Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-05-10
Adventure with Serpent on the River
Amazon.

At early dawn our travellers. who had
passed the night in The cabin Of their balza
(boat, } p'erar>u TO move on their Journey
uuapo united ihe cable AMI drew ,he end
on board. The baza begun TO move slow
" at first. for the current under the bushes
was very slight. All AT once the at enton
OF the voyagcrs WAS called 10 the strange
conduct OF the pet monkey. That liijlc
crea, ure was runnln. to and fro, first up
on the roof Of the toido, then down again,
all tie while uttefing the most piercing
shrieks, as if something was biting oil its
tail IL was observed very frequently, to
look ioI ward and upward towards The branch
of the zamang, as if the object it dreaded
was in that quarter. The eyes of all were
suddenly bent in that direction. What was
their horror or bcholIing. stretched along
the branch. the hideous body of an enor-
nous serpent! Only part of it could be
seen; the hinder half and tail were hidden
among the bromclias and vines that hung
i'll huge masses clustered round the trunk
of the zamang. and the head was among
the leaflets Of the mimosa; bat what they
saw was enough 10 convince them that II
x
water boa'-the terrible anaconda!
The part of the body in sight was full as
thick as mans thigh, and covered with
black spots, or bioicheS, upon ground OF
dingy yellow 1t was Seen to 2lis&en rs the
animal moved; for the latter was in motion.
crawling along the branches outward The
next moment the head appeared under the
pendulous leaves; AMI it's long, forked
tongue, protrudina several inches from its
mouth, seemed to feel the air in front of it,
The tongue kept playing backwards and
forwards, and lis viscid covering glittered
under the sunbeam, adding 10 the hideous
appearance of the monster.
TO escape from passing within its reach
would be impossible. The baza was Gid
! ing directly under it, Itcould launch itself
aboard at will it could size upon any one
ofthe party without coming from the branch
1T could coil its body around them and
crush them with the constructing power of
its muscles. 1t could do all this; for it had
crushed before now, the tapir, the roebuck
perhaps even the jaguar himself. All on
board knew its dangerous powers too we'll;
and of course terror was visible in every
countenance.
Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo
laid hold of his r,azetts large bowie knife, }
Dona Isadore, Leon. and little Leone. were
sianding--ioriunately they were-by the
door of the toldo; aud ia obedience 10 the
cries and hurried gestures of Don Pablo
and the Indian. they rushed in and flung
themselves down. They had scarcely dis
appeared inside. when the forward part of
the balza. on which Don Pablo and Guapo
stood, came close TO the branch. AMI the
head of the serpent was on level with
their own. Both aimed their blows almost
at the same instant; but their footing was
unsteady; the boa drew back At the mo-
ment the current had carried them out of
reach, and they had no opportunity OF strik-
ing a second blow.
The moment they had passed. the hide
Gus head again dropped down. and hung
directly over. as if waiting. 1t was me-
mentof intense anxiety To Don Pablo. His
wife and chili Would it select one AS its
victim and leave The others. or
He had but little time for reflection. Al
ready the head Of the snake was within
three feet of the toldo door. lis eyes were
glaring: was a5ou: to dart down.
20 God. have mercvr' exclaimed Don.
Pablo. falling upon his knees. 20 Go'l"
Atthatmoment loul scream was heard
1t came from the toldo: AMI at the
same instant the monkey was seen leaping
out from The door. Along with the rest it
had takep shelter within; bat Just as the