Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-12-01
From Bentlcy's Magazine.
COMBAT BETWEEN A MUNGOOZEA AND
COBRA COPELLA
a SCENE IN INDIA.

Being DESTROYS of seeing a combat between a
snake and its inveterate enemy, the munpooze,
Gan animal similar to the ichnumon of Egypt.)
requested the charmer to exhibit a fight of the
kind. He instantly consented, (as one of those
men carries not only Snakes but mungooZes with
them,) and led us out into the compound, the field
attached TO almost every house in cantonments
Having expressed our fears least any in the party
might be injured by the reptile, he proposed that
the exhibition should take place under an cnor-
nous pheasant coop of worked wire, which was
lying unused in the court yard This arrangement
was acccded to, and, at our suggestion, the snake
hTsi taken In the morning, was selected for the
encounter. The mouth OF the vessel in which he
was enclosed was placed under the edge of the
coop and the cover suddenly Withdrawal. in
moment after, the cobra copeila daried out. The
kedyeree pot was then taken away, and the edpes
OF The pleasantly let down. During two or
three minutes the monster poked his nose all a.
round the enclosure, evidently wishing 10 escape,
out, hndins this impossible, he quietly cooled him
sell up, freeing, however, his magnificent head
from the folds, ana remained in sort of listening
attitude.
Presently the man produced the muncoo2e, and
let hun III to his adversary. Never was | more
surprised. This was the first time had seen
one had expected TO behold hat pow
erful opponent. Never could have fancied thai
so small an animal would have dared to cope
with serrents Of the largest and deadlest kind
such, however, was the case. The little or. at,,re
"hici, now shifted round the edge of the coop,
was about half as large again as an English rat.
OF notified color, with small red ewes, and
would have been very ugly animal, had il not
oeen 'ot MS 'ai'' winch wds long and bushy, in
circumference near the centre, almost as LARGE as
'he l'tlie body TO which ii was attached
Eut uhe Tie Wungooze ran about without 90.
ing uifecty up to the snake, which, however ha-
Ving perceived its tormenter ON its FIRST entrance
had prepared TO give him battle Suddenly .he
tlnV which
than single mouthful to its adversary, saw The
snake, and, without hcsita,ing ran at him. TIE
cobra coPella had reared itself and spread Ont it's
hood, sort OF flesby cape it initiates when irrta.
mu, and which has given rise 10 lis designation
lhe mark round its eyes resenbled pair of
spectacles. Its marble stained scales seemed all
alive, as II raised itself some three feet hioh to
meet the attack of the little savage, whose ferv
eyes seemed suddenly TO glow like red hot Gin
ders, as 1t rushed toward its mighty enemy and
bit 1t. ~
he snake darted at it, squeezed il, inflicted its
Dreadful wound, and then threw itself back The
muhgooze was evidently disabled. Faint and al
most dying, 1t retreaied Many of us lapcied the
battle over, and regretted the untimely end of the
courageous little beast. After iimplng about for
some time, and even lying down with exhaustion,
the hungooze began to poke its nose on the grass
what IL swallowed none have ever been able To
trace, though large rewards have been offered for
the discovery W hat the herb is which this little
animal Pariokes of, none can tell, but certainly
us eH"cts are miraculous, for 10 sooner did the
creature Hubble the sought for antidoie, than IL
suddenly recovered its pristine strength, and ~
gain atisekrd the serpent. This scene was IT.
enacted NJ IeSs than seven times, each time the
COBRA SPp-affog Weahsr and weaker, till actually
ufed Gus fhs mUngocze at length Succeeded in
ca'cning saA mcnster By the :hroat and DESTROYED
"' l" '''s '''Pfi-s and admiration Of al! present.