, 1881-01-23
A NICE COUNTRY.
The Experiences of an Old Sailor In
New Eu1nca-Fogel us Well US HOr.
ribIc Method. of Killing Criminals.

| The Experiences of an Old Sailor In
! New Gu1nea-Sosel us Well US Hor-
! rib1o Methods of Killing Criminals
D1pton Juur1tal-
| AT Il O'clock last night, rs Journal reporter
| made his usual rounds to the depot. IL strange
character WIS pointed out to him In tho gentle
mems wattiry-roonl. 1t was an aged sailor who
| had cumu from Lansing, NIch., anl was on his
way tu New Qrteaus,-t to end his days On the ee-
mcnt more suited to his tusre than the land.
Attracted by his strange appearance. the re-
porter accosted him With a few inquiries. and In
brief time obtained Il story of adventure. in
his wanderings that is marvellous in its nitleo1s-
ness. Ee suid that one Of the nptes1 fnustFa-
tlous OF savage barbnrlry that he hud ever seen
WIS in tho Scrpent's Valley, in New Guinea. It
was dangerous undertaking to travel through
this valley, but we had heard So much Of it that
were determined to 10 through ut all hazard. As
We stood Mt the entrnnce to give our ponies a
"blow, and then proceeded to enter it. was
struck very much by the great hight Of the
trees, but mp guido regarded than Us nothing ut
| uli, Us he had probably seen them hundred
times before. Their clear stems ran up nearly
hundred feet before the limbs began to appear
on them, and were very thick. Here, too, were
many pntm- Trees whose feather-liko pluules
gave graceful appearance TO the whole val
ley. There was also a large tree flower near
by which was ut that season In full bloom. and
suspended iu long folding pendants from tho
bruuches. As a distance one may easily i'm
ngine these trees to be on fire, aud was lost in
admruuon as contemplated these things, and
| as wo continued up she valley new beauties
opened to us.
stop! beware, sailor!" cried my guide in
warning tones. I'D.
/ stopped im pulslvely and looked forward un-
der his direction, SAW an i1nuonse snake eur!ed
at tho fuot OF the tree Ill front OF could
nut judge Of its length. but it must have been
very great. Anothcr and another uf these coils
were pointed QUE to me. and had IN unpleasant
sensation OF cool perspiration oozing out Of my
skin.
! '.Take care, take care," he cried ont in terror
ard @ catchinF ~ ny pony by the he heal be pulled me
After We had got away some twe,lty yards I
saw all immense constructor curtcd around
stuudin9. The reptiles neck was stretched
t some ten or tw2ive feet over the pathway, and
its head kept rising nud falling III much the
slime way III l nave Seen Il turkey wriXgie
about The terrible thing had evidently been
summing itself. and, having been awakened by
, our appronch proceeded u uncoil Its immense
NOT loss than sixty feet long, am sure, for I
c,utatsd At least six coils around the body Of the
teen for the mead tltl1 neck.
After this adventure we hurried back to the
guard az and r. reported r. what VIC bud seem
+ Several OF the ineii expres sing desire to see
tho serpent, they were permitted to apprnAch
| tho mouth of the valley TO catch n distant
glimpse Of the boa, which quite satisfied them.
learned aftcrwurd that this route was never
Travelled, and that the native escorts really nude
an extensive detour and came out By secret
channel whose approaches were carefully hid
cen by trees Aud rocks. Some bad ATTEMPTED to
pass through it, but as they had never been
they hud 6een destroyed by the serpents, aud
there Is but little DOUBT taat it Is tho case. I
have heard somewhere OF an arnly that Was
that The boas In this valley would hinder tho
progress Of the br7lyast uriny.
From this poiut our road lny along sheltered
ntfr {hp rItntfr1,r NJ n ~
till, tbickiy -foiiuEcd Trees In about ua hour
from our leaving the valley was startled ~
hettrlus cry for help, coming, Us it seemed to
me, fru.n directly over my head.
On looking upward wAs horrified to see an
unfortunate wretch fastened to II ta!l tree by
means OF ropes, and near him was small snake
about eight feet long. The reptile WIS stand,ng
ereut and Kissing at the man, who wls beating
biz hauds wildly and endeavorins TO avoid its
=" Gun we not help him:"- l asked, greatly ex-
l"No; he is n criminal and must die. Better to
He is Fortunate.
The snake hmd no# bitten the MIN, at fcast so
judged; for he gave a scream of terror ard
pain, aad seized LIS bead With his hatf-opened
hands. The venomous beast cur|etl itself rapidly
around the neck and body of the pour man and
strore tu draw Its bead to his face; h1t llesper-
ton x1sye him strength. and for long Tins be
fas a 80 my az ass bis strength
faugs steadily approaching the nuns mouth, 10
he was almost s1tfoca1cd. ~.
4eott4 Au0A au aoHacFt H1lu4 luFutUX my bead
nway. continued my journey. Again remarked
that ny guide 'fls indifferent, and gave no more
thAu single glance ut the criminal wh1 tgus
suffering SO Horrible .ath. In n1,othcr half
H!'e.Fo saw Il nufubcr OF birds lowering over
anofhes tree. a1it!. upon reaching It. saw uiother
criminal cf,nod to its upuer nrtaci1el He was
ynsnly trying tn defend himself against tue ut
t tacks of ! lasse easle which sailed backward aud
1orwafu. every now .nd then descending upon
thg pUns wretch aud striking him With h!s IAiorls
" non VIC Tere seen the fellow cried cut to
save aisu. This. however. was impossible, The
uuide was tminbrubIe; 80 were compelled to rjt5e
On and leave him to his fats. Another trea con
ta1ned re pttrefying corpses of men who had
shared ssmilnr tates- This ta the mode ot puu-