Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-04-13
FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH A SNAKE.

by A BRITISH OFFICER.
T | have had some experience in snake-life, and
have. here and there, related anecdotes about
them which have had no adornment from the
colorings of fancy, but have never described
my first reptilian neutrality-suspicious. because of
were not highly creditable to me as q young
soldier. Nevertheless, wise men will tell you
that he who may chance to run away from a
toad, shall yet fearlessly face foe 1t has ney-
er been my fortune to I" chat with mummics in
pyrimid, OF breakfast on basilisk's eggs" but
| have, notwithstanding, had my share of strange
hazards and may reckon amongst them that
which brought me ris-a-uis with Cobra di Ca
pello,-not in the Geological gardens of any
country-not in any menagerie, letid, foul, and
unwholescme-not in the hands and cowed by
the prowess of a juggler, but in his native woods
and natural strength Of venom. I mean to
make clean breast of it, by truthfully relating
those somewhat Objectionable antecedents to
which | have alluded the boy-ensign of 1918 is
now an old veteran, whose dormant blushes
are not to bo aroused by "reminiscences of short
comings that belonged to ignorance.
had been just one year in India, and thus
emancipatcd from the swaddling bands and
goose-step of Grifinhood, felt that it was high
time for me to mount the steed in pursuit of the
wild hog, charge an elephant in sugar planta-
ton after a tiger or, at any rate, fash my vir-
gin spear at an antelope hunt There was no
more warlike manner of showing my prowess
for, just at that period, the Pindaree war was
breathing its last, and the regiment to which
was attached was snugly stationed near Madras,
where the dull monotony of drills, parades, and
guard-mountings, was unbroken, save by an
occasional spree at Black Town, a ride to st.
Thomas Mount to an artillery ball, or drive to
st. Thome to firt with any pretty Portuguese
girl who had beauty sufficient to attract atten-
tion, or good nature enough to encourage it.
Oh these drcary days ut hot, sckly, ugly Ve-
perry Oh those still wearier nights at Fort
st. George, where duty compelled the custodi-
an of the Wallanh-gatc guard to count the
tardy hours to full-fg-that is to say, in COM
pletc military dress, coat buttoned up to the
chin, stock high and stiff enough to cause spu-
rious bronchitis, belt and sash and gorget, and
sword also The heat of those guard rooms
bomb proofed and airless, was terrific; and the
mosquitoes that swarmed, even by daylight
were really appalling to oil INITIATED and sweet
blooded new comers am convinced that they
have repeatedly bit me, not only through my
boots, but through my breastplate!
AT last, joyful day we received orders te
march to Bangalore, 200 miles up country, and
we had reached the Giants, above whose mag
uifcent ridges we were welcomed bya coole,
and more salubrious climate, ere had any op
portunity of trying my secondhand Mantou
purchased at public out-cry or auction, befor
left the Presidency. A day of halt came, an,
after an early breakfast set forth for gooe
days sport, accompanied by Halse, an elderl,
subaltern of celebrated experience, not only q
4 a shot but as jolly comrade. The jungle nea
our encampment at the village of Cooloor, wa
said to abound in game, but we did not find th
ground answer our expectations cannot sa,
much for my own success; it 50 happened tha
| could never manage to kill, or even woun,
! what | aimed at. The hares (and there wsr