Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-08-05

the room after which the Doctor heard him
approach the bed, and at last all became silent.
We shall see, in the end, that he had come 10
place himself precisely under the bed, had
rolled himself up, and from that moment NOV.
ed no more. My object here is not TO talk Of
The feelings which kept my friend awake all
the night
At day light, he heard the steps Of servan,
who was coming according to his custom TO
perform his morning duty. The Doctor cried
out TO him not to open the door, but to 60 for
an old African negro, named Isaac. who was
known 10 approach these reptiles without fear.
The latter arrived, entered confidently, and. as
we said before, saw the snake rolled up under
the bed. The three others had remained in
the cage, although the door wac open-his first
care was to shut it. My friend insisted on
his shooting the snake. Isaac refused, and
declared himself able TO seize the animal. With
out the least fear of being bitten by him. In
effect he advanced to the bed, whistling softly
with his lips. pronouncing some words in
English in a caressiDg tone, and then, after
some minutes. he ven,ured to pass his hand
over the back Of the snake, all the time trying
to sooth him. Afterwards, lifting him gently
by the head, whit he continued to whistle,
talk and sooth him, he induced the animal 10
place himself On his arm and body. The snake
let the negro carry him thus through the cham
Der, without belraying either fright, or any Of
fensive emotion. The Doctor asked Isaac 10
replace the reptile in his cage-"oh MASTER
this is impossible" said he; "if a.,emp, it,
the snake would be angry and bite me-look."
Indeed, scarcely did Isaac stop and lean TO-
wards the cage, before the animal began to
move briskly and sound bis rattle. Isaac i'm.
mediately got up, began again his soothing ca
resses, and the animal fell calm. He then
asked for a strong sheet; by degrees accus-
toned the snake to the view Of this object,
and then passed one end Of the edging of if be-
tween his arm and the animals body, cou,in.
ung his wheeding and walking about all the
time. As soon as he was certain that he
could in moment. Envelope the animal in the
sheet, he rapidly threw il around him, and
thus was the snake mastered. All that re.
manned now TO be done was to reinstate him
in his cage; of which the door was very
small comparatively with the mass which
formed the animal SO wrapped up. Isaac dis
played the same dexterity in unroIing the sheet
that he had done before in all his interesting
maneuvres. He succeeded, by q series Of
quick and skillful movements, in getting him
back TO his old qaarters, without receiving the
slightest injury, shut the cage. and thus my
friends unpleasant, affair terminated. The ne.
gro, however. said. il a similar affair happened
again with the Same snake, he could never
venture TO approach him for fear of being Bit
ten, because he had in this manner deceived
| him.
These facts are of undoubted authenticity,
since had them from the mouth of my friend.
But confess that do not know how to COM
prehepd the perfect security Of the old African
and still less perhaps the sagacity which he
attributed to the snake. To be able 10 estab-
lish the fact necessary to found any serious
discussion on this subject, it would be neces-
sary 10 try the same maDeuvres employed by
the negro, TO observe their effects, and AFTER
wards attempt an explanation Of them. This
is hazard which certainly do not choose to
risk.
| Theirs is an attribute peculiar 20 the hog, in
relation to the ratllesnake, the mention of which
will not, trust, prove entirely embarrassing
to the reader. On his approach, the latter
seems terrified and tries to escape. But the
grunier pursues, seizes. and devours him with
the most absolute indifference Of his rattle and
his fangs. If II be q sow, accompanied by
litter of young ones. she even divides the prey
amongst the little squeakers. II is also usual
in certain localities where those reptiles a.
bound, to drive forward hog fastened 10
leash to remove them from the places TO be
visited. The Doctor questioned the negro il
he had about him something belonging TO this
animal, or other substance equally eficacious
in in,mida.ing or appeasing the snake. Isaac
directly replied that he did no, employ any
other means than the caresses which he had
witnessed.
I will close these remarks with the relation
Of another adventure, which threatened in its
effects, perhaps to be still more terrible. A
hunter Of my acquaintance, used to amuse
himself whenever he met some fine specimen
Of the raltlesnake with endeavoring 10 catch
him. This he was enabled 10 do by means OF
a long stick cleft at the cad, with which he
was accustomed TO seize him by the back Of
the head.
/ One day, as he was posted a, some distance
! from his friends, watching for bis game (deer)
he perceivet one Of these rcpIilesi he seized
him 10 the above mentioned manner, and then,
after having firmly placed his fingers behind
its head, he diverted himself by opening his
mouth 10 order TO examine his teeth and fangs.
In the meantime the snake. quite unobserved
By my friend. who was entirely absorbed IN
his inspection Of the creatures head, had
twisted his body in numerous folds round his
arm. Little BY lille he was conscious Of
slight pressure, accompanied By an alarming
numbness 10 this member. He Immediately
endeavored to disengage his arm. but a, the
same time the pressure and numbness kept
aogmen,ing-he by degrees felt with horror
tina, his fingers were losing all power Of re-
tanning their hold. At last The head Of the an
tmal began to slip away. gradually drawing