Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-19
A Chapter on snakes.

/ entertain q deep~rOOteu uhtrcu ni1 ~ ~
routrollable dread, that object undoubtedly |
is a snake. and next TO q snake, any thing in |
the shape Of lizard, scorpion, toad, or
other reptiles nevertheless II seems TO have
been decreed that from my earliest infancy
inward, should be doomed 70 be exposed
10 perpetual encounters and adventures win
these loathsome creepers upon the eartn.
The frst clear, tangible object that liked IT
self upon my memory could nave pesn
very little more than two years old at the
lima Of the occurrence--was bideouB cobra
coiling itself under the pillow ofmy Indian
nurse, who slept on a mat on the foor, and
the frat word could distinctly articulate
was Wpspboop itamul-snakel with which
cry, and pointing with my finger, drew at
tentiou to the unwelcome intruder, and iortn-
with got him dispatched. Then long blank
intervenes reaching over nearly tnree wears
after which, my adventures may DC Termed
LEGION. The next incident relating to rep
tiles which can recall to mind, is connected
with nv brother, Bill--who was older than
myself-and a small white scorpion. Bill
had been trying TO unlock a large paddock
on the fowl-house, and being unsnccessful
poked his little finger into the key-hole, and
Immediately, to my. immense astonisnment
and amusement, performed most extraordl-
nary dance round the yard, accompanying
the same by the most hfdeous howls, contor;,
tions and grimaces. But | had no idea at
the moment, of course, that he had been
gtung by q venonnous reptile.
One very heavy monsoon, at Madras, when
the rain had swollen the river to such an
extent that it flooded the country tor miles
around, was standing in the billiard-room,
surveying the dreary aspect out OF the win
dows' when my attention was suddenly
arrested by the moribund groans OF frog,
and turning round, | saw huge snake under
the billiard-table in the very act of engorging
Il. Sliding in at the opposite door was Mrs
Cobra and her young family, driving before
them some wretched little frogs, which were
vainlv endeavoring to escape from their re-
lsntless pursuers. One bound on to the bill
liard-tabfe, and another off it, and into the
veranda. cleared me of my disagreeable
neiphbors; but, before nightfall that day,
twehty-seyen snakes of all descriptions and
sizes were killed in that billiard-room by the
servants. The waters rose so high that every
house in Madras suffered from perfect visi-
tation of reptiles, and not only reptiles, put
iackals and birds sought an asylum in the
homes of men, with bandicoots, rats,
scorpiops--in short, sufficient reptile material
to ft a very decent museum Of natural
history.
was sitting in travellers bungalow once
ot nlane called Gotagherry, between Ma
Jrss and the Malabar Coast, and my friend
was sitting near the door, 20 as to catch az
much daylight as possible, reading, some
work from the little library with which gov
srnment and private contributions furnish
those bungalows. Suddenly, l perceived
that large snake had coiled itself round tn
back of his chair, and was poking its heat
between his arm and his body, as thougl
seeking for some other hold. For moment
was paralyzed, and the next the snake hat
shifted its search, aud was rapidly collin
round the young officers neck. At the sam
instant, a servant made his appearance oppo
site the door, and got 30 frightened that p
fell to the ground in fsinting fit. NJ
friend was luckily man of immense nerv
and great presence of mind he saw at
glance that his only chance was to renal
as still as q statue; the slightest move woul
have alarmed the snake, aud then nothin
could have saved him. /, on my part, 50
motionless, with my heart frozen throug
and through. In very few seconds, tortt
nately, the servant and palkee-bearers r.
turned from the tops, where they had bee
having their curry and rice, and the noise {
their approach alarmed the snake then cole
round and round the body Of S--} SO mucl
that it unwrspped itself rapidly, and slid I
rapidly away to its hole s. tainted Il
stantly; he found himself safe, and my anx
ETY. had been 50 intense that felt i'll T
many days afterward. On relating this a
venture to Major W, whom we met
the very next station, he told us some Of
own serpent experiences.
~ command" said the Major, Hthe detae
ment of foot-artillery stationed in the fort
Masulpatam-a horrid place, as you kno
gentlemen, for any Christian to be quarter
Mrs. W was Just recovering from
we're illness, and, for the first time for ma
day, was able to join nne at the titfin-tat
Most fortunately, was ON garrison cou
martial that day, and had my sword hal
- ,tp hale ~ ha nhoir-haak 0nr IN
galow was tiled one, with no interveni
platform or other roof and suddenly tn
dropped upon the table between US an
mense cobra, who had been most lik
hunting for squirrels nests among the C
ical tiles. Raising its hooded head, 1
Kissing horribly, the reptile threatened ali
natey to dart at one or the other of us
venomed fangs protruding full inch.
for Mrs. W, she had fallen back in
chair perfectly unconscious; and never 70
second removing my eye from the snakeI
gradually unsheathed my sword, and 8
denly bounding aside at the same insti
severed its head from its body. II wa
hsir-breadth escape, | can assure you,
both of u.s." sl.e
Some time afterward, ] was residing
Chittoor, in North Arcot, and there WI
little detached store-house, or godoto,i, as t
are called, where kept my supply OF
and other Europesn Injuries: always J
the key of this place myself and one me
ing, as was my wont, wentin to get out 81
articles for the day. The door was the Q
place of ingress or egress, end the Sodo
which was matched with palm-les res co
not boast Of single window, darE ness DC
a requisite in those hot countries for
kind of store-house. What ! required 3
me to the very farther extremity Of the re
from the door, and was Just STOPPING dc
te select what wanted, when / hear
tremendous fop behind me, and thei
scufie. Turning round, saw q cobra M
rat having regular pitchedbattle. The &C
had been after the rats young ones, and
infuriated mother was thirsting for revel
Though much alarmed formy own safety
had no means of escape without pass
the cobra--I soon became intensely interel
in the combat. At first, the rat fought '
the greatest caution, hopping from sid
side with remarkable agility, and ayoit
the poisoned fangs of the cobra; at last, b
ever, the snake--which in the interval
received many severe bites--stung his ad
sary, and then the rat, apparently aware
its case was now hopeless, grew reckless,
closed in with its opponent. In less
two minutes, It succeeded in killing
snake, and then crawling aside upon s
straw, the victor died, apparently in
greatest agonies.
~ Hp e9la FL ~.