The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-01

gNUTWTIng "
they begged and entraat9d me to let them go for
gun, and bring more force, as they were sure the
snake would Kill some Of us.
"Taking, however, cutIass from one of the
negroes, and then ranging both the sable slaves
behind me, ! told them to follow me, and that |
would cut them down if they offered to fly When
we got up to the place, the serpent had stirred
but could see nothing of his head, and Judged by
the folds Of his body that it must be at the farlhest
eide Of his dem A species Of wOOdbne had formed
a complete mantle over the branches of the fallen
tree, almost impervOus to rain or the rays of the
sun. Probably he had resOrted to this sequesered
place for length of time, as it bore marks of an
ancient settlement.
" now took my knife, determining to cut away
the woodbne, and break the tWigs in the gentlest
manner possible, till could get view Of his head.
One negro stood guard close behind me with the
lance, and near him the other with a Cullass. The
cutass which had taken from the first negro was
on the ground close by me m case OF need. After
working in deHd SlSeRce for a quarter of an hour,
with one knee all the time on the ground, | had
cleared away enough to see his head. II appeared
coming out betwiXt the first and second coil Of his
body, and was fiat on the ground. This was the
very position wished it 10 be in.
" rose in silence, and reiterated very slowly,
making sign to the negroes to do the same. The
dog was sitting at a distance in mute Observance.
could now read in the face of the negroes, that
they considered this very unpleasant affair." and
they made another attempt to persuade me to let
manner, and made a ieint to cut them down with
the weapon had in my hand. This was all the
answer | made to their request, and they looked
very uneasy.
" 1t must be observed that we were about twenty
yards from the snakes dem ! now ranged the ne
grOes behind me, and told him who stood next to
me to lay hold Of the lance the moment struck the
snake, and that the other must attend my move
ments. 1t now only remained TO take their cutiasSes
from them; for | was sure il did not disarm them
IAY hA tod -TFI Ike he Ep
of danger, and thus forever spoil his skin. On TAX
ing their cutlasses from them, il might judge from
their physiOgnomy they seemed 10 consider ii as
most lntOlerabe act oil tyranny. Probably nothing
kept them from boiling but the consolation that |
was to be betwiIt them and The snake Indeed, my
own heart in spite Of all | could do, beat quicker
than usual
We went slowly on in silence, without moving
our arms or eads in order to prevent al. alarm az
much possible, lest the snake should glide oil, r
attack us in selfdefsnCe. | carried the lance per
pendiculary before me, with the point about foot
| from the ground The snake had not moved and
on getting up to him, struck him with the lance
on the near side Just behind the neck, and pinned
him to the ground. That moment the negro next
to seized the lance and held it firm in its place,
while dashed head foremost into the den 10 Crap
pie with the snake, and to get hold Of his tale bs-
| fore he could do any mischief.
On pnning him to the ground with the lance,
he gave tremendous Ioud hiss, and the little dog
| ran away, bowling as he went We had sharp
fray in the den, the rotten sticks flying all sides
| and each party struggling for superiority called
out to the second negro 10 thro" himself upon me-
/ as found | not heavy enough He did co.
/ and the additional weight was of great service.
had now got firm hold Of his tail and after a VIC,
| lent struggle or two, lie gave in, finding himself
| UverpOwered. This was the moment TO secure him
So while the first negro continued to hold the lance
firm to the ground, and the other was helping me
| conrived to unlOOse my braces, and with then
! tied up the snakes mouth.
"The snak5 now finding himself in an uupleas
ant situation, tried to better himself aud set reso
luteIy :, work: but we overpowered him. W,
contrived 10 make him twist himself round the
| shaft Of the lance, and then prepared 10 convey
him out OF the forest stood at his head, and hell
II firm under my arm, one negro supporting the bel
| ly, and the other the tail Ia this order we begaI
| to move slowly towards home, and reached IL atle
| resting ten times for the snake too heavy 70
us to support without stopping TO recruit on
strength. As we proc eeded EDWARDS with him, h
| fought hard for freedom, but il all in vain
| We united the mouth of the bag, kept HIM dow
| by main force, and then cut his throat.
| The week following a curious conflict too
| place near the spot where / had captured the larg
| snake. In the morning had been following ney
SPECIES Of parOquet, and the day being rainy, ha
taken ali umbrella to keep the gun dry, and ha
left it under a tree; in the afternoon ! took Dadd
Quash lthe negro with me to look fOrit. Willis
he was searching about, curiosity took me toward
| the place Of the late scene Of action. There wa
| a path where timber had formerly been dragge
along. Here | observed young coulacanara, lie
feet long, slowly moving onwards; and | saw h
was not thick enough to break my arm, in case
got twisted round it, There was not a moment t
he lost laid hold Of his tail with the left hanl
one knee being on the ground with the right
took off my hat, and held it as you would hold
shield for Defence
1.-The snake Instantly turned, and came on
me with his head about yard from the ground, a
if to ask Inc what business had to take llbertie
with his tail. let Inn come, kissing and opeI
mouhed, within two feet Of my face, and thel
with all the force | was master of, drove my ifs
shielded by my hat, full in his Jaws He Wi
stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere
could recover himself, had seized his throat Wi
both hands, in such position that he could IL
bite me- | then.aIIowed him to coil himself rour
my body, and marched off with hun my lawf
prize. lie pressed me hard, but notalarmingIy so