The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-02
Translated from the SPANISH
THE YELLOW SERPENT--DlSCo-
VERY OF THE GUACO PLANT.

place where that river empties into the Atlantic
Ocean.
Wandering BY chance many days in those
hot regions, the slave travelled with the uneasi-
ness and caution Of man who, in the midst OF
savannahs Astounding in poisonous reptiles, pc
lieves he might rest his foot, when least expect
ed, on the scaly body ola serpent. he exam'ns :
ed with much care every tree; each thicker -
brambes appeared to him as so many shelters ~,
wild beasts. wher. enemies, the color OF when
might be COMPOUNDED with the iollage' nay ~
ambush. ,,e ,non
Suddenly he paused he cast himself upon
the ground, and pressed the earth even 70 .ne
Joints Of his limbs. Without motion. relying
On the Indian fq-tree as the only defence, ne
awaited the result of what he saw Wi,hou'
the conyulsive trembling which agitaied his
body, any one would have believed thar ne was
dead. -, r. III ~.
He had just seen the most terrible Of an VI.
gions. II was not certainly monstrous amman
oone OF those colossal reptiles which, wnen
sleepinp on the BANS Of river, or IN the dense
woods. presents 10 the traveller the aspect OF lhe
trunk Of tree, thrown 10 the ground oy teh-
pest.
Neither did il possess the gigantic proper
,;ons which the European people SO much ad-
mire when they contemplate the skins stuffed
with straw Of some of the kings OF Ohio.
twas the Yellow Serpent.
Whoever has seen its littleness, and examin-
ed its thin body, could not believe that SO weak
reptile could kill partridge, although It's oite
will kill man in such manner that the wound,
he;no made. death ensues in less than three mi
nutes.
The slave knew il and trembled.
His immobility was complete. For the whole
American Empire he would not have dared to
raise his ewes He would have given ten years
If his life to have found himself far from such
friphtful enemy. Neither did the serpent move.
Raised up in his coil he overlooked the grass OF
the savannah, with his head dotted with spots
of the color Of ochre, Of yellow and orange; his
ewes, like velvet, and blue as the clouds OF that
region, sparkled, and appeared to emit sparkles
of fire like brilliant stone. He breathed the
air with righteousness, and offered, little by
little, every part of his body TO the burning rays
of the sun.
For man ignorant of the danger to stop in
the proximity of this reptile, it would be a real
pleasure to contemplate its delicateness, the ex-
preston of its eyes, and the grace of its move
ments. The serpent did not delay long in be-
ginning to leap, drawing in the air rapid circles,
producing weak sound like silk coming in con-
TACT with wall. The slave trembed more and
more, when he heard strange noise which he
believed came from the grass, which shook with
force. His imagination presented an entire
family OF serpents, ready to cast themselves up
on him Fear obliged him TO enlarge his sight.
What was his astonishment on seeing that the
serpent sustained terrible contest with bird
He then knew that his life was not threatened,
and blessed Heaven, in the sequel dsposing him
TO flee: when, seeing that the reptile had lost
the greater part of its vigor, he wished to be pre-
sent at the end Of that strange combat.
His post was not now dangerous, and curl
osity detained him.
The combat continued with ferocity. The
bird kept in constant motion his sharp talons, ant
wounded the serpent deeply with his pointed
beak.
ged itself through the grass, and divided the ali
In all directions, appealing to its whole force and
cunning, throwing himself toward the river te
avoid the blows Of his enemy. But the bird fol
lowed him in the air without stopping between
the grass, to the brink of the river and attacked
him each time with renewed rage.
Only now and then the bird granted the ser
pent kind of truce. 1t left the place Of com
bat covered with blood, and few with rapidty
to shrub near by. He picked some Of the
leaves, and swallowed with haste some pieces
of bark of the same tree, and returned to the at
tack with the greatest courage.
The slave observed all, and could not con
ceive how it was that the serpent was almos
his body covered with wounds. He asked him
self what species of bird was venomous enough
10 kill the yellow serpent: he was lost in con
lecture, and believed himself to be in dream
No doubt remained the serpent lay without
notion being dead. The bird also was cast
down-his wings hung down, and his respira.
ton was painful he made an effort, flew toward
the shrub, eat some Of the leaves with singular
shook his wings and returned to the
field Of battle; he rested short time the dead
body of the serpent, cleaning his bloody beak on
his plumes, and, causing the air to resound with
a shout of JOY, directed his flight toward-the
South.
1t was beautiful morning in autumn the
people hurried with much confusion to the pub
lie square. This was arranged in the same
manner that we see ours to-day at the bull bait
ings the multitude occupied all the steps and
seats. and military band executed popular
music before what might be called the steps oil
the Governor.
The Governor did not cause them to wal,
long. A profound silence reigned. A man APP
preached line, the centre of the square, push
ing with his hands cask, which he rolled to the
same place. This man also carried on his left
shoulder portmanteau. He was the mulatto
slave OF the Orinoco. He saluted the people,
opened the sack, and took out Colubar.
II was an innocent reptile, friend Of the
birds, and frequently met with in the walks and
wards. The people began to hiss, aud il was
only after much trouble that order was re -estab-
ished The slave threw away the Coubar with
isdain, and made gesture that he would ex-
plain the circumstance.
"This is an intrusive reptile, and was here
without my knowledge"
He turned to open his portmanteau, and drew
out black serpent, whose bite occasions cruel
,ains. without causing death. The public ex
pected something more they were not disap-
pointed. :.
The slave barred his left arm, and drew TO II
The head of the serpent, which Immediately
caused the blood TO How.