Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-08-10

y. Of which the following account may
give the reader somh iced. He had, like
me entertained the eesIfe Of Observing the
particular way Of shese terrible reptiles,
kept 10 . cage, ndsucceeded 10 furnish
ing himself with four Of them Of various
sizes For lear Of some accident on &C
count OF the negligence oil his negroes ne
had placed The cage which enclosed item
10 cspacious room. which be made bis
bed-chamber,-A negro was selected 10
feed and attend them. twas nv friehd's
custom, on his return home, To take a
glance at his animals, 70 assure himself
Iof their being properly fed and their cage
door being well shut. One night, baking
came home very late and tired, he heg-
lected this precsu,ion AID went to bea.
The weather was very hSt and. notxfith.
Standing bis state offaiigue, several hours
glided away without his obtaining ANY
sleep. He suddenly heard lighg Slid.
iug noise on the floor along the wall Of
the apartment. which LEFT off very soon,
and be ceased to give any more atten,iou
to the circumstance. After some Emo-
menls, the same noise revived and be
then cautiously looked out Of bed ID aEcer-
tain what might be the cause.of il. The
moonlight. shining full into the room, be
observed the largest OF the snakesf The
bad eighteen raules) roaming free dong
the door. | leave the reaber to imagine
what were his Impressions At this uhex.
pected sight What was he TO do in
this case A loaded gun h as hanging al
the extremity oi the room How TO
reachit was the question. Farther was
this the only one out of The cage Of were
all the others, TOO, at liberty? Theewhole
oiAhe servants were asleep. He resolved
to wait for the morning but fist took
the precaution of slowly and carefully
drawing 40 his musquetto Curtains around
the bed; afterwards he sal down and pa.
,ienily watched the issue. The animal
continued to make. some undulAlory
movements through the room; aFler which
the Doctor heard him approach The bed
and at last all became silent.
Al daylight, be beard the steps Of
servant who was omingsaccording 10 his
custom TO perform bis morning duty.
Inc doctor cried out TO him not 10 open
the door. but To go Tor an old Africa d ne.
gro, named Isaac, who was known 70 ap.
proach these reptiles without fear. 1 The
latter arrived, entered ,eonfdentlyE and
saw The snake rolled up under the bed.
The three others had temained ID the
cage, although the door was open-his
first care was to shut it. NY friend in.
sisted on bis shooting the snake. Isaac
refused, and declared himself able 10
seize the animal without the least fear Of
being bitten by him. Ia effect. be ad
vanced 70 the bed, whistling soGly with
his lips, pronouncing some wordsIin Eng.
llsh in caressing lone, and thenl after
some minutes, he ventured 10 pass his
hand over the back Of the snake. all The
time trying TO soothe him. Afterwards lift
ing him gently BY the head, while be
continued TO whistle. talk and sooihe, bin,
ne induced the animal TO place himself on
his arms and body 1.-The snake let the
negro thus carry hin5through the cham.
Der, without betraying either fright, or
any offensive emotion. 4 The Doctor asked
Isaac to replace the reptile in the cage
"Oh master, this is impossible says he
"if ] attempt it, the snake would be an
cry aud bite me-look." Indeed scarcely
did Isaac stop and lean towards the. cage,
before the animal began TO move briskly
and sound the rattle. =
Isaac immediately got up, began again
his soothing caresses, and the aRirnsl fell
calm. He then asked for strong sheet;
! by degrees be accustomed the snake 10
the view Of this object, and then passed
one end Of the edges out between bis arm
and the animals body, continuing bis
wheedIing and walking about all|ihe lime.
As soon as he was certain that BIZ could
10 moment envelope the animal in the
sheet, be rapidly threw itsround him, and
thus was the snake mastered. Ali that
remained now 10 be done vas ID reinstaie
him in cage, Of which the door " as We.
ry small comparatively with the mass
which formed the animalso wrbpp ped no.
Isaac displayed the same dexlerii9 in. IN
rolling the sheet thai be had done before
in all his interesting maneuyrss. He
succeeded, BY series Of quick and skilfol
movements. in getting him back to his
old quarters. without receiving the slight
est injury. shut the cage. and thus my
friends unpleasant affair terminated. The
negro, however. said, If similar affair
happened again with the sane snake. he
could never venture 10 approachlhim for
fear Of being bitten. because be- had in
this manner deceived him.
These facts are'of updoubied authenti
city, since | had them from ihe mouth
OF my friend. Butt confess that do
no, know how 10 comprehend ihf perfect
security of the old African and still less
perhaps the sagaciiy which be attributed
10 the snake. To De able 10 establish the
fact necessary 10 found any serious discus
sion on this subject. ii would be necessa-
~ 10 Try the same manGuvfes employed
by the negro, . observe their effect, and
afterwards attempt an explanhlion Of
them. This1s hazard which Iscertaina
Nv do not choose 10 risk.
There is an allribnie peculiar 10 The
hog, in relation 10 The Tatllss1ake. the
mention (which will not. trust, prove
entireIy embarrassing 10 the reader On
his approach. the latter seems. terrified
and tries 10 escape But the gf4rseT puF-
SUES. SEXES and devoufs hinsIwith the
most absolute indifference a bis rattle
and fangs. II il be SOW. afcPmpan'ed
1 BY litter Of youngs ones, she even o.
-. a. erect fha 1iiilh soueak