Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-09-11
A VISION OF SNAKES.

| WAS wandering in q valley, the light
of which was peculiar: neither of night
nor day, but a green gloom through which
one saw objects as through green water.
And, as | wandered, | saw serpents dang
ling from the trees, writhing through the
grass, burrowing in the ground, floating
on the shadowed ponds, or darting with
a wavy motion across the scanty patches
of sad glimmer made by the rare sun
beams that had filtered through the dense
canopying foliage; and, as | glanced
down glade which slOped to sea ly-
ing sullen beneath sultry, clouded sky,
a huge sea-snake raised its horrid head
above the leaden waters. [ trod on SER
pents' eggs, from which, the instant they
were crushed, fanged, Kissing jaws pro-
truded, and 1.-the, scaly forms squirmed
forth. The dusk was studded with
treacherOus eyes; the forest was rOped
with Shiny, swelling and collapsing, varie-
gated coils; distinctly even in its stag
nant atmosphere could be detected the
strange odor of the valleys sovereign
tenants. | saw plumed warrior steal
up to one that slumbered in the grass.
He forlled it to the ground, slew, cooked
and ate it; and put its skin upon his bow
to insure the right flight of his arrow.
Then he went forth to hunt the deer that
at times might be seen gliding through
the Jungle, as if they feared to rustic it's
herbage; their beautiful eyes glancing in
dread at the hideous eyes fercely or
stonily fixed upon them.
He stalked stag until he was within
bow-shot of the splendid creature that
stood at gaze with ck-thrown, many
tined antlers upon little mound. Just
as the hunter put forth his foot to draw
the string he heard hiss and rattle
The snake that he had slain was avenged.
One of its fellows had struck the slayer.
His dusky face turned pale Hastily he
bound his leg tightly above and below the
wound, and, sitting down, sucked at it like
aChild at its mothers breast But it seemed
.as if he were going to sleep like the
babe. He staggered up in alarm, gashed
at his wound with his knife, and then
tottered as fast as he was able back to
his fre-passing on his way hundreds of
the black-marked dealers of death, with
their devilish eyes and rattle -tails-coiled
up like tlemished" lines, or stretched
out stiff as sticks-sluggishly enjoying
the hot, sluggish air. He bored a fire.
stick into his wound, and once more
tottcred on. But his steps grew feebler
and feebler. Again and again he put his
flask to his lips. The fire-water that
would have maddened him another time
had no effect upon him now. Drowsily
nodding, he fell to the ground, breathed
heavily, and went off into the sleep from
which there is no waking.
But | heard a noise of strumming.
humping and piping on musical lnstru-
ments, and, following the sound, came to
an opening in which stood village in the
midst of bamboos and palms. The in
habitants were dark, but of different
type of countenance from that of the red
skinned hunter. | wondered that any
people could have fixed their dwelling
shadow of death, but what | saw soon
made me marvel more.
The music having ceased for while, a
magician spread gayly-embroidered
garment upon the ground before a cot
tage-wall, uttered words of incarnation
and ordered all snakes within to come
forth They wriggled forth in swarm,
and were put into bags by the chief
magician's attendants. On this side and
on that of the houses he repeated the
charm, and it was everywhere obeyed
Once, however, he smote impatiently
upon the ground with his staff, and the
under-wizards recommended their monot
onous music, while he lighted a fire. Ht
had missed one stubborn snake, which
had refused to obey his will.
When the fire had burned up, the
snake-charmer again waved his wand anc
reclted still stronger words of magic
Instantly a huge serpent rolled fortl
from It's hiding place, and gliding into
the fire, was there consumed.
The charmers killed some of theil
prisoners, and laid them on the ant-hills