New-York tribune., 1886-05-23
THE PERSISTENT SNAKE.
TIE JOYS OF LIFE IN INDIA.


PANuALA, India April 2l.-Onc OF the American
magazines which came to Panhaa not long ago
contained narrowing account of row which
took place in the close neighborhood Of alligators
and moccasin snakes. Alarming as such an Incl
entmust have been it was really no more than
mefc trle compared TO the experiences which pco
pie who live III this part of tropical India have to
Undergo almost daily.
In one Governmental district in India about
$4,000 persons are reported dying yearly from
the bite OF poisonous reptiles the attack of
aac beasts Considering the perils with which one
is beset here in Panhaa, the wonder is that the
number of deaths is not very much larger. Loo
parls and tigers shot in TIE country around
here. and at times they prowl around the dwell-
ngs Of the people in the night and sometimes try
to effect an entrance Poisonous reptiles
numerous and so quick to improve every
opportunity to epter the houses that no one can
relax his watchfulness for moment without
being placed in danger cf his life. For instance.
would think % getting into bed without first
looking for what may be and frequently is costly
cnsconccl between the cool sheets. No one woIid
spring out of bed in the night without first striking
a match. even though he be 50 brave that he pooh
poohs at the idea Of keeping night lamp burning.
Evcn the bath is not luxury entirely devoid ot
danger from ono or more Of these poisonous Great
morrow in the BATH there ia a scorpion. The
next day ccntipele is found under he flower
stand and the next there is 4 scorpion in the novel
one has been reading ora snake on the shelf OF
hidden away in ones napkin at dinner.
Not long since q friend from tho coast related
while visiting here a recent experience which is
really not uncommon in this part of the world
One evening leaving the lamp IN his drrssins groom
he stepped into adjoining room in the dark
Noticing the peculiar olor. like that of
raw potatoes. which often indicates the presence
Of q snake. he called to his wife to bring cane and
lamp. Knowing well what such call means
she lost no time providing the neslel stick and
licht There on the step over which he hal Just
entered the rop". lay an imnensS cobra enjoying
the GOODNESS of the plas2 after hot dag on the
scorching plains Nh l. had st5agcl directly over
his majesty and had it not been tor the Hnmistak-
able odor which BETRAYED the snake he might not
have lived TO tell the tale. Il is a fortunate fact
that the cobra can readily be killed With a or
club.
One Sunday afternoon while walking in his plan
tain garden. deeply engaged IN thought. gentle
man here was rot lttlo astonshed to have a large
SNAKE spring from between his feet and glide into
one of the small buildings attached to the place 1T
had been engaged IL swallowing a toad and seemed
as startled rs the Sahb ni::iscf. Ihc latter call
ing for help instituted chase. Ii COOK some conr
age to enter this small room rs 1t was moi known TO
what species tho reptile belonged. Armed W til
new American axe and a bamboo cane, the hnnt
progressed for few moments. during winch the
snake sprang several times seemingly It's iul
length into the air. making futile attempts 10
escape. The axe came oil conqueror aud 1t was
found to be DhamIn. measuring seN en- ieet seven
inches In length. This kind Of snake has no tangs,
belongs to the couber order, and kills with It's
tail" the natives say. lt is known tu be destruc-
tive to CATTLE in the nosrlls OF which It lnsuuatcs
it4 tail and then draws 1t forth with violent
abrasion.
Ii is no strange sight to find in the morning
cast-oh skin OF some snake on the lattice which
protects ones window, or twisted about over IA nit
Of terrace wall or on ones pet rocE"ry, WINCH py
the by is a most dangerous form OF Hover garden
as it affords shelter or snakes lizards, centipedes
and scorpions nnumerablc few days ago lOunu
one of these sion chs of n COBRA seven feet in length
but presume IT was longer for being empty, for
while 1t ia common to hcaI OF hve-ioot COBRA, one
seldom hears of one as long rs SIX feet.
Not many days have passed since the following
occurred: One stormy evening Il door beng ird
to slam one or family went In the dark to close
it. This time, not from any od0I but from leel,
ing the instinct tught by experience. our Trend
stopped with one foot raised, and called tor lSht
The light brought or wa 80 nOt nave gas
and revealed a green. triangular headed viper, Just
ready TO strike with its ivory white iangs which at
the timc seemed immensely long Ihe reptile was
struck down at once and held firmly with one stick
until a second one conld be brought. Meanwhile
the deadly but still pretty creature was NIlthhg
about the cane which held it, biting and tearing It's
hesn. The strange fact which lr Nelr
Mitchell made known to the world i'll ls0S that "A
poisonous snake cannot poison Itself, Is no less
strange because tTue
One evening sending 4 servant to hunt for pair
of missing scissors, were not much surpFlsed 10
have him soon run in breathlessy saying -" Come
Sahib, \ snake a snakel On Investigation We
found that IN looking in corner for the missing
article instead OF seeing the loOked-ior scissors be
saw the bright bead-ke eyes OF snake called
Ratra might looking into his IL is pretty snake.
being of "a seal brown color on the back crossed by
crescent bands OF white. while tho belly ls beau
tful red. The name may not seem definite, bat IS
,rfv. m hV % | L
night, hcncethe name. 1t was only the next day
that the baby of the house was found amusing
itself by rolling jack fruit back and forth over
Ratra which was close to It's feet These are
possessed of tangs Of course are not harmless 4
few nights later, Just as | was about to step INTO
bed son eth.ng told me not to move my raised loot
81 carefully reaching for the lamp and looking
under my foot there beheld great scorpion.
which after death measured hye inches as ono
would lie or stand at ease II alive.
one night after supper as the butler removed
childs tray there disclosed 10 view wicked
little scorpion undereath which might nave lnlct-
ed painful wound had the child pnt ms nngers
under the edge. That very evening ~ the family
were abOut to have evening worship another Sr0r-
pion probably twin brOthercame running rapilY
toward "A pair Of tender httle bare feet whether
eating sleeping or praying there Is danger from
these creatures In the cool shadowy depths of
Labys sponge the wicked though small scorpion
finds a comfortable retreat.
\ few months ago ! found a grown scorpion. and
put il into an empty bottle II was forgotten l9r a
few days. When remembered ani examined alas!
where there bad been only one there were twenty
eight But this rapldIty of increase is offset by It's
bitter enn.ity toward all others of its own kind
They seem. too. to be devoid of natural affection.
the offspring destroying their own mother Tho
cent pede s not infrequent visitor, About
the size of Il mans finger It is composed of alter.
nate links of brown and white numbering In all
eighteen or twenty links. making an entire length
of seven inches Each link Il furnished with pair
OF red legs, and the round head and ieecrs toonre
of tho same bright color The bite is usually fatal
unless remedies applied at once. Surely tho
promises in the ninety first psalm arc fulfilled to
those in this land who have made the Lord their
habitati0n.