The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-04-10

ing this unfortunate colony had become SO
frequent aud so fatal that the Governor, Jose
Pinto Alcoferado de Azevedo SouZza deter
mined at length TO organize hunting parties
for the purpose of destroying, or al any rate
driving away, these dangerous reptiles
For this purpose he enlisted a number of
stout-hearted, energetic men, who were no
afraid of entering the gloomy forest by day
or by night, and making war on its dreadful
rulers Their weapons consisted of the for
midable criSk. whose undulating blade is
generally stepped in the yellowish gum of
The upas tree, and of short jagged arrows
that are placed in the shape of fan, on
their chest, and which the dart at the moH-
ster whenever they surprise him asleep
But so many of the hunters fell victims TO
the reptile that they at length gave up this
mode OF tack, for which condemned fell
ons were chiefly employed.
After these unsuccessful attempts, which
would have finished be depopulating the
island far more rapidly thar dYsentary or
the most pernicious levers, Don Jose Pinto
determined 10 set FIRE to the wood, even a,
the expense OF general con1asration
throughout the Island. Ye, however. adopt
ed every precanlion required under the
circumstances; and as soon as the 5uffa-
loes that were sent forward TO be sacrificed
TO the reptiles, had given token of the pres
ence of one or more of these monsters, he
caused quantity of trees 10 be ielled in
circle round the shot thus indicated. And
as the serpent remains in state of torpor
for some months after his repast, the coura
geous woodcutters had only 10 be on their
guard against those reptiles which had not
yet gorged themselves, but were not suffi-
cieniIy bold 10 attack troop of men ready
repellhem.
No sooner were the time honored trunks
felled 10 the ground together with the lux
uriant branches, so varied and so fantastic
IN their shapes, than whole armfuls of dry
leaves were cast into heap in the middle.
these were set on fire, and the fire was con-
linualIay fed by fresh fuel cast in from the
outer circle, and then through tbs fitful un-
dnlations of the Iambent flames the dreaded
boas might be seen writhing round and
round in the fiery circle, in their struggles
to escape from dealh then leaping al
bound to the topmosi branches of the trees,
and attempting Is clear the belt Of flames
that hedged them in-but in vain were
their eudeavors. They fell exhausted in
the midst of the furnace, and breathed their
last amid the most hideous contortions, ex
pressiye of the horrors OF go sgoniZing
death
Some of them, however, as Don Jose Pinto
assured me, conlrived TO leap beyond the
scene OF danger, rushed upon The intrepid
MaIays, several of whom forfeited their
lives before the reptiles could be snbdued.
But it is wten the boa comes forth from
the gloomy and silent forests, and scours
The plain to enjoy the light ard the sun
shina, that human life is in the greatest
jeopardy, even in the most securely closed
habitations. The boa constructors possesses
all the cunning and hypocrisy of the jackal
and the tiger he crawls along stealthily
through the fences, following all the sinu-
osities of the soil, so as not to make noise
by striking against any object that might
impede his passage. He stoops his head
beneath the leaves and branches OF the
shrubs, and then raises it up again with
due caution, having previously listened to
ascertain whether there nigh; be some easy
prey near at hand, after which he crawls
onward in the direction OF the spot he aims
at, when suddenly by a series Of rapid
bounds and evolutions, that can be comPar-
ed 10 nothing more aptly ;han The streamer
on the mainmas; OF vessel dallying with
the wind, he twists himself, now 10 the
right, now 10 the left, then turns backward,
and anon leaps forward as though he were
seized with a vertigo. But in this teyered
state the boa has marked his victim, aud
his greedy eye has al once 6iscerned which
animal will afford him the largest digestion.
Such of the natives of Timore as are em-
ployed on plantations open TO the incursions
OF he boa, have therefore devised the fol-
/ lowing stratagem: They tie up buffalo
with strong ropes 10 tree or rock, with
crenated openings, where they can en-
scouce themselves in safely, while they are
enabled to watch their enemy's hanover
ings. The boa now rushes upon lis victim,
and the Suppressed roar OF the buffalo
soon prociaims the reptiles triumph and
the feast that follows.
But il must not be imagined that when
the monster is impeIed by hunger he acts
in the cautious manner have described
just The contrary; al such times his bearing
is bold and decisive he towers proudly
above The tail heath, uttering kissing
sound like the moaning of the wind in a
tempest. and following as straight line as
an arrow shot out of bow by some prac
iiced hand. Then, oh then, woe to the