The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-24

aloud. and soon proclaimed, that tIIo{r
faithful war-chief had indeed returned,
Olibwa was landed amid The wilde1t
shouts Of joy and wonder; and related
wlia. had happened since they LEFT him.
|
Combat heiween rho saungooxe ana CeAra
Being DESTROYS Of seeing combat be.
tween snake and its invelerate enemy.
(,he Mnngooze,) l requested the charmer
to exhibit fight OF the kind. He Instantly
consented (as one of these men carries not
only snakes, but Mungoozes with thcml
and led us out in the compound--,he field
attached to almost every house in canton-
ments. Having expressed our fears lest
any in the party nigh, be Injured by the
reptile. he proposed that the exhibition
should take place under an enormous
pheasant coopof worked wire, which was
lying unused in the court yard This
arrangement was arceded to, and at our
suggestion, The snake first 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 tho
coop, and the cover suddenly withdrawn.
In moment after the Cobra Capclla das.
ted out. The kedgeree pot was then IA.
ken away, and the edges of the pheasan-
try let down. During two or three mi
mites the monster poked his nose all 4
round the enclosure, evidently wishing 10
escape; but finding this impossible, he
quietly coled himselfup, freeing however.
his magnificent head from the folds, and
remaded in sort of listening attitude.
Presently the man produced The Nun.
gooze, and let him in 10 his adversary.---
Never was ] more surprised. This was
the first time had seen one. had ex-
pected to behold some what powerful
Never could | have fa..cied
that so small an animal would have dared
to cope with serpents Of the largcs. and
deadllest kind; such, however, was the
case. The little creature which now
shifted round the edge Of the coop was
about half as large again as an English
rat. of mottled color, with small red
eyes. and would have been very ugly
animal had il not been for its tail, which
was long and bushy. in circumference
near the centre. almost as large as the lii.
tic body 10 which it was attached. For :
time the Mungooze ran about without go
ing direct up TO the snake, which how.
ever, having perceived its tormentor on
It's first entrance. had prepared to give him
battle. Suddenly. the tiny creature.
which seemed 10 be not more than single
to its adversary, saw the snake,
and without hesitation ran at him. So
unequal contest never be-
held. The Cobra Capella had reared IL
self and spread out its hood, a sort Of
heshy cape it initiates when rritated. and
which has given rise 10 its designation.
The marks round his eyes resembled a
pair Of spectaces. Its marble stained
scales seemed all alive, as it raised itself
some three feet high to meet the attack Of
the little savage whose fiery eyes seemed
suddenly TO glow like red hot cinders, az
il rushed toward his mighty enemy, and
bit it.
The snake dartcd at II, SOU eezcd Il, in
ilcted its dreadl'al wound, and then threw
itsefback. The Mungoozc was evidently
disabled. Many of us fancled the baltic
over, and regretted the lntmely end Of
the courageous little beast. After limping
about for some time and even lying down
with exhaustion, the Mungooze began 10
poke his nose on the grass. What il
swallowed, none have ever been able to
trace, though largo rewards have been
offered for the discovery. VIVA, the herb
is which this little animal partakes Of,
none can tell, but certainly its effects are
for no sooner did the crea-
ture mhibe the sought for an,idote. than il
suddenly recovered its pristine strength
and again attacked the serpent. This
scene was enacted no less than seven
times each time The Cobra appearing
weaker and weaker. I'LL actually tired out.
The Mungooze al length succeeded in
catching the monster by the throat, and
destroying it, to the surprise and admira-
ton of all present. Bentley, for august,
Pins The factory for The manufac.
ture of Pins at Stafford, Connec.icnt. ID
said to be the only one Of tho kind in lhis