The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-04-13
DEADLY SNAKES or INDIA,
How the Natives Handle the NOnsir,
srrpcn,s Tnrhiing II Python.

Cnt, that neither pipe nor whistle WAS
used, that every snake had lts polsOn
iangs or teeth in capital order, and that
no means save the marvellous skill Of the
native operators was employed in the
exhibition which followed, and you will
have a good idea Oi the peril through
which those lIindoos passed, 1t was
early IN the morning not, however, be-
fore the snakes, which were in n series OF
~wirc-coycrcd boxes, were awake and
lively that we were shown into stone
llOurcd room sOmc twenty feet long and
twelve broad. IN the boxes were the
strongest and dcadIicsL snakes in India
pylhous, OphiOpUagi, cObras, korilcs,
Russell snakes, and many others. The
IIindoOs who had charge Of them were
two slim, why little men, nude to the
waist, rs most Of their Countrymcn are.
They wore neither gloves nor any other
protection, and had no instrument Of any
kind IN the place. After showing the
varied collection under their care, they
proceeded 10 open the python case, and
one Of them, putting his hand in, seized
a monster 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 u 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, Selling
the creatures tail, pulled it back with a
Jerk. Instantly the python wns power
less Kissing, but unable to move the
more ne struggled, the more tcuaciously
did the keeper hold his tail, explaining
meanwhile that 50 long rs the reptile WAY
controlled in that fashion there was no
danger Of its doing mischief; then, Just
as its rage was becoming ungoycrnabIc,
the man lifted it quickly, and with Il
Jerk deposited it in the box. Its com
pauiOu waI now taken out in Il similar
manner, and slapped and butIctcd till
Throughout itS entire length, Somc twelve
feet it quIvcrod with passion, but all to
NO purpose it, too, was presently re.
placed III the cage, and shut up to hiss at
leisure,
The fact that an %ophiophagus is in the
Itrgcnt'o Park geological gardens rem
lcrrd the next exhibition more interest
ing, although it may be- doubted whether
the throwing lntG 80 small n room Of 4
snake seven feet long was agreeable to
tn" visitors. One bite from the reptile,
and any one Of us would have been dead
IN five minutes, for it was exceptionally
strong and lively. Up rose its head, out
came its glittcring tongue, its eyes
d%Ilatcd, its huge throat swcIlcd, and all
seemed ready for a desperate attack, |
when the keeper struck the reptiles
mouth with the back Of his hand and be-
fore it could strike him had seized il
Just under the head. The other native
now seized It's center and tail, and with
out more ado the terrible creature was
hoistcd into the air ~ harmless as a but
tcrIIy, and its iangs exposed by the aid
Of II small piece of wire. Those teeth
were literally full of poison-cnouglI to
have killed n dozen persons.
At length, our curiosity satisfied, this
monster was put into his cage, and his
brother pIuckcd out by the naked native
with the hand and thrown on the floor.
lie, too, was truculcnt for II minute, en-
dcayorlng to follow the unpantalooncl
lIindoo round the room; but he had
rcckoncd without his host, or rather his
keeper, for he was seized presently by
the tail and holstcd up Just M the other
had been. In vain he hisscd and spat.
His tongue might move in and out as
often as it pleased, but all to no rur-
pose whether ON the floor or in the mir
IT'S efforts to bite were perfectly unavail-
my, and when the cage was opened it
skunk in, a Disconnected serpent.
\ cobra vas the next To hC turned out,
a strong, healthy snake, nearly five feet
in length, with n hood the power of
moving which somewhat startled us.
hut move as it might, the agile native
was to" quick for it. lie would put his
knee within II foot Of it M il stood up
ready To srikc, and it would make a dart
aS futile, however, as it was sudden.
Then 1t would hiss, as though hoping to
brighten It's adversary it might rs well
have Missed at the wall. And, lust when
it got up again, and was 80 cnragrd that
1t could scarcely wait for n good oppor-
tumity to strike at the natives knee,
which was moving before it in n most
tantaIizing manner, the keepers hand
was quietly placed under its head, and
1t was removed like its predecessors.
IL, "m. "Sr ! "'Ncn: zee, Ta'd
Wv "a''Tc' i'N'hS VI u piece OF bamboo
s'''t'h'o across Il shcil, ne helh the wood
=" ,ne serpent = mouth. Instantly the
'r,Pt''e s''"ci the Prollcrcd bait, its eyes
E'l''cn'nE ITS neck dlstcndcd, and
'r"n'h'' the wood rs though it was
llnncr' " or three moments elapsed
~ 'h' 'cr'n penetrated further into the
np'r, ana lhen we saw the poison falling
III "hich "Iols'h'' M Shc'l, which acted
IN y klhd "' saucer. ! was particular in
""a,r,ns ,w" points N regard to this in