Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-16

Don't lie on the pillow-shams!'
l fear, after all, either inwardly or out
wardly, we will say, as we hurl the nasty
things into the baby's crib, that which we
have always said" Confound the pillow.
shams. "-Appleton's Journal.
A Native Serpent Show ut Calcutta.
To LEAVE Calcutta without seeing the
snakes AT the General Hospital would have
been an omission of which, at any rate,
the Prince could not be guilty. DIR.
Fayrer had accordingly the honor, in
company with DIR. Ward, of exhibiting to
his Royal Highness the powers of poison.
Gus serpents and the cleverness of native
snake keepers. Unable to be present at
this entertainment, was invited TO pri-
vate view of the collection on the follow.
ing morning. Bear in mind that no
snake-charmer was present, that neither
pipe nor whistle was used, that every
snake had its poison fangs or teeth in cap
ital order, and that no means save the
marvellous skill of the native operators
was employed in the exhibition which
followed, and you will have good idea
of the peril through which those Hindoos
passed. IL was early in the morning
not, however, before the snakes, which
were in series of wire-covered boxes,
were awake and lively--that we were
shown into a stone-foored room some
twenty feet long and twelve broad. In the
boxes were the strongest and deadliest
snakes in India; pythons, ophiophagi.
cobras, korites, Russell snakes, and many
others. The Hindoos who had charge
of them were two slim, why little
men, nude to the waist, as most
of their countrymen are. They
wore neither gloves nor any other protec-
ton, and had no instrument of any kind
in the place After showing the varied
collection under their care, they proceed.
ed TO open the python cage, and one of
them, putting his hand in, seized mon
ster serpent and threw him upon the floor
close TO our feet The python objected To
such treatment, and began to hiss, making
at the same time vigorous effort to rise.
But the snake-keeper was waiting for this.
and no sooner did that huge shining back
begin to curve than the keeper put out his
hand. and, seiZing the creatures tail,
pulled il back with jerk. Instantly the
python was powerless-hissing, but I'M
able TO move; the more he struggled the
hIu httptt ioit
tail, explaining meanwhile that so long
as the reptile was controlled in that fash
ion; there was no danger of its doing mis-
chief; then, just as its rage was becoming
ungovernable, the man lifted il quickly,
and with jerk deposited ii in the box.
Its companion was now taken out in sim
liar manner, and slapped and buileted till
throughout its entire length-some twelve
feet-it quivered with passion, but all to
no purpose; il too was presently replaced
in the cage, and shut up TO hiss at Its
leisure.
The fact that an ophiophagus Is in the
Regents Park Geological gardens rem
dered the next exhibition more interest.
ing, although ii may be doubted whether
the sudden throwing into SO small a room
of a snake seven feet long was agreeable
TO the visitors. However, there was real
ly no danger, for the venomous creature
WAS so completely in its keepers power
that we had no occasion for fear. One
bite from the reptile, and anyone OF us
would have been dead in five minutes, tor
ii WAS exceptionally strong and lively ;
but il was no more able 10 bite his than the
little mongoose Gagged outside the door
Up rose its head, out came its sl!thering
tongue, its eyes dilated, its huge throat
sweled, and all seemed ready for DIES.
perate attack, when the keeper struck the
reptiles mouth with the back of his hand,
and before 1t could strike him had seized
ii just under the head. Then II strug.
gled, but only TO get away--it had met
that native before, and did not at all APP
prove of his treatment. The other native
now seized its center and tail, and with
out more ado the terrible creature was
hosted into the air 6s harmless AS but.
teriiy, and its tangs exposed by the
aid Of a small piece Of wire. Those teeth
were literally full Of poison-enough TO
have killed dozen persons. At length,
our curiosity satisfied, this monster was
put into his cage, and his brother plucked
out by the naked native, with the hard,
and thrown on the floor. He, too, was
truculent for minute, endeavoring 10
follow the unpantalooned Hindoo round
the room; but he had reckoned without
his hot, or rather his keeper, for he was
seized presently by the tail and hoisted up
Just as the other had been. In vain he
Kissed and spat His tongue might move
in and out as often as ii pleased, but all TO
10 purpose; whether on the floor or In The
air its efforts to bite were perfectly una
vaiiing, and when the cage was opened 1t
skunk In, disconnected serpent. A cobra
was the next To be turned out, a strong,
healthy snake, nearly five feet in length,
with hood, the power VI moving which
somewhat startled us. But move as 1t
might, the agile native was too quick for
it. He would put his knee within foot
Of II as II stood up ready TO strike, and II
would make u dart, M futile, however, as
IL was sudden. Then II would hiss as
though hoping 10 frighten Its adj.
versary; II might as well have Kissed
at the wall And, jus, when II had got up
again, and was 40 enraged that II
could scarcely wait for good oppertuni-
~ To strike at the natives knee, which
was moving before il In most tantaliz.
ing manner, the keepers hand was quiet
~ placed under its head, and II was re-
moved like It's predecessors. Will 1t
bitter" I asked. See" said the native.
Taking up piece of bamboo stretched
across shell, he held the wood 10 the
serpent's mouth. Instantly the reptile
seized the profered bait, its eyes glisten-
ing, its neck dstended, and crunched the
wood as though IL was finder. Two or
three moments elapsed as the teeth pene-
trated farther into the fiber, and then we
saw the poison falling In white drops into
the shell, which acted rs kind ot saucer