Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-18
THE BOA CONSTRUCTOR.

w lately coriea an arncle from tne
Salem Cezette, which mentioned that
ih. skin of young serpent of the
species Of boa, six feet four inches in
length, had been deposited in the East
Indie Nuseum of that town. When
this repile arrives at its full growth, it
sometimes measures upwards Of thirty
fee. il length, and is said TO be a favor
lite .eod with the natives of some coun-
tries. Airing one sas lately exhibited
in London which measures about eigh-
teen feet Ia the narrative ofthe BFi-
fish fIigate Aleaste, by Mcleod, the
surgeon ofthat vessel, is an account of
aBoa Constructor of great interest.
Erening Post
This Boa was native of Borneo,
and had been sent 10 Batavia where
he was embarked. Gle was brought
= on board shut upin wooden crib or
cage, TIE bars OF which were sufficient
ly close 10 prevent bis escape, and it
bad sliding door, for the purpose OF
admitting the articles on which he was
to subsst; the dimensions OF the crib
were about four feet high, and about
five feet square, space sufficiently
large tosllow him to COL himself round
the cage, The live stock fqr his use
during the passage, consisting Of six
goats Of The ordinary size, were sent
with him or board, five being consider
ed as a fair allowance for as many
months. at an early period Of the
voyage We had HI exhibition of his
talent in the way Of eating, which was
publicly performed on the quarter
deck, upon which he was brought.
TIE sliding door being opened, one OF
the goats was thrust in s. the door OF the
cage SHOT The poor goat, as if in
stautly aware OF al the horrors OF its
per,lous situation, Immediately began
to utter the most piercing and distress
ing CRIES, butting instinctively. at the
same .irle, with. It's head towards the
t3serpent, in self defence. l~ ,s.+
"a'he snake, which ct first appear
ed scarcely to notice the poor animal,
soon began to stir little, and, turning
his head in the direction efthc goat, it
ut length fixed a deadly and maj grant
eye on the trembling victim, whose
agony and terror scanned to increase;
for previous to the snake sciZing its
pre-, ii shook in every limb, but still
continuing its unavaiing show Of at
tack, by butting al the serpent, who
nov became sufficiently animated to
prepare for the banquet. The first
operation was that OF darling out his
fsrkcd tongue, and at the same time
rearing little his head, then suddenly
sezing the goat by the fore leg with
his mouth, and throwing him down
he was encircIed in an instan, in his
horrid folds. So quick, indeed, and
so instantaneous was the act, that it
was impossible for the eye to follow
the rapid convoiution of his elongated
body. l. was not regular screw
like turn that was formed, hut rcsemb-
ling rather knot, one part ofthe body
OVERLAPPING the other, as If to add weight
to the muscular pressure, the more
effectually to crush his object. During
this time he continued to grasp with,
his mouth, though it appeared an IN
neceS sary precaution, that part OF The
aDimal winch he had first seized. The
poor goat. in the rrcan time, continu
ed il. feeble and half stiaed cries for
some minutes, but they soon became
more and more faint and at last it ex.
PRED The snake, however, retain.
ed it for consid,, able time in its grasp,
after it was apparently motionless. He
then began slowly and cautiously TO
untoli himself till the goat fell dea d
from his monstrous embrace, 0hen
he began 20 prepare himself for the
feast Placing his mouth in front OF
the head Of the dead animal, he com
menced oy luhvicafing with his saliva
that part Of tn goat; and then taking
its nuzzse into his mouth, which had .
and indeed Away has, the appearance
of a raw lacerated wound, be sucked
in, a. Ear as the horns would allow
These proguberapces opposed some
little difiicH'.y not SO much from their
extent as from their points; however,
they also. ia very short time, disap
peared; That IS 10 say externally, bu'
their progress Was still TO he trace
very distinctly or the cut side, threa
ten'ng every moment TO pToirude
through the skin. The victim hao