Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-09-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the New-York Observer.
A FIGHT WITH AN ANACONDA SERPEN

From the New-York Observer.
A FIGHT WITH AN ANACONDA SERPENT.
The following account Of recent per-
iIous conflict Of a missionary in Bengal
with an Anaconda serpent, is from a let
ter Of the Rev. George Gogerly Of CAL
cutta, inserted in tire Chronicle ofthe Lon
don Missionary Society for July. We
understand that the skin Of the formidable
animal who was killed on this OCCASION
has been sent to London, and is now de-
posted in the museum of the London Mis-
s.onary Society, Bloomfeld-street, Fins
bury.
( For three successive years, in the
months of May and October Bengal was
visited with hurricanes from the S. Z.
which were attended with consequences
the most lanentable. The sea rose up.
wards of twenty feet above its usual level
the banks which c0nflne the rivers
Roopnarain and Dummodah gave way,
and the foundations which followed car
ried destruction through the whole of the
south, and southeastern parts Of Bengal.
| Upwards of twenty thousand lives were
lost, and the cattle, crops, houses, and
stores, were all vashedaway. The coun-
try being low plain, the tops of the hous
rs were crowded with the sufferers, whilst
the waters continuing to rise, Knocked all
the efforts made to escape, and the build
ings and the people fell and persisted to-
gether.
The inundation was so great that all
the animals of the forest were for a time
driven from their accustomed haunts, and
forced to seek security in trees or elevated
spots of ground. The serpent, whose
skin have sent was probably from this
cause, driven from the Soonderbunds, and
found its way to the Missionary station OF
Kristnapore, which is SITUATED on thenorth-
western edge Of those dreary forests. The
Master of the Mission school resided IN a
small native house adjoining the chapel
compound but on account of the effects
Of the inundation, which in a degree had
reached that omparatively elevated spot
did not sleep in his own house, but spread
his mat in the verandah of the chapel
Early the next morning, before it was
light, he went into his house to procure
some rice for his morning meal, and know
ing exactly where to find it, he extended
his arm toward the spot, and placed his
hand on large cold and slim body. Hor.
ror-struck, he instantly retreated, and call
ell loudly for help, declaring that some
mrito daiOk Jomt0o death giving animal, "
had taken possession of his house. Lights
having been procured, the serpent was
discovered coiIed up and fast asleep
; With long bamboos the people soon dis,
turbed it's slumbers, and inflicted a severe
wound on the under side of its body
Erecting itself, and rapidly darling for
ward, it dispersed its adversaries and
though many attacks were made, it kept
possession ofthe house for a considerable
time. At length, rope with a moose
was thrown in, and caught the animal by
the neck, when it was dragged forth, and
fastened to a tree 1t being the day on
which | usually visited the village, accom-
panied by brother L., | repaired to the
place, and found the serpent considerably
injured by the blows it had received. I'M
agining that it was nearly dead we loosen.
ed the moose, and dragged the creature
= into the middle of the compound, where
for little while we left it, whilst we went
into the chapel, to make arrangements for
the services Of the day, when to our sur
prise, by the cries of the people, we found
that it was making its escape Hasten
ing, to the spot, we observed that it had
worked its body partly through the moose,
and was on y prevented from entirely eff
: fecting its purpose, by the rope entering
the wound on the under side of its BODY,
before alluded to- Mr. L. Immediately
seized the rope, and frightened the moose,
which, irritating the animal, it reared its
body, and with widely extended jaws
darted at our brother in a most trightful
manner. Mr. L. however, by his activi-
,, ty, eluded the attacks Of the animal and
though pursued round the compound
kept possession of the rope, until another
moose was thrown over its head and the
re-captured animal was hung up on one
Of the pillars which support the roof O
the chapel, and was there killed. 1t was
apparent y young serpent, and not more
than half the size to which it would have
attained in a few years. 1t was eighteen
feet long and twenty-five inches in cir
conference. 1t could have swallowed q
a kid or child with great ease,
, Executions an London. 1t is stated as