prince Bismarck,
the other Saturday, gave his first political dinner. It
is said that one of the specialities of the menu was a
great success anchovies swimming in custard.
Another, equally relished, is stated to have been a
mélange of red currant jelly, raspberry jam, beer,
brandy, cream, and caviare,—Punch.

STARTING A GERMAN TRAlN.—Great ceremonies are
necessary to get a train off in Germany. When all is
ready a bell rings. Then another bell rings. Then
the engine whistles, or rather toot-toot toot•gently.
Then the conductor tells the station-master that all is
ready. Then the station-master looks placidly around
and says "So?" Then the conductor shouts "Fertig ?"
interrogatively. Then the station-master replies
"Fertig !" positively. Then the conductor blows a
horn; the engine whistles; the bell rings; the other
bell rings; the station-master says "So ?"—the pas-
sengers swear in various tongues—and the train starts.
That is unless there is a belated fat man—in which
case they do it all over again.
TENANT FARMERS IN WARWICKSHIRE.—There was
a numerous assemblage of farmers on Saturday at
Warwick Corn Exchange for the purpose of establish-
ing a Tenant Farmers' Association on an extensive
scale and on an independent footing. It was unani-
mously resolvei to establish an association the object
of whih shall be to take into consideration all sub-
jects, whether political or otherwiee, affecting the
interest of tenant-farmers, and to make known what
in the opinion of the association is most desirable for
the advancement of their interests. The principal
topics referred to were the necessity for lowered rents
and direct Parliamentary representation.
GAME FOR NEW ZEALAND.—Some twelve months
ago an order wits sent to a resident of San Francisco
from New Zealand for some live pinnated grouse, or
prairie chickens, as they are commonly called in this
country, for turning down. The order could not be
complied with, as the birds, owing to the mildness of
last winter, were too wild to be trapped. This season,
however, success has attended the efforts of the
trappers, and a consignment of twenty-eight pinnated
grouse, caught in Kansas, has recently been shipped
at San Francisco for New Zealand. It is to be hoped
that the efforts of our colonists to acclimatise this
handsome game bird will be attended with success.—
Land and Water.

_
RABBITS AND WEASLES IN QUEENSLAND.—SeveraI
years ago the pastures of Queensland were so thickly
infested with weeds that the sheen began to perish
from starvation. These weeds were of a variety
which is held in high estimation by the ordinary
English rabbit, and a cargo of rabbits was introduced.
The rabbits devoured the weeds, but unfortunately
they did not stop here, but kept on multiplying and
devouring every living thing, and swarmed in the
streets and houses to that extent, that life became
almost unendurable to the uuhappy Australian. It
was plainly evident that unless something was speedily
done to suppress the rabbits, Queensland would
become a wilderness howling with those hungry
beasts. The rabbits had exterminated the weeds,
but a new kind of animal was needed to exterminate
the rabbits. A shipload of weasles was aceordingly
Imported, and at present they are revelling in rabbits.
The rabbits fairly melt away before them, and the
weasles, with delight beaming from their happy faces,
pursue them to their hiding-places and massacre
them by thousands. The only question that bothers
the Queenslanders is what they will do with the
weasles when they have devoured the rabbits, and
the only solution to the problem is that the next crop
must be wild-cats, as they are the only animals that
can take care of the weasles.
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE ACT. The Tirrie3 of
Tue-day, in writing respecting the marriage ceremony
of the Duke of Connaught, says :
The form of the registry signed on this occasion is strictly
prescribed by Act of Parliament. The Royal Marriage Act
(12 Geo. 111., cap. 11) provides that no descendant of George
(except the issue of princesses married into foreign families)
shall he capable of contracting matemony without the
consent of the So.ereign, aignifled under the Great Seal
and also declared in Council. And the statute further
directs that this consent, to preserve the memory thereat,
shill be set out in the licence and register of marriage, and
entered in the books of the Privy Council. The licence
in the present case is a special licence obtained
from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and dated Feb-
ruary 25, 1870. It is well known that special licences
permit the parties to be married at any time, in any church
or chapel or other meet and convenient place, arid it will
have been observed that the present marriage will be
solemnized er the usual hour of twelve, the bride not
leaving the Castle for the chapel till half-past twelve. The
consent by law required will, of course, have been duly re-
corded in the 11cet,53 and register. It was signified nearly a
year ago at a Council at the Court at Winitsor, in the
presence o the Lord President of the Council (Duke of Rich-
mond and Gordon), the Lord Chamberlain (Marquis of Bert-
ford), and two distinguished Privy Councillors (the Earl of
Beaconsfield and M. Cross). The marriage, as a civil con-
tract, will be by virtue of this consent, the absence of which
would render it wholly invalid. The consent was signified
under the Great Seal.

.---- -
SAINTS IN THE SHIRES. (A LENT MEET WITH "THE
DUKE S.")—" I see your sister is not hunting to day."
'No, poor dear ! She had only the pony to ride, so
she has gone to Church I"—Punch.
ARMY REGIS'TERS.—A Bill brought into the House
of Commons by Colonel Loyd-Lindsay provides for
the transmission to the Registrar-General of registers
of births, marriages, and deaths occurring abroad
among the families of officers and soldiers. These
registers would then be copied into a book to be called
" The Army Register Book," which would have the
velidity of a certified copy of the register-book within
the meaning of the Acts relating to registration.
THE EAST AND WEST WINDS.—It is remarked by
a scientific contemporary that the proverbially danger-
ous east winds of March owe their injurious effects to
the fact that they are surface winds travelling at a
great pace over extended areas, and collecting all sorts
of organic particles in their onward course. It is not
the alsolute chilliness of the early spring winds, but
the impalpable dust they whirl along which in our
contemporary's opinion cause bronchitis and other ail-
ments of the like nature. The west winds which
descend from the pure heights of the upper atmosphere
are free from injurious effect. There appears to us to
be a good deal of truth in all this, but at the same
time " organic particles" can hardly be charged with
the injury which cold spring winds undoubtedly do to
budding vegetable life.—Graphic.
THE GLASGOW CLOCKS.—The clocks of Glasgow are
now synchronized and kept to Greenwich time. About
twenty miles of wire are in use for the purpose, 100
clocks beir,g under correction every hour. At ten
o'clock every morning the correct time is sent from
Greenwich Observatory. Simultaneously with the
striking of the hour on the clock at Greenwich, a bell
is rung by the electric current close to a regulator,
which is thus checked. In order to insure absolute
accuracy, a second current is obtained from a wire con-
nected with Glasgow Observatory. The electricity is
obtained frem about 300 Leclanchd cells, arranged in
batteries of sufficient strength to work the syn-
chronizers on the twelve different lines of wire ; and,
by means of a distributor wrought hourly by the regu-
lator, a currenc f electricity is transmitted to each
have
often OF ONE
said
clock under control.
knowth enthusiastic thi Tat s said,s ti andpeople
must be more or less men of one idea, and must
exaggerate that idea. People ask me "Don't
you stand up for balanced and complete views of
things and rather pride yourself, in a quiet way,
iltDEmaye—sellf
that there is no exaggeration about you? Then
why this sneaking kincineqs for men of one idea, and
often of monstrous exaggeration ? " But in point of
fact, as the world goes, the idea which they exaggerate
gets toned down to very ordinary proportions before
it reaehes the masses. I like proportion in a build-
lug; but if I am to have a cross on the top of St.
Paul's, it must be an enormously large one, in
order that, under the toning influence of distance,
it may appear the right size when seen from the
street. A man who exaggerates a favourite but true
view is no doubt himself liable to suffer from his
mental habit. But people around him are not so
liable, Before the idea reaches their mind, it has pro-
bably come down to it own place in the proportion of
things. Some additional force most b 3 given to a
great truth to overcome the vie inertia of the human
soul, and secure for it admission to that well-guarded
citadel. Now the upshot of all these musings of mine
is, that I think we quiet men would all be the better
for a touch of enthusiasm. Though Michal should
laugh at us, it would be well for us sometimes to be
in the mood of dancing before the ark. We keep
these emotions ef ours BO desperately quiet—like tame
rabbits in their hutch, Would it not be well ii, our
feelings were sometimea set on fire?—ifrom
Catholic Presbyterian."

MIN

-


THE COMMITTEE ON INTEMPERANOE.—The House of
Lords Select Committee on Intemperance, whose
report is now expected, was appointed in July, 1876,
on the motion of the Archbishop of Canterbury; but
the task of presiding over the committee was unier-
taken by the Duke of 'Westminster. The inquiry was
prosecuted diligently in the Session of 1877, and was
resumed At 1878, and a hundred witnesses have been
examinea The committee, not being able to complete
the consideration of their report before the end of last
Session, have been reappointed. The four Blue-books
issued, containing the evidence and index, present
more than 1,700 folio pages for perusal and diges-
tion. _

A RICH TREAT To POSTERITY! An ingenious
variety of the "centennial " amusement has been
devised in America (remarks the Pall Mall Gazette).
On the 21st of February a large iron safe, known as
"the centennial safe," was closed for ninety-seven
years in the Statuary Hall of Washington in the pre-
sence of a large number of spectators, who were deeply
moved at the interesting spectacle. The safe, which
was exhibited at the late Exhibition, and has been
given to the nation by its owner, a lady by name Mrs.
Diehm, bears two inscriptions on the inner sides of its
doors :—" In memory of those whose names appear
upon the pages of the albums deposited within, and
who rendered distinguished services to the country."
And "It is the wish of Mrs. Diehm that this safe
may remain closed until 1976, to be opened by the
Ottief Magistrate of the United States. The inscrip-
tion in front of the safe' "Dedicated to the people
of the United States, Juls, 4th, 1876." In addition
to a volume containing the autographs of prominent
public men is an album of photographs of a large
number of them, with recorded souvenirs of the Cen-
tennial Exhibition. The safe also contains the photo-
graphs of a select number of ladies, and one of the
private secretary to the late President Lincoln.
Altogether the unlocking of the safe in 1976 will
afford a rich treat to posterity.
HOURS or POLLING.—By an Act of Parliament
passed last year the hours of polling in elections for
the representation of the metropolitan boroughs are
from eight in the morning to eight in the evening.
Mr. Chamberlain has a Bill for extending this provision
to every election of a member of Parliament for a
borough, also to every municipal election held in a
municipal borouph, and to every School Board election
held in any borough outside the metropolis.
_ _

INCORIIECT. —Some of the writers Who have been
describing the embarkation of troops for the Cape
speak of the distance which they have to traverse as
"a waste of water." Considering the great use of the
ocean, especially to a maritime country like England,
this term seems to be a misnomer.—July.
A MOUSE STORY.—A gentleman who was exceedingly
averse to mice was travelling in one of the northern
counties, and, as night set in, put up at a country inn.
After dinner he retired to his room, carefully examining
it to ascertain if there were any holes from which these
little marauders might he likely to issue forth, but,
finding none, confined himself tothe guardian care of
Morpheus. As he was thus lying, midway between
sleep and consciousness, he heard something going pit-
pit-pit-pit upon the table, which closely approximated
to the head of the bedstead on which he was sleep-
ing. He listened more attentively, and observed very
softly to himself, "As I live, this house is beset with
those infernal mice, and there is one now gnawing at
something on the table." So saying, he slipped as
noiselessly out of bed as possible, and, feeling for his
boot, took hold of the toe part of it, and, the heel
upraised, very softly approached on tip-toe his in-
tended victim. When close enough to be in striking
distance, he again listened, and, to his delight, found
the noise still there; he then raised his arm, and, with
unerring precision, let fall the heel of his boot upon—
his own beautiful gold repeater, that he had placed
upon the table on going to bed, that had made the
noise, and which now lay smashed and destroyed.

EPISODE IN HIGH LIFE, (From Our Jeames's Sketch
Book, )—The Lady Kerosine de Colza : '1 cannot tell
you how pleased I am to meet you here, Dr. Blenkin-
sop, and especially to go down to dinner with you."
Dr. Blenkinsop (an eminent Physician, much pleased) :
"You flatter me, I'm sure, Lady Kerosine ! " Lady
Kerosine: "Oh, no! It's so nice to sit by somebody
who can tell you what to eat, driak, and avoid, you
know ! "—Punch.

THE 24TH REGIMENT.-It has been stated that the
iisaster at Isandula was the second occasion on which
the colours of the 24th Regiment have gone astray;
but it appears that the neighbourhood of the Cape
was disastrous to this Regiment long before the battle
of Chillianwallah csused the loss of one of the colours.
In 1810 the 24th Foot, after having served at the Cape
under Sir David Baird, was ordered to India, and
sailed from Simon's Bay in three vessels. Two of
these transports were captured en route by French
cruisers, and before the Ceylon (on which the head.
quarters of the Regiment were embarked) struck, the
Regimental Colours and all valuable documents were
thrown overboard to prevent their falling into the
hands of "the enemy." A gallant resistance was
made, and it was not until the captain of the ship and
the colonel of the Regiment were both wounded,
the masts and the sails shot away, and the hull of the
vessel so much damaged that she was making water at
the rate of three feet an hour, that she surrendered.
The 2nd Warwick Regiment appears to be under an
unlucky star.—Echo.

THE PLAGUE.—According to a telegram of the
Austro-Hungarian medical men from WetHanka,
there have for 40 days been no cases of the plague on
the right bank of the Volga (says the Correspondent
of The Times). The Russian Government, it asserts,
has taken energetic and proper measures against the
spreadieg of the epidemic. As far as the medical men
could hitherto ascertain, the first case of the plague
occurred on the 13th of October, 1878, in a woman
from Astrakhan, who died of the bubo plague on the
17th of October. Among her family and relations 25
persons living in seven farmhouses fell ill, of wh •m 20
died. The medical authorities declare the epidemic to
be undoubtedly the Asiatic plague. In the meantime,
the controversy between the medical men in St. Peters-
burg as to whether the illness of the peasant Prokojeff
was plague or not is still continued.
PROPER CAPE PAClTY.—Cavalry, it is announced,
is much wanted fur Kaffir warfare, on account of the
rugged character of the country in which military
operations are being carried on, Probably this is
way the 17th Lancers have been sent out. A crack regi.
ment is the very best thing for broken ground.—Judy,

DIME NECKLACES.—A craze for dime necklaces la-a;
broken out In America, and promises to be a greater
scourge than were the dreadful button-strings of tan
years ago. The dime necklace is built by levying
tribute upon one's friends. A young lady concludes
to possess one. She asks every soul that she can call
a friend to contribute a dime with his or her mono-
gram engraved upon it. After she collects twenty-
live or thirty monogramed dimes, she gets a jeweller
to string them together, and the necklace is an incon-
trovertible fact. As it costs fifty or seventy-five cents
to have each dime polished and engraved, the young
lady with necklace intentions is studiously avoided,

AN AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.—The Evening Standard
of Monday says :—" For audacity and hardihood the
manner in which an important robbery by a band of
aimed housebreakers has just been committed at a
farmhouse in the arrondissement of Sens, exceeds any-
thing of the kind lately heard of in France. The farm
de la Cour, situated at two kilombtres distance from
Pont-sur-Yonne, on tke one side, and Gesy and
Serbonnes on the other, was the theatre
selected by the bandits for their exploits. It is in-
habited by M. Ang6, a rich landed proprietor, who
a few days ago at nightfall sat down to dinner in
company with his family and two or three
guests. During the repast a band of robbers,
armed to the teeth, climbed the walls which
surround the dwelling, thus obtaining ingress to
the farmyard. A few moments later, the dinner
was unpleasantly interrupted by the shattering of
one of the dining-room windows and the whistling of
a bullet, which narrowly missed hitting Madame
Angd. Two or three fresh shots were fired by the
besiegers, so alarming the assembled guests that,
panic stricken, they took refuge in a body in one of
the upper rooms. The firing continued and increased
in vigour; the number of assailants was conjectured
to be considerable. The inhabitants of the farm were
unprovided with arms, with the exception of a single re-
volver belonging to a male domestic named Vint rag.
With this, however, the young man determined
to attempt resiBtance, but speedily found that
his solitary arm was powerless ogainst the attackers,
who summoned the besieged to surrender at the peril
of their lives. Having obtained access to the house,
the robbers set to work in quest of booty. For up•
-
wards of four hours the plunderers ransacked, rum-
maged, and pillaged, obtaining more than 50,000 f, in
gold or notes, besides other articles of more or less
value. When every drawer or cupboard had been
investigated, the bandits prepared to depart, pre-
viously, however, informing their unwilling hosts of
the fact, inviting them to resume the repast so
brusquely troubled, and assuring them that "the pro-
perty borrowed would be scrupulously restored on
their next visit to that neighbourhood." The local
police authorities, who were communicated with the
following morning, are on the alert.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN WATCHES.—Sir Henry
Jackson is bringing in a Bill the object of which is to
endeavour to prevent watches that have been manu-
factured abroad from being passed off as of British
manufacture. He proposes to enact that the corpora-
tions that are authorized to assay and mark gold and
silver plate shall not assay or mark any watch case
unless it has been manufactured in the United King-
dom. If the assayer has any doubt, he is, according
to the Bill, to require a statutory declaration that to
the knowledge of the declarant the case has been so
manufactured. The maximum penalty for making or
using a false declaration is fixed at two years' im-
prisonment, or a fine of £ll,O. The Bill also pro-
hibits, under a penalty of £5O, the sale of a gold or
silver watch case that has been assayed or marked in
the United Kingdom, if it contain " movements "
that have been manufactured wholly or in part out of
the United Kingdom, movements being defined as
every part of a watch except the case and the glass.
A GREAT Dzisi OF bNAKER.—In the extension of the
central branch road from Beleit to Cawker City,
Kansas, the line passes through the town of Glen
Elder. A short distance from Glen Elder, on the
Solomon River, is a steep and rocky bluff, about fifty-
five feet high, a large portion of which was blasted
away to make room for the road-bed. A few days ago
a blast of nitro-glycerine caps and giant powder tore
off a large part of the bluff, and down the declivity
came writhing and rolling a bunch of snakes almost as
large as a barrel. They were of different varieties,
up
killed
ll
theed
rattlesnakes predominating, with racers, adders,
garters, &c. When first routed from their warm bed they
were active and dangerous, but the severe cold soon
made them mh without
pa an rd n
a muchtsitvoele.
E
y h a r m
trouble,v
el er sys ,
boa
Irnads
tt
coveredhsine
ycwe
p e e
the first
batch appeared has bniight another huge bundle of
dumpyadthe e tli:y me
reptiles. Every hour a moving, writhing lump comes
rolling down the hills, only to separate at the foot, and
those that escape the labourer's pick and shovel crawl
off to get covered up in the dump. Thousands of snakes
have been unearthed and killed. Not one case of
snake bite has yet occurred, notwithstanding that it
is many times almost impossible to avoid stepping on
the serpents. Most of the snakes are as large round
as a man's wrist and about three or thre2-and-a-half
feet long. Farmers say that this is the regular winter
den of these venomous creatures, and that during the
auturcm snakes are seen headed in the direction of the
bliaffa, and the only way they can be turned from
their cottree is to kill them.


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