Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-08-09
NATURAL HISTORY.

NA CRAh lilo on1.
The Hing Snakc.-TIlere is large
species of spccklcd snake, commonly cal
led in tue southern states, the Hing Snake,
perhaps because he is the most formidable
enemy Of the rat:rcsuahc. 1t seems TO te
the chief object of his existence, to pursue
and destroy the latter, whose retreats and
presence is discoverablc by the cmmlsslon
of peculiar smell, resembling that of the
cucumber vine. The King snake, to all
other than reptiles, is the most harmless OF
creatures, you may strike him, he shows
no resentment, he misses not, he turns not,
nor does he exhibit any tcrro: nor sir
! gishness. Drawn by the smell Of cucum-
Lers, he frequently enters gardens, but his
appearance excites no alarm in any human
being that knows that he IS the King snake;
and on the contrary, women and children
will approach HIM, turn him about with z
stick, ard pldyfvlly annoy him, with impu.
ni:y; he is only j relentless enemy ofthe
ratIcsnake, who's; strength and venom
avail nothing against the activity and mode
of attack OF the King snake, vino is always
victor in every combat.
Yc ille ratilcsaake is terrible reptile
There is peculiarly truly appalling in the
sound of his ra:tlcs, being unlike the nolsc
Of any other creature; and when you hear
the first time. thctruc instinc; of nature I'M.
presses on your quailing heart that danger
and death arc near. Never shall forget
one horrii even o'my life! | was fishing
in southern lake, one summer cay, when
an unusual disposition of sleep came over
me. stuck the end Of my fishing rod in
the bank of the lake, and sought Il beautiful
place Of shade, formed by the interlacing
boughs of gigantic live oaks, and towering
magaol:as, pcrfun,ed by the delicate odour
of a beautiful wild orange, then in bloom,
which had sprung up iii laxur.ant grandeur
under the leafy canopy, the seed of which
had probably been dropped in this lonely
spo, by the Indian hunter Or the wandering
wild bird. At lis base, on carpet Of
green moss sprInklel over with its fallen
aud snowy bloom, | stretched myself in
luxurious langour for an hours rcposc. |
slept. When awoke, turned on my
side, and perceived some distance from me,
two brilan; oybS; and instantly trcmu.ous,
mingled sensation ofan indefnablc nature
came upon my faculties. Something OF an
instructive dictate Or impulse course!led
me to avert my looks; but then there was
such an absorbing, wishfdl delight in ga
Eng into eyes, tina, intcntly and meltlngly
gazed into mine, that even the trennulous
pulsasion of fear fixed my frame, and
remained so iacinated that | could see
nothing bu. the most beautiful co!ors. In
short, was totally los, so completely be.
wildercd with commiugled emotions, that
| couId not withdraw my gaz: nor even
move.
Suddenly, tie melting cycba!Is garcd
with sparks of frc--,hcre was q move.
mrn,-I was sill in 4 dreamy s.atc-tu!
still distinctly sap an enormous ratttesnake;
lying in his col, his tail quivering with
vibrating motion, Ills head erect and drawn
back, with the jaws ds;endcd, and the
angs barrcl-;ci!iin three feet Of uhere
Aw. lis gaze had been disturbed and
when heard the hateful rattle sing. tho
fuilconscioasaess of my dangerous stua-
ton arousci me-, and through all my frame
fe!. the cx:rcm ty OF terror; and just as |
was about obeying frenz cd impulse 10
rise and Ay-God of heaven! felt the
deadly reptile US thought, coiling around
my neck; | saw. part Of his body felt
the cold and Shiny skin upon my neck,
and the sh.Ycr OF horror wen; through
every joint and member Of my f:ame.-
Such feeling OF agony! NY cyeballs
were filled with scorching fire; my veins
were frozen; ali things became of blood
red huc-anI then Of q sck,y and loath.
some yerow;sh green. There arc moments
of existence, which involve the sensation
of years, and when the whole detail of a
thousand feelings scarcely occupy the brief
spacc of leisure thought. Nature could
endure no more, ana Lost all sense.
Atenglh | had the painful rlnslng sem
sation Of returning lie through my veins,
and when in full consciousness | arose
, from ;nc earth, saw near me, TRANQUILITY
and quietly, a living King snake, and fur
ther off, the lileless length ofa tremendous
Ratlesnake. l sat upon log and reaec-
ted; and am now satisfied that the King
snake had crcpt over my neck TO my res,
cue-thero being the live oak at my fee;
and the lake Immediately back of the or.
angc tree on whose massy root my head
had been plowed-so that his rearest
rou.etd the enemy was over my body. Bn
al.hauch mv F't'a was prcy;'cn'ia)'y pr1scc.