The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-02-22
The Gscko.

I
made several excursions to points Of inter
est in the vicinity. Among these we paid
a visit to small island about six miles
from the Mahratta shore, on which there
stood the huge figure Of an elephant cut
out Of black rock. The figure, when
we saw it, was much decayed, and, ! have
since learned, has fallen---the island thus
losing one Of its chief monuments. II
was from this image that the island re-
cived its name-Eephanta---from the Por-
tuguese, who when landing in the days of
Aibubuerque. were astounded at this great
image, the product Of Hindoo skill and
fanticism. IL happened while we were
prowling around the image that the boats
vain bald us listen, and laid his hand on
the lock Of his musket. We listened and
Initiated bis movement. After a laps ofa
minute we heard shrill whistle, and
looking whence it came, saw large green
lizard baskins on rock within few
feet Of the image. The boatswain saw il
first, and raised his musket; but before he
fired Tonka man, who was with us, tried
to frighten the animal by striking it with
switch he carried. II was a sorry blow
for him. The creature turned, and run
ming over his feet, which were bare, bit
him in the calf of his right leg, at the
same instant the boatswain's piece was
discharged, the ball striking the spot lltely
occupied BY the animal, which escaped
into the jungle. The poor man who was
bitten no sooner felt the fangs of the
creature pierce his flesh, than he uttered
cry of anguish and Immediately fell to
the ground in commissions. We at once
hurried to his aid and did all we could to
alay his suffering, but tn, poison had enter
ed his b.oo1, and he died in less than
twenty-five minutes after he had been
bitten. We were astonished at the extra
ordinary virulence of the poison, which
even exceeded the most venomous serpents;
but our surprise ended when we learned
that the creature whence it proceeded was
the Gecko, so well known in Egypt as a
deadly reptile. We were conversing about
1t over the corpse of the Tonka man, when
1
again an omincus cry warned us of its
presence. We started, seized our firelocks
and looking about for the enemy. Pres
entity It was seen issuing from the jungle
and looking upon us with eyes of fearful
malevolence. We shuddered, for the re-
membrance Of its fatal nature was fresh in
our minds ; bnt the boatswAin callcdf or a
rally. We gave it with will. Eighteen
muskets opened on the reptile, which rolled
over on its side, riddled with shower of
bullets. Its struggles were short; after
few gasps it lay stark dead. We then
went up and took look at the creature.
It was about thirteen inches in lenth.
shaped like salamander; its skin Of a
sea-green color, dotted with spots of deep
crimson. Its head was like that of a
tortoise, the mouth straight; the eyes large,
aud even in death strangely brilliant. whence
believe that it possesses power Of charm
ing not only animals, but man himself.
Its teeth are very sharp, and so hard that
they might almost make an impression on
steel. One Of our men did indeed show
certain marks on the point Of his eutass,
which the reptile had seised in its death
throes, the man closing to stab it after the
fusilade. Its legs were armed with claws.
said to be poisonous; in fact, the whole
system of this hideous reptile is rife with
venom, and the Indians told us that wher-
ever it passed it left track of death.
IL hunts ruins and the stems Of old trees !;
lives chiefly on ants, and Is most active
after rain. 1t then utters cry like gecko,
from which it has derived its name. It's
bite is fatal, unless the wound be burnt
with red-hot iron orcut out, proceeding
which we neglected in the case ofthe Tonka
man, if indeed it would have done him any
good The reptile is very fond of salt,
and our boatswain told us in Grand Cairo.
where the creature is common, he knew
Of whole household being killed from
eating few grains Of salt on which the
gecko had shed its venom. Even its blood
IS poisonous; the Jayancsc using il to
tincture their arow-heads, the mere touch |
Of which produces wound which, ifI
uncauterized, results in death. Such is
brief description Of this terrible reptile,
whose venomous attributes have no equal
among the creatures of the earth We
buried the poor Tonka man near the SPOT |
on which he died, and, setting a wooden
cross over his grave, returned pensively
to the ship.-From "Sea-faring Men, an
unpublished Tale of the Sea, by Hector
A. Stuart.