Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-04
SNAKE TALES FROM HNDosTAN
That Will Make Georgia Prcvari-
Gators Open Their Eyes.

From Nc3c York TrjbNN6 Letter.
PANHALA, INDIA, April 2l-One Of the
American magazines which came to Pan
hala not long ago contained a narrowing
account of row which took place in the
close neighborhood OF alIigators and moe
casin snakes. Alarming as such an in
cident must have been, il was really no
more than mere trifle compared TO the
experiences which people who live in this
part Of tropical India have to undergo al
most daily.
In one governmental district IN India
about $4,000 persons are reported as dy-
ing yearly from the bite of POISONOUS rep
tiles or the attack of savage beasts. Con-
sidering the perils with which one is be-
set here in Panhala. the wonder is that
the number OF deaths is not very mucn
larger. Leopards and tigers are shot In
the country around here, and Mt times
they prowl around the dwellings of the
people in the night, and sometimes try 10
effect an entrance. Poisonous reptiles are
so numerous and so quick to improve
every opportunity to enter the houses
that no one can relax his watchfulness
for moment without being placed IN
danger of his life. For instance, no one
would think of getting into bed without
first looking for what may he and FREE
quently is costly ensconced between the
cool sheets. No one would spring ont Of
bed in the night without first striking a
match, even though he be so brave that
he pooh poOhs at the idea OF keeping
night lamp burning. Even the bath is not
a luxury entirely devoid of danger from
one or more of these poisonous creatures
To-day snake is found in ones shoe; to-
morrow in the bath sponge there is scOr-
piOn. The next day a centipede is found
under the flower stand and the next there
is a scorpion in the novel one has been
reading, or a snake on the shelf or hidden
away in ones napkin at dinner.
Not long since friend from the coast
related while visiting here recent eXpe-
rience which is really not uncommon in
this part of the world. One evening leav-
ing the lamp in his dressing room he
stepped into an adjoining room in the
dark. Noticing the peculiar odOr, so like
that of raw potatoes, which often
indicates the presence of snake,
he called to his wife to
bring a cane and lamp. Knowing well
what such a call means, she lost no time
in providing the needed stick and light.
There on the step over which he had just
entered the room lay an immense cobra,
enjoying the GOODNESS of the place after
hot day on the scOrching plains. Mr.. l..
had stepped directly over his majesty,
and had it not been for the unmistakable
od0r which betrayed the snake he might
not have lived to tell the tale. 1t is for
tuDate fact that the cobra can readily be
killed with cane or club.
One Sunday afternoon while walking in
his plantain garden, deeply engaged in
thought, a gentleman here was not "a little
astOnished to have large snake spring
from between his feet and glide into one
of the small buildings attached to the
place. 1t had been engaged in swallow
ing a toad, and seemed as startled as the
Sahib himself. The latter calling for help
instituted a chase 1t took some courage
to enter this small room, as it was not
known to what species the reptile be-
lOnged. Armed with a new American AK
aud a bamboo cane, the hunt progressed
for a few moments, during which the
snake sprang several times seemingly its
full length, into the air, making futile at
tempts to escape. The ak came off con-
querOr, and 1t was found to be a Dhaman,
measuring feet Z inches in length. This
kind of snake has no iangs, belongs to the
coluber order, and "kills with its tail, 80
the natives say. 1t is known to be de-
structive to cattle, in the nOstrils of which
it insnuates it's tail and then draws it
forth with violent abrasion.
1t is no strange sight to find in the
morning a casI-Off skin of some snake on
the lattice which protects ones window, or
twisted acOut over a bit OF terrace wall or
on ones pet rOckery, which, by the by, is
a most dangerous form of a flower gar
den, as it affords shelter for snakes, liz
ards, centipedes aud scorpions innumer-
able. A few days ago found one of these
sloughs Of cobra feet IN length, but
presume ii was longer for being empty,
Tor while it is common to hear of a 5-fOOt
cobra, one seldom hears of one as long as
feet.
Not many days have passed since the
following occurred: One stormy evening
door being heard to slam, one of our
family went in the dark TO close 1t. This
time, not from any Cdor but from feeling
the instinct taught by experience, our
friend stopped with one foot raised, and
called for a light. The light was brought
(tor we do not have gas and revealed
green, triangular-headed viper, just ready
to strike with its ivory white fangs.
which at the time seemed Immensely long.
The reptile was struck down AT once and
held firmly with one stick until second
one could be brought. Meanwhile the
deadly but still pretty creature was
writing about the cane which held it,
biting and tearing it's own flesh. The
made known to the world in 1863, that a
poisonous snake cannot poison ITSELF"
is no less strange because true.
One evening sending servant TO hunt
for pair of missing scissors, we were
not much surprised to have him soon run
in breathessiy, saying: "Come, Sahib!
a snakei "A snaken' On investigation we
found that in looking in a corner for the
missing article, instead OF seeing the
lOOked-IOr scissors he saw the bright
bead-like eyes Of a snake called Ratra
(night) looking into his. IL is pretty
snake, being Of a seal-brown color on the
back crossed by crescent bands Of white,
while the belly is beautiful red. The
'name mac not seem definite, but is given
10 10 by the natives. who say it is found q
night. hence The name. IL was only the
next day that the baby of the house was
found amusing itself by rolling a Jack
fruit back and forth over a Ratra, which
was close 10 its feet. These are possessed
Of iangs, 50 Of course are not harmless. A
few nights later, just as | was about 10
step into bed, something told me not 20
move my raised foot, 30 carefully reach
ing for the lamp and looking under my
foot there ! Deheld "A great scorpion.
which after death measured . inches az
one would lie or stand at ease II alive.
One night after supper as the butler re-
moved chld's tray there was disclosed
20 view wicked little scorpion under
meath which might have inflicted pain
iul wound had the child put his fingers
under the edge. That very evening as the
family were about 10 have evening wOr.
81 ha.NN 40.