Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-30
A FEARFUL ADVENTURE.

different to what they are now there
were not nearly so many Caffrrs in the
country, and there was no white men
except our own party. Game was in
plenty and many monster which has
now sought more secnre retreats, was
then 20 be seen in the neighborhood
of the bay. built myself beehive
shaped hut, like one of the Caffre>, on
the open ground near the Umbilo, and
cultivated little Piece of ground near
j.. / had lived about thFSe weeks ia
this place, when my Iloitentot Plache
came one day TO me in great fright.
and told me that he had seen ''the big
gest snake that ever was : that it had
crossed the Umbilo river, and had en-
tered some long reeds about mile and
half from my hut. lie said that the
snakes head was on the land on one side
ofthe Umbilo. Now, this river is not
very broad but il what the man told
me was true the snake must have been
over thirty feet in length. | knew that
species of hoa constructor was 10 be found
here, for had shot one sixteen feet long
as was coming from the old colony to
the hay.
/ did not trouble myself to look after
the snake, for there was large swamp
with long reeds extending for more than
mile along the banks Of this river, with
cover enough to conceal five hundred
snakes. About a month after Plache'
interview with the boa, there fell vast
quantity Of rain, and the river rose and
flooded the whole Of this swamp. The
nearest piece Of dry land to the river wa.
the little rising ground on which my huI
stood. One evening, during the time
that the food was ont, | came back from
shooting Just as the sun was setting.
had shot a great buck which had fount
out in the open ground. behind the Brre5
Bush. PIache was with me-. and lef
him and Caffre to bring in the buck
whilst returned home, alone. TO prcpar,
u fire, and get ready the cooking pots.
I noticed that the water was very higI
and had not lett more than a hundrrt
yards clear round my hut, which was
however, still some ten or twelve f.,.
above the level Of tie food. / place,
) my gun outside, against the hut, an
crawled into the doorway Of the kraa
You must know that the only light lha
enters these buildings Is by the doorwa,
; 50 when blocked up this, the only aper
F ture, the interior was rather dark.
: knew that my flint and steel box wer
! stuck up in the thatch of the roof, an
= these could use to obtain light. in cas-
= the embers were not smoldering ia Il,
r centre OF the hut, where | usually kept
( fire.
/ could not see a sign of a spar
= amongst the ashes, when I fir-t entrre
the hut; and a the evening was eln.in
in, thou lit / might have difficulty
. making a fire. a. the dew was 50 heav
that all the wood became damp, even Il
side the hut; 50 lay down, and Bile
: amongst the white wood ashes, to try AZ
} rouse flame.
g Whilst was thus occupied, ] fancie
that / heard something move among
: the blankets that lay by the side Of u
i hut. / looked at the spot. and ther
s to my astonishment, saw a gigantic snal
l. which appeared nearly as round as IT
= body. The animal was coiled 4
e amongst my brdting bat had about fhr'
y feet, head and neck, stretched out AZ
pointed at me-its forkrd tongue no
r, and again shooting out some inch or tv
ID from its mouth. The instant that "a
b the monster, Jumped on 10 my iret Al
= looked round for weapon, bot thrre "
d not one at hand. Ny gun ! had plaer
outside; my large knife, | had lelt vi
Plache. to enable bin to cot the bur
N and, in fact, was unar'ned. A cn
y shudder came over me when realiz
Is the state Of affairs the dooF Of the b
Il vas only two feet high. afri 10 eseaF
i, therefor. must crasi out, aud I f
II c,rtain that # / I-soopsd down, the snaI
a would instantly dart a. me.
I. / WAS not At ali aware shat pos
n these snakes might possess believe
ID monster like this would make short 80
=, Of me-. might tight aad struggle, 4
!" unarlned, shat eauid | DO. IIoa u
stood lookiag a. llae snake, D. &
q know, bot is eoali no; have bern ma
- seconds, although The time apqeaFsd mi
10 aies suddenly | remembered that q
is CafFrr hal, fsrs days bssiore. asked !
10 allow han % fstssasf an A4sa8ai sm