East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-03-16

end had used certain incantations to
\ prevent m increase in the population,
was banished from the village. The
fact was announced to me, that tho
bad old man thirtra fur feyonge, and
had changed himself into blacksnalke
similar in ali respects to that Just
slain. He then glided around the
ka,al watchi' 3 for victims, and at
length succeeded IN biting the most
ancient Kafiir ia tho karal, who died
soon after the sun had set. "CAa,gay-
10 .gena /" lie was raacsl.)
The fences made by tho Kafirs,
and concizting ef small roughly made
wattled hurdles, were fnvorite resorts
for snakes; md once, while climbing
over ono OF these I narrowly escaped
the dart of a cobra. ary MA
The fence was about four feet in
height, and was so constructed that
when any person trod on tho upper
portion he unavoidably compressed
the yarions branches and sticks be-
meath him. 1t heppencd that cobra
was either crawling through this
fence, or had located himself in it at
tho time of my climbing to the sum
NIT, and thus my weight caused the
sticks to squeeze tho body of the rep
tile. Fortunately L was looking down,
and just iii time L saw the head of
tho snake shoot out from the hurdle.
sprang, rs may be imagined, quickly
and fer, and was well out Of roach
when the head Of the monster was
thrown over the top Of the hurdle,
just at the spot whore an instant bo-
fore my feet had been placed. The
cobra did not approve OF having his
body pinched, but still less must no
have liked the penetration Of his hoad
by broad -bladed Zriu assagy---a
fnto that very quickly followed his at
tempt upon my life.
Beneath the branches of a giant
Euphorbia, aheltercd by its shade,
and almost lulled to sleep by the mo-
notonous sound Of little bubbling
mountain stream, / reclined one day
after g very successful foray among
the guinoa-fcwl which were OCCASION
ally found near tlo Dushman's River,
locality situated about one hundred
and twenty miles inland from Port |
Natal. A quantity Of long grass,
which had been washed down quite
flat, grow on each side Of the little riv
ulet, and on this several dead branch
es Ncro scattered, and old trunks Of
trees grouped, left in their places by
the last periodical flood. Over this
grass l observed a largo brownish-
colored snake gliding toward me-
His large size, and the absence Of the
broad narrow head, showed mo that
he was not venomous; therefore al.
lowed him to approach me, whilst
remained perfectly still. Although L
did not alter my position in the least,
he yet became aware of my presence
by somo means, for he suddenly
stopped when within twenty PAGES of
ne, then changed his direction and
ook up his position under an old
stump, from which he eyed me most
His eolors wore very
and there was bloom upon
his skin somewhat similar to that ,
which we 500 on a ripe plum. He s
vas evidently puzzled at my appear /
nee, knowing that could shoot him {
t any time if ! inclined to do so, and ]
lad no hesitation of remaining within /
wenty PAGES of a snake twelve feet in e
ength. {
After examining me for about two I
minutes the snake gradually APP \
reached me, keeping his head slight b
y raised, and looking steadily at my II
yes. Its approach was so slow, and il
here was no break in it, such as that Il
lpdo by putting one foot hefnre tha
ther, that felt an almost irresistible "
lclination to remain still and quiet S
nd allow tho snake to glide on toward a
le. Had the snake been forty feet S
4 length, or had i been no bigger +
nan rabbit, / believe, that unless a
y considerable exertion of the will, q
should not have felt disposed to Il
love. v
If the snake had been compelled to :, :
dvance by series of steps, each one 3
hen would have repeated the warn !:
lg, and would have intimated that it j
Ias dangerous to stay but the Gid +
lg. insiduous approach of tho snake e
ppeared to produce wish to wait :
ntil some decided movement should |.
Q taken by the reptile !,
Shaking off this singular Temporal !, !,
y sensation by decided action Of the y !.
ill, raised myself on my elbow and 7
tretched out my hand for my gun :; T.
he snake observing the movement = !.
.opped, and elevated its head, which =, ~
waved slightly in no, izontal di- "
,ction. 1t was now not more than
IN PAGES from me, and, although toll u u
rable certain that it was not a pois- 70 y
nous snake, yet, for fear of mistake =. =
deemed it prudent to ward it of, - -
nd intimated my idea by means of y, ~
roken branch which / threw at it. :, !,
The snake appeared disinclined to :, ~
avo me, but yet slowly glided away, ~ ~
opping occasionally to look round, :"
though dcsirous of further acquain- -
nee. rl -n M "
/ let him go; our interview had w,
zen SO close aud mysterious that if
uld not have killed him. There h,
as also something wild and interest ia
g in thus alone making the acquain- ds
nee Of a reptile in its native wilder N
ss, in observing somo Of its pecu- co
Irities, and in feeling slightly that oh
,gular power by which, there is no ey
ubt many Of the serpent race obtain th,
cir prey. ae' Ns'aA lio
1t is by no means pleasant. when
ated on the ground in localities I'LL
nere poisonous snakes abound, to thu
ace your hand unconoiously on, q ly
ID, moist creature, which immedi- wi