Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-19
The Serpent's Valley.

The Serpent's Valley.
HOW THE NATIVES OF NEW GUINEA
PUNISHED PRISONERS-GIvEN OVER
TO HUGE REPTILES AND BIRDS.
Louis Tregance, French sailor, long
a prisoner among the Sapuans, of New
Guinea, thus describes the Serpent's
Valley:
1t was a dangerous undertaking to
travel through this opening, and no 9TH
er way to K'oOtar was known. AS we
stood here to give our ponies blow, my
guide volunteered to take me back to
the entrance of the valley that might
get better idea of the way we had
come. I consented, and, on my ap-
preaching its mouth I was struck very
much by the height and size of the trees.
Their clear stems ran up nearly hun
dred feet before the limbs began to ap-
pear on them, and were very thick.
Here, too, were many palm trees, whose
feather-like plumes gave graceful ap,
pearance to the whole valley. There
was also q large tree flower in this val
ley, which was now in full bloom. The
flower was bright scarlet, which hung
suspended in long, folding pendants
from the branches.
At distance one might easily ima-
CINE these scarlet trees to be trees of fire
whose pendants, as they moved in the
wind, were the flames jumping and
leaping. 1 was lost in admiration as I
contem plated these things; and as we
continued to advance up the valley new
beauties opened out before US.
"Stop! beware, Tregan ~ cried my
guide, ia warning tones.
I stopped at once, and looking forward
under his direction, saw vast snake
curled up at the foot of tree in front of
US. I could not judge of its length, yet
it must have been very great. Another
and another of these coils were pointed
out by him, and I had an unpleasant
sensation of cool Precipitation ooZing
out of the pores of my skin.
"Take care. take care !" he cried out
in terror, and, catching my pony by the
head, he pulled NE back toward the
mouth of the valley.
After we had got away some twenty
yards, I saw an immense boa constructor
curled round the stem of the tree near
which we had been standing. The
beasts neck was stretched some ten or
twelve feet over the pathway, and its
head kept rising and falling in much
the same way as / have seen that of a
turkey wiggle about.
The terrible reptile had evidently been
summing itself, and having been awak-
ened by our approach, had proceeded to
tain its midday meal It was not less
than sixty feet long, I am sure, for I
counted at least six coils round the bo-
dy of the tree-allowing seven feet for
the length of each coil, and fifteen for
the head and neck, I made it out about
sixty feet long.
After this we hurried back to the
guard, and reported what we had seen.
Several of the prisoners expressing a
wish to see the serpent, they were per-
mitted to approach the mouth of the
valley to catch distant glimpse of the
boa, with which they were quite salts
fed. I learned afterward-some few
years afterward-that this valley was
never traversed by any persons; that
the escorts really made a considerable
detoatr, and came out by secret chan
mel, whose approaches were carefully
hidden by trees and rocks. This fact
was concealed from the mining popula-
ton, to hinder their return to K'ootar.
They knew Of no other path than that
through the boa-valley. and weregtoo
fearful of its horrors to dare an attempt
through it. Some had indeed attempt.
Ell to pass through it, but as they had
never been heard of again it was univer-
sally believed that they had been de-
stroyed by the serpents ; and there can
be little doubt that such was the case.
[ have heard somewhere that an army
was once stopped by great snake and
I can readily believe that the boas in
this valley would hinder the progress Of
the bravest army if not completely OBJ
struct it. From this point our road lay
along a well sheltered plain, the track
running by the side of tall, thickly-foli
aged trees. In about an hour from our
leaving the valley, I was startled by
hearing a cry for help. the sound COM
ing, as it seemed to me, from directly
over my head.
On looking upward [ was Mortified to
see an unfortunate wretch fastened to a
tall tree by means of ropes, and near
him was small snake about eight feet
long. The snake was standing erect,
and Kissing at the unfortunate man, who
WAS beating his hands wildly and try
ing to avoid the fangs of the serpent.
"Can we not help him ?" I asked,
greatly excited.
NV hC IL O Ct11Iludiy 1uu IuuSL Ulo
Better to die thus than wait to be starv-
ed or torn to pieces by the birds. He is
fortunate"
The snake had not bitten the man
at least so judged, for he gave scream
Of fear and pain, and he seized the SER
pents head with his half-loosened
haods. The venomous beast curled it.
self rapidly round the neck and arms of
the poor man, and strove to draw its
head to the mans face But despera-
ton gave the poor fellow strength, and
for long time he resisted successfully.
at last his strength failed, and we saw,
to my great horror, the snakes fangs
steadily approaching the mans open
mouth, for he was nearly suffocated.
L could look no longer, and, turning
my head away, continued my journey.
Again l remarked that the old chief was
indifferent, and gave no more than a
single glance at the unfortunate crimi- |
nal who was suffering SO terrible a
death.
10 another half-mile we saw number |
OF birds lowering over tree, and on
our reaching it, saw another unfortunate |
chained in its open branches. He was
ya1nly trying to defend himself from the |