Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-20
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, SEPTEMBER 90 1879

Sci
be an agreeable variation to the rou.
tine Of our somewhat monotonoua
ride. We were soon tearing along
at breakneck speed, but the race was
quickly ended. Before we had gal-
loped a hundred yards my horse struck
his foot against something, rolled
over, and over and l came crop
per- l was good deal shocked, and
when l recovered myself my horse
was out Of Of sight. Neither l MOI
Tom Morris had tho least idea what
direction he had gone, and while my
friend galloped along the road star.
ted on foot on another. l had walked
nearly a mile and was just passing
the little post Office when I saw some
thing nearly sour feet high directly in
front Of me. It was like an appraised
stick, and when in my haste had
nearly walked over 1t, it shot straight
toward me Mechanically, l raised the
short stick l carried in my hand and
struck ut it. l took no aim whatever,
and am not at all sure that l did not
shut my eyes, like young cricketer,
rs l delivered the blow, but it hit its
mark, and, rs / afterward found,
saved my life; for coolie, who came
up a few seconds latter with q torch,
held, his light to the ground, where q
full grown cobra lay writl'iDg with it's
back broken. l was startled on that
occasion; but was far more disturb
ed at another time when, as it after
wards turned out, there was no snake
there. 1t was the worst season of the
year for venOmOus creatures when
Tom Norris and myself were occupy
ing . small bungalow in Jubbul.
We slept in the same room, each of
us having lounge, and it was about
two o'clock in the morning and pitch
dark, when l was awakened by some
thing striking me on tho back and
falling, as the sound seemed to indi-
cate, in coil upon the floor.
"What's thati" exclaimed my
friend, who awoke at the same IN
slant and l made no reply, for l had
had the strongest possible dislike to
say what l believed it to be. "What's
that I" he asked again; and then l
answered, think it is a snake, and
he has bitten me; will you get up and
60 for a light 7" Tom Norris lay still
for a while; then he said: "Now,
look here, old fellow, if a cobra has
bitten you he wont do you the least
additional harm if he bites you again;
but what Is the use of my being bit
ten tool Hadn't you better get up
and go for the light YOURSELF" Could
any logic have been more reasonablei
l ut once got up and after some trouble
procured a light, and we began our
search for the snake. But first Tom
Norris examined the place where l
had been bitten, and lis face grew
very grave, for there were the two
punctures, and it seemed clear that
snake had injured me. We hunted
about the house for ten minutes, and
although l feltmysclf growing drowsy
l began to hope that it was not u
cobra, but some less vcnem0us rep
tile, that had bitten me. At last the
mystery was solved. AS we entered
the bathroom a wild cat that for
some incomprchcnsible reason had
taken refuge in the bungalow went
flying, out of the window, carrying
half a dozen panes of glass with her
in her exit. In her confusion she
had evidently jumped upon the bed
and her claws had penetrated my
back, making two little holes pre-
cisly like the bite of a cobra. 10 say
that was relieved would give you a
very poor idea of my sentiments as
the cat sprang through the window.
All my drowsiness vanished, and !
slept no more that night.
The chief food of the cobra is the
frog. After the rainy season these
creatures fill the air with a loud,
steady croaking all night. Occasion
ally, however a shrill shrek is heard
above the ordinary noise, and the
practiced ear discerns the cry of the
unfortunate frog when a snake has
seized it. Early one morning by the
roadside, l found cobra in the act
Of making a meal. He was slowly
sucking the frog down his throat,
tail first. killed the snake and re-
leased the frog, but for q long time
the latter lay unable to move. Its
eyes were bright and it's head was
lively enough, but the rear part of its
body seemed to be par;alyzed the
hind legs, which had been the snakes
throat, were helpless. Finally it coll
trived to drag itself away into the
long grass.
Formerly the government gave q
repee for every dead cobra delivered
to it's agents, but think the custom
has been abandoned, for it was dis
covered that breeding yards had been
established in various parts of the
country, and numerous natives we're
making a comfortable living by rear
ing young snakes.
TURNING THEJ0KE ONTHEJOKER
A facetious young man who boards
in hotel not very far from Grand
River avenue was badly taken down
at the dinner table day or two ago.
The servant who took his order was
n VOO1 -lnOkinU anrt Of n vir1 oni