The Arkansas advocate., 1831-06-08

ties into the Columbia from the Mort
 about 20 miles below the Wallameth.
 The soil of these rivers, not far frof I the mouth of the Columbia, lie represent tobe ofthe best quality espeeiaiiey yarouip the Wallameth. where the country isweI watered, as Capt D. learnt fromhunters and abounding with extensive forests 0 hard wood. There is also fine growtI of hard timber on the upper Columbia 1 These rivers aboundin salmon, sturgeon herring, and other fish: the season foI herring commences in February, and lol salmon in May. The natives are no numerous, but are very peaceable, D, no means like those at Nootka Sound &c. and Capt. D. at no time felt any apprehensions from them.
 Ihe Hunter and Rattlesnake.-On one Of my hunting excursions abroad on a fine morning-it was ust at this time lof the year-i was accompanied by mj wife. 1t was a beautifuimorning. Tiie sunshine was warm buf the atmosphere was perfectly clear, and fine breeze from tue Northwest shook the bright green leaves which now clothed to pro fusion the wreathing branches above us. had left my companion q short time in pursuit of game; and in climbing a rug l eed ledge of rocks interspersed with shrubs and dwarfish trees, was startled by aquick grating rattle. looked for ward. On tie edge of :. ieosefea rock lay q large ratllesnake, coiling himself, as if for the deadly spring. He was within few feet of me, and l paused for an instant to survey him. know not why, but ] stood still, and looked at the deadly serpent with a strange fecl- ing of curiosity. Suddenly he unWound his coil as fl relenting from his purpose of hostility, and raising his head, he fix ed his bright fiery eve directly upon my ] own. A chilling and ndescribable sen- sation totally different from any thing had ever before experienced, followed 1 this movement of the serpent; but stood still, and gazed steadily and ear 1 nestly, for at that moment there was a visible change in the reptile. His form seemed to grow larger and his coIors brighter. His body moved with a slow, aimostinperceptible rnotiontowardsne me, and a low hum of music came from him
 -or, at ieast, 1t sounded in my cara strange sweet melody, faint as that which rnelts from the throat of the humming bird. Then the tints.of his body deep- ened, changed and glowed, like the changes of beautiful kaleidoscope green, purple, gold, until I lost sight ol the serpent entirely, and saw only wild and curously woven circles of strange colors, quiyering around, like an atmos- phere of rainbows. Iseemed in the cen tre of great prison---a world of rnyste- rious colors-and the tints varied and darl>en and lighted up again around me-and the low music went on without ccasing. until my brain reeled sand fear, for the first time, came like shadow over me. The new sensation gained upon me rapidly, and could feel the cold sweat gushing from my brow. l had no certainty of danger in my mind mo definite idea of perii-aIl was vague and clouded, like the unaccount- able terrors of dream-and yet my limbs shook. and lancied I could feel the.hlood suffering with cold as it passed along my venis. ] would have given worlds to have been able 10 tear myself from the spot--l even attempted 10 do so, but the body obeyed not the impulse of the mind--not muscle stirred and stood still as if my foot had grown to the solid rock, with the internal music of the tempter in my ear, and .the balefuI colorings of his entertainment before me.
 Suddenly anew sound came OF my ear
 -itwas q human voice---but if seemed stange and awful. Again--agan--but stirred not; and then a white form plunged before me, ,and grasped my arm. The horrible spell was at once broken. The strange colors passed from before my vision. The Rattlesnake was coil ing at my feet with glowing eyes and unified iahgs, and my wife clinging in terror upon nc. The next instant the serpent threw himself upon us. My wife was the yictiml The fatal fangs pierced deeply into her hand and her scream of agony. as she staggered back
 ward from me, told me the dreadful truth.
 Then it was feeling of madnS.ss came upon me; and when ] saw the foul serpent stealing a..ay from his ,,orLa ~f death rpct taeo .{' Jes..xra.. I