Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-12-13
GBe storp GelIer (.
A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.
AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA.


in Malabar coast, set cut one day, accompa-
MED by native, TO ascend high mountain,
in wilderness region. They had travelled
for some time through the jungles, when the
following singular adventure befel them.
We had accomplished nearly one-half the
ascent, and saw the immense wilderness
stretching away on every side below us, when
we we're stopped by ball of rock, rising per-
pendicularly, in many places to the height of
several hundred feet, and running across the
face of the mountain, to the right and left, un-
ill the eye lost its curve on either side. See
ing no way of passing over, under, or through
the obstacle, directed the native TO follow the
ledge short distance towards the left, in or
der TO find opening, while took the right.
l proceeded some distance and found a break
in the rock, through which thought we
might make our way 10 the top. 1t had been
formed apparently by some violent convulsions
of nature, which had separated the rock sever
al feet, and detached large fragments from the
top; these had fallen, and some of them TO
the bottom, but many had lodged in various
places. Trees had grown up in this opening,
and bushes had sprung from every crevice
along its sides, filling it up so completely that
only an occasional glimpse could be had of the
sky through the top, which appeared no wider
than ones hand.
While contemplating this singular arrange
ment, the native made his appearance; and
after atten,iveiy considering the opening, said
that he could make the ascent AT this mo-
ment, a sudden current of all, bursting through
The crevice, parted the bushes and disclosed to
US, little beyond, spot where the great
rock seemed no longer eAtire. We proceeded
along the passage which was nearly blocked
up by the trees and bushes, until we reached
this point and were convinced at once that the
ascent would not be difficult. The crevice
widened here, and it struck me in particular
that ii seemed no longer a rent, but natural
opening, which grew gradually wider as it
ran farther into the mountain, and the sides of
which were composed of earth and rocks of
various dimensions some projecting nearly
or quite across the fssure The side which
we proposed 10 ascend was not quite perpen-
dicular at this spot, and its broken appearance,
and the shrubs growing from it, made our
success apparently feasible. Impeled by Gu
riosity and desire to know more of this
singular opening, | determined to penetrate
farther into it, while my fellow traveller
tried the ascent. | proceeded some distance,
and noticed that the passage seemed to grow
no wider; but the vegetation became thinner
al every step. and al length ceased almost en-
tirely. Here, on looking up, saw thu iIp
crevice was closed some fifty feet above, and
before me was darkness, into which | dared
not penetrate.
While looking with a sort of horror into
this dark chasm, which seemed to lead direct
ly towards the heagt of the mountain, heard
a rustling sound proceeding from It's recess,
and started back, appalled, at the thoughts of
having entered perhaps the very den of The
fierce tiger or the dread lion. The noise was
repeated, and turning, retraced my steps as
silently and rapidly as possible. ] cast my
eyes up among the rocks to discover my COM
panon, but found l had passed the spot where
he commenced climbing. and as | turned
again TO go back, saw through the bushes an
enormous serpent gliding slowly towards me,
along that part of the passage which had
just traversed. He did not seem to be aware
of the presence of any foe or victim, but crept
along with his body half concealed among the
bushes, and his head close 10 the ground, un-
I'll arriving under the native, and probably
alarmed by some noise the latter made, he
then reared himself several feet from the
ground, and beholding the man above him,
gave loud and terrible hiss, and quick as
lightning coiled himself around the nearest
tree, and ascended to its first boughs This
sight parayzed every mental and physical fac
ulty possessed. / had no life in the horror
of gazing upon this frightfuI monster-a hor-
ror which was greatly increased by the peril
IN which it placed my companion. He mean
while heard the terrible kissing below him,
and became fully aware of the extent of his dan
ger. He had climbed forty or fifty feet per-
HdPs, anu was very nearly as nigh as the top
of the tree which the serpent was ascending in
pursuit of him.
For ten or fifteen feet above where he now
stood, the rock was perpendicular, and afford
ed no facilities for climbing, except its crew
ices and the bushes that grew from them. Up
he west, however, with incredible agility, un-
til within few feet of spo, where the wall
seemed TO jut back, forming a sort of she'll /:
here nothing appeared within his reach by
which he might raise himself higher, and for
a moment he paused. Above him, and quite
out of his reach, was a decayed root, which
did not look strong enough to sustain his
weight, and above that was a strong bush,
from which, if he could but grasp it, he felt
certain of being able to reach the shelf, where
he would have some chances of defending him
self, and he observed that the top of the great
opening was not far above this, although a
closer examination would have shown him his
present position, for the wall above the shelf,
and on either side, presented smooth, solid
front, without shrub or crevice He had
bat an instant to consider. He heard quick
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