New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-08-18
A Settlers Holiday.
AN ADVENTURE IN KAFFIRLAND.

4 had tried many phases of life, but none answered
efhaps the secret Of my tsuccess discovered by
une Of Iay neghbors, who remarked that was
Jack fall.trades, and master OF none" However
Wight be, grew poorer and poorer, until nothing
5serned left of me but emigration. The Cape of Good
Eps Mt this time offered great advantages 70 settlers
70 sh,ther / went. Government bestowed upon me
what WAS styled beautiful farm but found it a
acssly wilderness, on which the hand Of civilized man
had left no trace. Here, then, was abundant scope
5z ry particular talents and by their digent exer-
sac, aided by the service OF few Hottentots soon
socyeeded In erecting house. and bringing under
ssisiyation fields and gardens Sheep and oxen was
ss,npelled to purchase but obtained sufficient
bsrs Of them to dot my hillsides with their snowy
edes and dapped hides and at the end Of two years
Asas down. well pleased to rest from my mntifarious
hotSs beneath the shade of the vines and fgtrees,
which we're already beginning to spread abroad their
srus.
During all this time, / had never enjoyed whole
holiday, and my haifones had been few and far
ng settlers asked me to join hunting party in the
N5s of the neutral territory, accepted their inVi-
snsion with the delight OF boy. AS my farm was
nesrest to the frontier, my companions joined me
sleye the night before and as soon as it was light
NE started of for the place Of meeting, some thirty
smles distant
Away we cantered through green bowery lanes.
perfumed wthhe starry blossoms OF the jasmine, and
sgoW with the clusters of the scarlet geranlum and
,be towering laurel. On we dashed through little
asawling rivers, and walked our horses up deep,
rpeky gorges, where hundreds OF monkeys leaped
from ledge to ledge, moving and chatterlng at us as
passed. and uttering shril cries Of anger as they
Nnt down upon US whole showers of stones and
branches, until at length we reached the wide rolling
1rniie.
We had achieved about two thirds of our journey,
when we entered on district chequered with clumps
u trees beneath whose shade the grass waved long
md luxuriantly, and thicky studded with flowers
Among them was one new to me-a sort OF chande-
Her lilly, of immense size and snowy whiteness-and
dtofo tn PrOmlS
ing therefore, to overtake my companions, hastily
Asmounted, and throwing the bride over my horses
head, to insure his standing, and laying my rifle on
the ground, began to dig for my prize. While l
was thus bnsily scraping away the EARTH my eye
tracted by slight agitation Of the grass near
me, which did not exactly the effects OF wind
even as | looked, strange wavy motion became dis
ainetly visible. The next moment with sudden
pying an enormous snake rose up before me- glaring
81 me with fiery eyes and hooded CREST its open jaws
1Ehtng that low yet terrific hiss, which, once heard
"a never forgotten, and which appeared to agitate
every one of the sparkling coils into which he had
1sa1n bis immense length.
I was still on my knees, and for moments or min
utes / know not which-for they appeared to me
aours-the snake and remained motionless, gazing
sD each other my very heart seemed to stand STILL
asmy eye rested in horrible fascination on his hideous
beauty. Ny blood curdled, and deadly GOODNESS
shot through every limb, as if were paralyzed and
shout to yield myself resistless to my fate Suddenly
fpl sense of my danger burst upon me, and utter.
ing a wild cry, which seemed to appal even my
= Fearful foe, sprang to my feet, and rushed mady
pses the plain.
That cry of terror soon brought back my com
psnions but ere they reached me there was second
shriek Of fear and terror combined it from my
poor horse, whom, on approaching nearer, we found
struggling on the ground with the huge shiny coils
of the snake wreathed round his neck and fore
iegs. The next moment three bullets were lodged IL
the body of the cobra da capeo, quickly followed by
hbree more and with all haste my poor steed was
Reved from the remains Of his terrible enemy.
Bot there was deep bite in the unfortunate ami
Eals lip; and even while we were bringing hin
water from neighboring pond, and endeavoring tt
sid and soothe him, the venom began to spreat
ahsongh his system and he rolled and writhcd II
death throes that were fearful to witness stood By
70 sorrowful silence, watching life thus ebblng pain
snsy away from my patient and faithful servant, wit
Ind so often borne me through darkness, storm, hea
zDd WEAKNESS, and now dying the death had mysel
30 narrowly escaped. shuddered as watched !.
n1ogs, and they added deep fervor to the gratitud
With which thanked Providence for preserving m
from such doom.
At length it was over; my good horse had nttere
his last moan, and his suferings were at end but
Fit his death a mournul episode, that dashed IN
pleasure of my HOLIDAY, and had it been in my powe
would at once have returned home. But my friend
wpnld not hear of it, and remembering that ther
were now but two horses between three, and that
EOnla not very well appropriate one to my own use
agreed to proceed, being sure at the place of meetin
81 finding remount.
Before we again started, my companions resolve
10 measure tne SHAKE, anu accordingly began sretci
ing him out to his full length. While they WEI
sbas employed q low, hollow groan became faintl
ssn6ible. The recent occurrence had so shaken OF
nerves, that we started back in alarm, as if W
siought another snake had found another victim
ays there was nothing to be seen. The next momer
N second groan foated by us, this time evidentl
Ssued from a thicket of brushwood close at hand.
sapposing some wounded animal had there sougt
ihelteT, we instituted q wary search, lest our a.
xsaintance should begin with his teeth or claw
NooBd and round we probed the leaves with OF
rises, but without success, until one of my compal
inns, kneeling down, and looking among the root
uatered cry of triumph, as, lifting the branche
hs brought to light the large, muscular form OF
wretch appeared to be, with the blood flowing froI
nm assegaiblow in his side, and broad bruise IN b
bad, apparently inflicted by knobkerrie. We {
nnee set to work to bind up his wounds, and to
Tempt his resuscitation and as soon as the sufert
xns sufficiently revived began to question him. in