Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-08-02
The Bull and the Anaconda.


We find in an English magazine an accoun
by British officer. of an encounter between
wild bull and the immense serpent called An
aconda. Of which the writer says he was an
eye wilness In the first meeting the bull
thinking the snake an ugly custumer, can,ered
off and left him-,rampling down the scattered
fallen branches with tremendous crash. But
on sudden, still louder and rating rush
was heard among the palms, and with single
| spring the snake dar.ed down like thunder
clap, and twisted itself with her whole body
round the devoted bull. Before the animal
was ye, aware OF his danger, he already fel.
his dewlaps inclosed between The wide .expan-
ded jaws of The monster, and her teeth struck
into 1t deeply.--Roarng aloud he endeavored
10 flee and succeeding in dragging his tor
mentor. few yards with him !; but Instantly
she coiied herself around him 10 three or four
wide folds and drew these knots SO close to-
geiher that the entangled beast was incapable
of moving and remained as if roo,ed TO the
place, already struggling with the ,errors and
pangs of death. The noise of this exlraordi-
nary contest had been suficien, TO put the re-
naming wild cattle TO flight
Unequal as was the strife il was not over in
stan,y. The noble beast wanted not spirit to
defend himself, nor was his strength easily ex-
haus,ed. Now be rolled himself on the ground,
and endeavored TO crush the enemy with his
weight he swelled every nerve and exerted
the power Of every muscle to burst the feiiers
in which his limbs were enveloped he STAN
ped, be bit, he reared, he paved up the earth,
he foamed at the mouth, then dashed himself
on the ground with convusive struggles. But
every moment the Anaconda's teeth imprinted
on his flesh new wounds ; with every moment
she drew her folds tighter, ill after struggling
| for full quarter of an hour. at length saw
the poor animal stretched ou. at full length and
brealhless, totally deprived Of motion and life
| Now then expected TO see The Anaconda
crafty the hunger by which she had been so
| long iormented but | was ignorant that it is
not the custom of this animal 10 divide its prey,
but TO swallow it in one enormous morsel.-
| The size Of the murdered bull made this impos.
slble withou, much preparation and now
learned from the snakes proceedings, the ne.
cesslty which there was for her always re-
naming in the neighborhood of some large tree.
She again seized the bull with her teeth, and
dragged it to the foot of the palm. Here she
endeavored to place it upHgh, leaning against
the trunk Having effected this, she enveloped
I
fold, and continued 10 draw this closer ill she
had broken every individual bone in her VIC
Tins body into a thousand pieces, and had ac'
.ually reduced it into mass of flesh.
In due time the Anaconda had fully prepared
her victim for gorging, by covering the entire
carcass with her slime. The act of swallow
ing, however, was not accomplished without
violen. efforts full hour elapsed before she
had finished her dreadful NEAL al length The car
cass was entirely swallowed, and she stretched
herself ou, a, full length in the grass, with her
stomach distended 10 The most astonishing d.
mensions. Every trace of her former livei-
ness and activity had disappeared.
Her immoderate appetite had now yielded
her up, impoent and defenseless, prey even
TO the least formidable foe. did no. hesitate
TO discharge my musket at moderate distance.
The ball struck her close by her eye. She
felt herself wounded her body swelled with
spite and venom, and every stripe Of her varie-
gated skin shone with more brllian, and vivid
colors. But as to reyengng herself upon her
assaan', of that she was now totally incapable.
She made one vain atiemp. 10 regain her old
retreat among the boughs of the palm trees.
but sank down again upon The grass motionless
and helpless. The report of my musket was
the signal agreed upon TO give notice 10 The ex.
pectant crowd ,ha, they might approach with
ou, danger. Every one now rushed towards
he snake with loud shouting and clamorous of
Joy. We all at once attacked her, and she soon
4 expired under thousand blows. The carcass
oflhe snake was then Gu, up and divided among
the natives who had assisted in The slaughter
as the flesh of this enormous snake is there
looked upon as mos. delicious food.