Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-04-28
M L S C.E L L A N Y.
From The London Missionary Herald of March.
FIERY FLYING SERPENT.

In the early part OF 1888, a native chief
f Limo Manis, in the vicinity of sPadang,
famed Tam Basar, in company with !
mother person, mentioned to Mrs. A. F.
and myself. that they had
ust before seen a serpent flying, and, as j,
was considered dangerous, had killed it.
We smiled at them as romancing, but
hey affirmed positively that they had |
SCENT fly, and offered to take US TO il.
We accordingly went and examined it,
and finding no appendage ofthe nature Of
wings. we again laughed at them, as at
to impose on our credulity.
They, however, continued positive ttat
they had seen it fly, and explained the
mode of flying, by saying it had power to
render the under part ofthe belly concave,
instead Of convex, as far as the ribs ex-
tended, whence it derived its support in
the air, whilst It's propulsion was produc-
ed by motion of the body, similar to that
of swimming in water. We, however,
continued incredulous, and took no farther
notice OF The circumstance.
10 January, 1884, | was walking with
Mr., P. Rogers in forest near the river
Padang Bessie. about mile from the spot
where the above was killed, when, stop
ping for moment to admire an immense
tree, covered as with garment of creep
ers. beheld a serpent fly from it, at the
height of fifty or sixty feet above the
ground, and alighl upon another at the
distance of forty or fiftv fathoms. Its We
locity was RAPID as a bird, its motion that
of serpent swimming through water; il
had no appearance OF wings. LIS course
was that of direct line, with an inclina.
tion of ten or fifteen degrees to the hori-
zon. I.appeared to betthree or four feet
long The one killed by the native chief
was about the same length, was ofsiendor
proportions, dark colored back, light be-
low, and was not Characterised by any Pc
culiarity which would make it renarka.
BILE 10 stranger.
i Thus was convinced of the existence
of flying serpen,s; and, on inquiry,
found some of the natives. accustomed to
the forests, aware of the fact Those &C.
1.quainted with the serpent, cal il, I" Ular
ttampang hari," or, Ular apie," (the fiery
serpent, J from the burning pain, and NOR.
/ tai effect Of its bite. So that the fiery lV.
ing serpent Of the Scriptures was not an
imaginary creature. though it appears now
extinct in the regions il formerly inhabi,
tied.
have delayed the present notice, in
hope Of obtaining a specimen, which
|couid offer as more convincing proof
THAN my bare assertion. but further delay
may possibly, with some, weaken even
this testimony on point which appear:
\ to have been long disputed, and which
has not been credited by any ofthe Dutch
| gentlemen employed in collecting speci
mems ofthe natural history of these parts
TO whom have mentioned it. | learr
from the natives, however, that this i.
not the only species that flies. There !:
one called "Ular Tadung,' with rec
head, and not exceeding two feet long
seen sometimes about cocoa-nut trees
whose bite is instantly mortal. and which
has the power Of flying or rather leapins
a distance of twenty fathoms, for it Is de
seribed as not having the waving motion
Though the air of the one saw.
i Nm WxRD.
I Padang, West-coast. Sunatra.
II
/ TRIES are losing their value, as dem
j ocratic principles areconstantly advancing
Small minds retain a fondness for them
but men of real eminence hold them j,
contempt. They are the relics Of mon
larchical governments. They are equal,
/ opposed 10 every principle of democ rae
and christianity and we apprebend il vii
( not be many years before the Rec. andth
Hon. will be stricken from the names ola
i christian and truly honorable names, an
& become obsolete Even now, they ar
). getting fast into disuse. The Rec. is littl
} else than corruption OF Rabbi! and tn
! Hon IS not applied 10 men of HONORABLE
: lame. Who would speak or write. Ho,
f George Washington Of Hon. Mr.. Je,
Jsrson, or Hon, Benjamin FrGakli,
: rather Than Washington, Jefferson. Frank
: I'm Or who would tack the Hon. t
!. the name Of john Quincy Adams? "
o never do. We love to see tie name sim
!. out naked on its own merits. aud ars !
!. ways careful not 10 disgrace Il bv Il
d playihing Of one syllable . Lynn Resorl
kzstSa
The WoRLDs EsTlMATIoN OF
; WoRTHV MAN.-He had never comm;
ted any excess-never gambled or incu
q red debi-or fallen into the warm erro
i most common with his sex. He was
! good husband acarefni father--an agre