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

Inc gloomy tOFeSt IN winch Wltuc>SSu
what an about 10 relate is situated a,
shot distance from the town of Dielky. in
The East India Island of Timore.
on small plot of ground where stands a
group of about fifty buildings of most fans
tastie shapes, each surrounded by lis own
enclosures. live and die a few slckly Esro-
peans and number of Malays who black
en- their teeth with beiel, areka, and lime,
Here they live, aud near them-so Eear in.
deed hat he can reach them al a single
hound-iives the terrible boa constructor,
who only deyours myriads OF insects when
he happens not to have pouhced upon a
buffalo in his rapid flight.
The buffalo is the boa's natural food-
The momen, he has seized upon an animal
Of this description, he drags him toward
one of The sturdy giants of the forest, eniolds
him, squeezes him, and stiles him, in
spite of his sharp horns, his frightful bei-
lowing and his sturdy shoulders; then COW
ers him with slime, his rough tongue SEEM
ing at once TO caress and inject his victim
the kneads his body, he stretches it out and
posnds his bones, and when these hiaious
preparations are completed, and his rep
Tile instinct Iells him that his victim is in a
state 10 be devoured, ne lets it fall, and
placing himseI: al full length opposite the
lifeless bufaloe's head, opeas his jaws, the
elasticity oil which almost beyond c:edence
---lill his rings creak as they draw nearer
each other, and then draws long breath,
,shen the quadraped is sucked in by seri-
es Of jerks, and ne sooner is lis body half
engHlied shan the ,voracions boa grows
calm, ieels dfowsy, and at length falls
asleep as if wearied By struggle that has
exhausted his strength.
IT the boa was alone before he attacked
buffalo, and if his female is asleep al some
distance from him, you may then approach
in fui confidence, Tor you have nothing TO
lear from his strength, his slime, nor his
open jaws that are yawning like some vast
iurnace. have said that he is asleep, but
il would be more correct to say dead, for he
is as inseasible as the trunk of tree
There is no glory as you may perceive
in killing the boa in the state of torpor in
which he is thrown at the beginning of his
Ioathsome repast, but as no one thinks of
glory in The daily war waged against this
hidious reptile, the best plan is 10 take him
in the midst of his feast, and for several
men 10 kneel down from his head TO the
middle OF his body, as if before some vener-
ated idol, and then to place poisoned ar
row on string made of the entraiis of fish,
and. al given signal, TO let hy simultane-
ously a. this crawling Luculus, who is
struck by death in the midst of his feast.
Hunting boa is far more 2eriIons, and,
for my part, should thousand time pre-
fer attacking tiger or huagery lion in the
desert, than the dreaded boa eonstricior in
forest Bullets are infectual against him
for how were il possible 10 direct them
with sure aim in the midst of his rapid
undulaiion, as the hickering of fame -
Besides, where is your enemy7 You fancy
you hear him rustling under your feet, when
10 /! he is hanging by the last rings of his
tail 10 some high branch, swinging to and
fro ready to can upon you, and crush you
10 atoms as be wonld buffalo. Iimay be,
as there is no sting 10 be feared. that you
may have sufficient presence Of mind TO di-
vide The reptiles body with your sword !;
l,u,, for my part. should give myself up as
l.,ss The moment his shiny body had encir-
cled me ia is folds, and should only be-
li,.ss ia the success Of your attempt, Il you
assure me you are born Malay, aud IN
habit Timore.
The JepredaiioEs on the herds Of 5nf1a-
loss Belonging 70 Earopeaas aud 10 The Ra-
ishi ribufar5 10 The Resident q DieIkz,