The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-10-03

Fl a PILE OF SERPENTs .--In tile sa-
gannahs Of 1zacubo, in Guianna, South
America, I,saw the most wonderful, the
mosttcrrific spectacle that atcanEbe seen;
and although it be not uncommon tosthe
inhabitants, no trayellerh has ever men
toned it. We were ten men on horse
back, two of whom took the lead, in or.
der to sound the passages; whilstI pre-
fcrred to skirt the great forest. One
of the blacks who formed the vanguard
returned at full galop, and calledto
me, "Here, sir, come and see serpcntsina
apple. He pointed out to me something
elevated in the middle ofthe sayannahs
or swamp, which appeared like a bondle
of arms. One of my company then &
said-.."this is certainly one of the as-
semblages of serpents, which heap them
selves On each other, after violent
tempcst;I have heard of these, bnt
have never seen any; let us proceed
cautiously and not go too near. When
we were within twenty PAGES of it, the
terror of our horses prevented our ap-s
proach, to which, however, none cf us
were inclined. On aasudden the py-
ramidal mass, became agitatcd; horrible
hissings issued from it, thousands Of
serpents rolled spirally on each other,
shot forth out Of the circle their hideons
heads, presenting their enYenomed
darts and fiery eyes but when saw
this formidable phalanx remain at its 2
post, and appeared to be more disposed
to defend itself than to attack us, | rode
round it in order to view its order of
battle, which faced the enemy on every
side. Ithen sought to find out what would
be the design Of this numerous assem-
blage; and / concluded that this species
serpents dreaded some colosseum Of
enemy which might be the great serpent,
or the caynean, and that they unite
themselves, after having seen this pow
erful enemy, in order to attack or resist
him en- ndsSe. I.
PooR PAY.-"What's the matter,
uncle Jcrry?' said Mr.. -, as old
Jeremiah K-was passing by, growl-
ing most fcrociously.
'sMatter?' said the old man; ssw6y,
I've been luggin' water all the mornin'
for DR.. C--'s wife to wash with; and
what dye suppose I got for it.
"About ninepence.'
':Nincpence! She told me the doc
tor would pull tooth for me sometime!'
John Foster said two very witty
things. On being told that the Emperor
Alexander was a pious man, he said,
'sYes, very pious; no doubt he said grace
bcforehe swallowed Poland" On being
shown some worsted work, in which red
was the predominant tint, ne said it was
the predominant tint, he said it was red
with the blood Of murdered time.
A gentleman was lately inquiring
for voting lady of his acquaintance.
''She is dead," very gravoly replied
the person to whom he addressed his (
inquiries. "Good God! Inever heard
Of it--what was her disease?" "Vani-
ty," returned the other; "sho buried
herself alive in the arms of an old fell
ow Of seventy, with q fortune, in order
10 have the satisfaction Of u giided
tomb
WORSE AND WORSE. Mr.. J. j.
Hooper, formerly connected with tho
Montgomery (Ala.) Journal, in re-
cent letter to that paper narrates the
anecdote as the latest case Of
greenness:-
A lawyer, who had become Son of
Temperance, carried into his Office q
newly vanished, brass-bound mahoga-
ny writing desk. One of the natives
it as it lay closed before him,
and then murmured, as if to himself,
Quit drinking and gone to gambling,
by thunder. Faro box, by Hokey, and
full of tools, no doubt! Worse and
worse!' 5:i
The New York papers tell q story
of q man who being taken veryill, was
told that nothing would save him but TO
drink quart of catnip tea,
srhen must die;" said the poor
man, 'for | don't hold but pint 8
ApvrcE.--Bc content rs long as your
mouth is full and your body warm---.re-
member tho poor, kiss the pretty girls,
don't rob your neighbor's hen roost,
never pick on editors pocket, not enter
tain an idea that he is going to treats
Kick dull care to the deuce, black
your own boots, shave with ice water,
and sew onyour buttons when they
burst off Of your whatye ALIENS. -
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