The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-03-19
Misffllaneuus.
STORY Of A SNAKE CHARMER.
FEARFUL RESULT OF RECKLEssN Es.

DUCHALLU, in his last book about
Africa, says:
One day witnessed fearful scene.
A man, a native of Goree, an island on
the coast Of Senegambia, who had the
reputation of being snake charmer,
and was then at the Gaboon, had sue
ceeded in capturing one of these large
maja. He was bold man, and prided
himself on never being afraid of any
snake, however venomous the reptile
might be; nay, not only was he not
afraid of any of them, but he would
fight with any of them, and get hold of
them. had often seen him with snakes
in his hands. He was careful, of course;
to hold them just by the neck below the
head, in such a manner that the head
could not turn on itself and bite him.
That day he brought into larger open
place, perfectly bare of grass; one OF
these wild maja that he had just cap
tured, and was amusing himself by
teasing the horrid and loathsome crea-
ture when l arrived. 1t was a huge
one.
Most of the people of the village had
fed, and those natives who, like him
self, were looking on, kept long way
off. Not Mpongwe man, not single
inhabitant of the whole religion 1 have
explored, would have ever dared to do
what the Goree man did.
Two orthree times as the snake crawl
ed on the ground, we made off in the
opposite direction with the utmost speed
myself, 1 am afraid, leading off in the
general stampede; though had provi-
ded myself with a gun. ..
Itwas perfectly fea rful, perfectly horird
and appalling to see that man making a
plaything of this monster laughing as
we may say, at death, for it could he
nothing else, l thought.
At first when l saw him he had the
snake around his body, but he held it
firmly just below the neck, and 1 could
see by the muscles of his arm that he
had to use great strength. AS long as
this part Of the body is held firmly the
snake loses much ofits great power OF
crushing one to death, as the boa-con-
strictor or python does with larger ami
mails, and as small snakes do with small
er game but with this maja the dan
ger would have been the venomous
bite.
Then with his other hand he took the
tail of the suake, and gave it swing
and gradually unfolded the ereptile from
his black body, which was warm and
shining with. excitement, but always
holding the head. On sudden he
threw the snake on the ground. Then
the creature began to crawl away,when
suddenly the Goree man came in front
of it with lightstick and instantly the
monster erected itself almost to half its
which we all heard, looking glaringly
and fierccly in the mans face with its
sharp pointed tongue out, and then stood
still as If it could not move. The Goree
ihoii1 WIN obiSh iSii
hand. touched it lightly, as though to
tease it. 1t was fearful sight--and If
1t had been near enough, the snake
would no doubt have sprung upon its
antagonist.
The man, as he teased and infuriated
the snake with the rod he held in his
LETT hand, drew the attention OF the
reptile toward the stick; then suddenly
and in the wink of an eye, almost as
quick as lightning, with his right hand
The got hold ofthe creature justunde
his head.
the same thing that I have described
again took place, The snake folded it.
self round his body;then he unfolded. the
snake, which was at once let loose, and
now this horrld serpent got SO infuriat-
ed that as soon as he was thrown upon
the ground he erected himself, and the
glare Of his eyes was something terrific.
1t was indeed an appalling scene; the
air around seemed TO be filled with the
whistling sound of the creature.
Alas! more terrible scene took place!
The man became bolder and bolder,
more and more careless, and the snake
probably more and more accustomed to
the mode of warfare Of his antagonist.
and just as the monster stood erect the
man attempted to seize its neck as he
had done many and many time be-
fore, but grasped the body too low, and
before he had time to let go, the head
turned on itself and the man was bitten!
l was perfectly speechless the scene
had frozen my blood, and the wild