Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-10-30

river efnpties into the Atlantic ocesn.
Wandering by chance many days IN those hot II
gions, the slave travelled with the uneisinsss az
caution Of man who. in the midst of savannah
abounJing m poisonous reptiles, believes he m 81
rest his foot, when least expected, the Scaly bod
of serpent. lie examined with much care ever
tree; each thieket OF brambios appeared To him d
so many shelters for wild beast, where enemies, IN
color OF which might be COMPOUNDED with the foliage
lay IN ambush.
Suddenly he paused: he cast himself upon IN
ground, aud pressed the earth to tbs Joints q
his limbs. Without motl'n relying on an lndaI
fg-troc the only defence, he awaited the result O
what he saw. Without the convu.sivc trcmbu.
winch aCltated his body, any one would have DC
heved that he was dead.
He had Just seen the most terrible OF all the ser
pents, whose is yet found IN those regions. |
was not certainly a monstrous anmal-one OF Shos
colossal reptiles whisn, when sleeping on the bank
Of river, in the dense woods, presents TO III,
traveller the aspect OF the trunk OF tree, thrown
the ground by tempest.
Neither did 1t possess the gigantic proportion
which the European people 80 much admire when
they contemplate the skins stuffed with OF some
o the kings OF Ohio
/, was the yellow Serpent.
Whoever has seen its bitterness, and examined It's
thin body, could not bsl:eve that 50 weak epue
could k partridge, although IT'S bite will kill a mag
10 such manner that the wound being made, Gealh
ensues m less than three minutes
The slave knew II and trembled.
HIS ImmObilsIy Was comp etc For the whole
his eyes. he would have given ten wears of his NE
to have found himself far from such a frlshuul en-.
envy. Neither did the serpent move. RAISED up 10
his coil, he overlooked The grass Of the savannah,
with shesd dotted with spots Of the color OF OGRE,
OF yellow and orange his eyes like velvet, and blue
the clouds OF that region, sparked and appeared
20 emit sparhles OF FIRE ike a brilliant stone. be
brearhei The cir with vouptuousnesS, and offered
lle Oy ltle every part OF ms body 10 the burning
RVS OF the sun.
For man ignorant OF the danger TO stop IN the
proximity OF thus reptile, Il would be REQ. pleasure
u contemplate lis oelcateness, the expression OF us
eyes, and the grace OF rs movements. The serpent
did not delay long IN beginning 10 leap drawing IN
the AR rapid circles, producing weak sound Ike
silk coming in contract with wal. The slave
tremJled more and more, when he heard strange
noise which he believed came from the ggass which
shook with force. His Imagination presented an
en'ifc family Of serpen,s, ready to themselves
upon him. Fear obliged HIM 20 enlarge his SIGHT.
What was his aslonshmeut On seem: that the ser
pont sustained n terrible contest with bird He
then knew that his life was not threatened, and
blessed heaven IN the sequel disposing HIM 20 flee
when, seeing that the TCpue had lost the greater
part OF its vsor, he wished to be present at end
OF that strange combat.
HIS pos, was not now dangerous, and curious,y
detained H'm.
The combat continued with ferocity The bird
kept ~ constant notion his sharp taIons, and wound
cd tie sefpcn. deeply with mis- pointed beak.
The serpcr' BEN: much eIasperated, dragged
rections, upre- ~ 10 It's whole force and cunning
throwing h.msci JUw 'rds the river TO avoid the
blow ct his enemy But the bird followed him in
the air w.tLout sioppag between the grass, TO the
brink OF the rI,er, and attacked him each time with
renewed rsge
Only now and then the bird granted the serpent /
a kind OF truce. II left the place OF combat covered
with blood, and flew with rapidy 10 a shrub near /
by. He picked some OF the leaves, and swallowed /,
TN haste pieces Of the bark Of the same tree
nd "a q tsF
age.
The slave observed all and could not conceive !
how II that the serpent was almost dead, anC !
the bird full OF life IN spite Of having his body cover
ed with wounds lie asked himself when species
OF bird was venomous enough to kill the yellow ser
penl: he was lost IN conjecture, and believed himself
TO be IN n dream.
No boub, remained: the serpent lay wi,hou; mo-
ton, being, dead. The uItd also was cast down;
his wings hund down, and his respiration pain
iu; he made an fort, flew towards the shrub, eat
some OF the leaves with singular voracty, shook Us
wings and --'VrueG TO the h!d of 6attlr lac rested
short time on the dead body Of the serpent, Glen |
Jag his bloody Oeak his plumes and, causing the
ar 10 resound with shUOut OF JOY, directed his |
Il sht towards the South.
Some month afterwards a strange notice put the !
city OF Caracas it commoton.
IL was beautiful morning in autumn, the peo-
pie hurried win much confusion to The public square.
This was arranged IN the same manner that We
see ours today at the bullbatings; the multitude
occupied oil, the steps and seats, and a military
band executed popular music before what might be
called the stage OF the Governor.
The Governor did not cause them TO wait long
a profound silence reisnsd. \ man approached a
luc, the centre Of the square pushing with his |
hands n cask, which he rolled to the same place. |
THIS man likewise carried on his left shoulder |
portmanutau. lie was the mu.auo slave Of the |
OrinJco He sautcd the people, opened the sack, |
and took out ColUber.
j. was an innocent reptile friend Of tie birds, |
and frequently met with IN the walks and yards.
The people began 10 Mss and II was only after much
trouble that order was &c established. The slave /
threw away the Co.uber wish dIsdlin, and made /
gesture that lie would explain the circumstance.
"Th.s is an nsrusIyc reptile, aud Vas Ecsc with !
out my know edge"
lie turned to open his poumanteau, aud drew .
out black Serpent whose bite occasions cruel pains
without causing death. The pubic expected some.
thing more: they were no. disappointed.
The slave barred bis left arm, and drew TO IL the .
head Of lhe serpent, which Immediately caused TIE .
blood 70 flow.
TIE slave pissed the por,man,eau which was fol. .
Of lCaycs, upon the ground. lie cat some o. the .
leaves, and set himself about continuing his exPosi
ton.
Very soon they saw raised above his head a viper. /
the sight OF which nstoundei the multitude. III,
bic ri that ropus causes slow death, but inev.,s-
b'c.-Thc slave excited 10 ruge by pressing ..s
neck with his h"ser he applied II 70 his r=h, arm,
and showed 10 tie spectators two deep wOuuJg.
III yet lacked The principle, the lest proof lie I.
maic SIN 70 the people, and they restrained their
applause.
in ,hat momsn, the mulat'o had arrived 90 tho
heIgft OF his oEutatI0n. The humble and rc.Y.s-d .
slave he'd lust elevated himself by the force OF Crrr-
gy anu uO.lness, 70 point 20 which 10 mon had
dared: and ~ .Dat act gained tie asccn-cn-y O.lr
that numerous people, WHO contemplated his
looks with religions silence.
But the admiration vs5 complete when lh.' MN .
exposed 70 'ho sight Of bis spectators rhe ..tr1.a
We .uW serpent 81 the coast Of Drrlry. Die ..l