The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-10
A Fight 8eswee. . Na..gee.e snA Csrb
CaPelle.

Being desiIOus of seeing combat be
tween snake and its inveterate enemy, the
mngooze ian animal similar TO the ichneu-
mon Of EgypD. requested the chamer
to exhibit fight of the kind He instant
ly consented (as every one Of these men
carry 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
lest any of the party might be injured by
the reptile, he proposed that the exhibition
should take place uder an enormous pleas
ant coop of worked wire, which was w.
ing unused in the courtyard This ar.
rangcment was acceded to, and, at our sug.
gestion. the snake first taken in the morn
ing was selected for the encounter. The
mouth Of the vessel in which he was en-.
closed was placed under the edge Of the
coop, and the covering suddenly Withdrawn.
In moment after, the corbra capello dar-
ted out. The kedgeree-spot was then taken
away, and the edges of the pleasantly let
down. During two or three minutes, the
monster poked his nose all round the en-.
closure, evidently wishing to escape; but
finding this impossible, he quietly cooled
himself up, freeing. however, his magnif-
cent head from the folds, and remained in a
sort OF listening attitude. Presently, the
man produced the mungooze, and let him
into his adversary. Never was more sur.
prised. This was the first time | had seen
one. | had expected to behold a some
what powerful opponent. Never could |
have iancied that so small an animal would
have dared to cope with serpents of the lar
gest and deadliest kind such however, was
the case. The little creature which now
smiled round the edge Of the coop was about
half as large again as an English rat, of a
notified colour, 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 lutte body to which
it was attached. For time the mungooze
ran about without going direct up TO the
snake, which, however, having perceived
its iomentor on its first entrance, had pre-
pared TO give him battle. Suddenly, the
tiny creature, which seemed to be little more
than single mouthful to its adversary. saw
the snake, and, without hesitation, ran up
to it. So apparently unequal a contest |
never beheld The cobra eapello had
reared itself, and spread out its hood-a sort
of aeshy cape it initiates when irritated, and
which has given rise TO its designation. The
marks round its eyes resembled a pair Of
spectacles 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 as it rushed towards its
mighty enemy, and bit it. The snake dar
ted at it, squeezed it, inflicted its dreadful
and then threw itself back. The
was evidently disabled. Faint,
and almost dying, it retreated. Many of
rs lancied the battle over, aud regretted the
end of the courageous little beast
After limping about for some time, and
even lying down with exhaustion, the nun.
yooze began to poke its nose on the grass.
What it swallowed none have ever been
able to trace. though large rewards have
been offered for the discovery. What the
herb is which the little animal partakes of,
none can tell. but certainly its effects are
for no sooner did the creature
mbibe the sought for antidote, than it sud.
lenly recovered its pristine strength, and
again attacked the serpent. This scene was
e-enacted no less than seven times; each
ime the cobra appearing weaker and wea-
,er, till it actually tired out. The mungooze
1t length succeeded in catching the mon
ter by the throat, and destroying it, to the
surprise and admiration of all present.
Ben,ley's Miscellany.