Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-06


The people legan 10 hiss, anl it only after mucl
trouble that order re.esiablished The slav
threw away the Couber with dsdau and made
] gesture that he would explain the circumstance
"1his is an instructive reptile, and was here with
out my knowledge"
He returned to open his portmanteau, and drew
out black serpent, whose bite occasions cruc
pains, without cau,ing death. The public cxpcc
| ted something more; they wcre not disappointed.
The slave barred his left arm, and drew to il the
head ofthc serpent, which Immediately caused the
blood to flow
The slave placed the por,manfcau which was full
Of lraves, upon the ground. He eat some of the
avci, and set Himself about continuing his cxposi
ton.
Nery soon they sav raised above his hcud vpfi
thc iaht of ~hich as,aundrd the multitude. The
ta,,c.--Ihe slave eXcit its rae by pressing its
neck with his finger; he applied ii to his right arm,
and showed 10 The spectators t,to deep wounds.
lie yet cked the principal the las. proof He
made a sign to the people, and they restrained their
applause.
Ia that moment the mula,,o had arrived at the
height ofhs exuit ton. The humble and dcspiscd
slave had just elevated himself hy the force of ene.
gy and bodness, TO point TO which no man had
dared aud by that act grined the ascendency over
that numerous people, who contemplated his looks
with ginus silence.
But the adm alton complete when that man
exposed 10 the sight of his spectators the terrible
yellow serpent Of he coast of Orinoco. He held
the reptile ty the bick of is head, in such man
ncr, that il cunld not wound him, until he was
convinced the people had recognized its nature.
lie exposed his breast, first Swallowing some of the
leaves of the portmant au; he rfitaled the reptile
which became furious. and bit him Immediately over
his heart.
a general shou, Of horror r,soundcd through the
whole square,
The slave smothered tie serpent between his
hlAd, and uanqu.lly went to scat himself upon
stone.
Toe exhibition was concluded.
One hour rpss,d--lwo hours-und the slave
lived.
They then asked lin his secret aud lie pointed
to the portmanlcau.
They wished 10 know in what manner he made
the discovery, aud then he opened The ca-k by the
same side, and drew out black serpent, and from
the other side bird whose wings were shortened.
The pc pie witnessed combat which the poor
nuatto learned to plain at The risk of his life, in
the savsnnahs OF Guyana.
The bird killed the serpent and fin shed by con-
suming the leaves of the portmaneau,
America from that time has one scourge less in
its vast plains and intcrminable woods.
The Governor approached the slave, and declared
him free, in the name of the people conceding the
title of citizen, and ASST ming him annual rent of
1900 dollars. And gave Tie shrub, whose miracu-
lous powers he had first Witnessed the name of the
bird which had reveal j it to the wolld--caliing i,
Guaco
The leaf of the Guaco Fl lures TO this day on all
the tables Of tha, country.
Many uaturali>ts inocuIte themselves with this
marvellous ant,dDte, the only means of preserving
themselves from the bites If the terrible reptiles
which iniest tha, part of America.