The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-04-25
WHAT l SAW ONE MORNING IN INDIA.

WAL NhW UNE MUkNlNG IN INDIA.
III the year 1896, | commanded a little
detachment Of navy infantry a, Condnpily
in the Northern Circars; the object of this
military occupation Of lonely and decay
ed town Being the protection of the ada
cent country from bands Of petty marau-
ders, who, in the absence Of richer booty,
made spoil Of the cattle and crops Of the ry-
OTIS, or agricultural population.
A long but sleepless night in March had
fcvered my blood, MS one morning, ere yet
single individual was stirring about our
quarters, stroled towards tho mountain.
gorge, and had stumbled alnios, 10 the top
nf the steep activity before the faint flush Of
dawn had reused the sentinel, whose cal!
nwokc tho solitary pair Of musicians Of our
party, n drummer and fifcr, to sound the
rcveilIe. In ten minutes more stood pant
ing on the summit of the rock, gazing
thrstily on the scene beneath me, where
Asiatic beauty winded slowly before me,
like glorious river, whose changeable
wnters the cyeiired not ofdrinking. had
10 fear Of thief or thug, for lute excur-
sion in the district behind me had assured
me safety; but nevertheless started vio.
lently when, from the branches of stately
peepul tree that grew close by, dark fig
ure, that seemed Of human proportions
Ieapcd with jbbering cry upon the
ground.
| had no great reason TO be alarmed, for |
saw not man bnt monkey-one Of those
long-legoed, brown monkeys with white
sireaked faces that abound amongst these
heights; aud which probnbly little less
stnr,ledflAp yself, recedcd as advanced,
jabberinaii dissatisfaction at my intrusion.
4, the fuot 4 hs peepul tree, throwing up
its rich white pedals, that shed around
sweet bui sickening odor, grew magnifi-
cent plant of the dasuro; and as stopped
to pluck it, a rustic in the underwood be-
You'd, followed By an acute, sharp scream,
which ascribed to nv friend the monkey,
arrested my hand. ] had judged correctly ];
but had underratcd the number Of my
early companions. With spring that
brough, il almost TO my feet, making me in
my turn retreat, the monkey lay moaning,
and MS ,hought violently convulsed among
the grass; nor did at the moment per-
ceiye wha, indeed discovered with de-
gree .of horror, tha. round its body was
twisted gorgcouslyspo.ted snake-,he
cobra di capello! wish ! could describe
the maddened con,or,ions Of the monkey, as,
wri,hing beneath the straining coils OF the
reptile, i, rolled on the grass in vain efforts
10 rid itself Of its deadly assaifant. The
pi,eous gaze OF its eyes, MS they wislfully
looked up into my face, was eloquent with
summons for help which ] was BY no
means inclined to resist. Whether the
snake had bitten il or not, could NOT guess,
for il seemed 10 me as If il were merely
playing with the animal-,hat fatal game
which the cat plays with tho mouse! But
shouted, and threw stone, and seizing a
wi,hered branch TINT lay on the ground, !
advanced TO the charge. The monkey,
which at another time would have fled at
nv approach, now remained perfectly
mn,ionless, as if il awaited certain succor.
But the serpent, aroused TO the cognizance
Of an assailant BY smart blow on tho head,
l0Sv0OIly tIlSIdtcu JkS 1IOIstu NtCSA sueo su"s
hood like form which renders il soappa'ling-
ly hidcoua, gave vent to loud hiss that
seemed brimful Of poison.
Again nnd again struck al it: nor was
i. wi,hou, cold thrill through my veins
that behold il disengage itself from the
monkey; but far from attempting to make
its escape, as had coniectured il would do,
il turned itself, half erect, towards me and
with futiering hobble-like tho hop Of .
bird whose wings have been broken-it
lenped, with forked tongue protrudsd, right
into my very path! There was no time for
thought. My stick was neither strong nor
long. could see tho venemous eyes burn
like fire, aud tho colors Of its swelling neck
glow more deeply, MS il prepared to spring
again; aud was fairly on tho point Of
making my retreat by plunging at all haz.
ards down the rock behind me, when a
shriII, chirruping cry, somewhat like that
of guinea-pig, was heard, and suddenly
an elegant little creature, which at the mo
ment was we'll nigh ready to spiritualise
into good genius, sprung upon 'i'e ser