The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-09
The joys of Life in India.

The Joys of Life in India.
One of the American magazines
which came to Panhala not long ago
contained narrowing account of
row which took place in the close
neighborhood of alligators and moccasin
snakes. Alarming as such an incident
must have been, it was really no more
than mere trifle compared to the ex-
periences which people who live in this
part of tropical India have to undergo
almost daily. In one governmental
district in India about $4,000 persons
are reported as dying yearly from the
bite of poisonous reptiles or the attack
of savage beasts. Considering the
perils with which one is beset here in
Panhala, the wonder is that the number
of deaths is not very much larger
Leopards and tigers are shot in the
country around here, and at times they
| prowl around the dwellings of the peo-
! pie in the night and sometimes try to
effect an entrance. Poisonous reptiles
are so numerous and so quick to i'm
prove every opportunity to enter the
houses that no one can relax his watch
fulness for a moment without being
placed in danger of his life. For in
stance, no one would think of getting
into bed without first looking for what
may be, and frequently is, costly en-
sconced between the cool sheets. No
one would spring out of bed in the night
without first striking a match, even
though he be so brave that he pooh
pools at the idea of keeping night
lamp burning. Even the bath is not
luxury entirely devoid of danger from
one or more of these poisonous creatures.
To-day snake is found in ones shoe ;
tomorrow in the bath-sponge there is a
scorpion. The next day centipede is
found under the flower-stand; and the
the next there is scorpion in the novel
one has been reading, or snake on the
shelf or hidden away in ones napkin at
dinner.
Not long since friend from the coast
related while visiting there a recent eX-
perience which is really not uncommon
in this part of the world. One evening,
leaving 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 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, enjoy
ing the GOODNESS of the place after a
hot day on the scorching plains. Mr..
/ had stepped directly over his maj
esty; and had it not been for the un-
mistakable odor which betrayed the
snake he might not have lived to tell
the tale. 1t is fortunate 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, 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
swallowing toad and seemed as
startled as the sahib himself. The lat.
ter, 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 belonged. Armed
with new American axe and BAN
boo cane, the hunt progressed for 6
few moments, during which the snake
sprang several times seemingly its full
length into the air, making futile at
W CoSdpC' hO uAO SuihO Vi
conqueror and it was found to be 6
Dhaman, measuring seven feet sever
inches in length. This kind of snake
has no fangs, belongs to the coulber or
der, and "kills with its tall" so tn,
natives say. 1t is known to be destruc
tive to cattle, in the nostrils of which i
insinuates its tail and then draws i
forth with violent abrasion.
Not many days have passed since thu
following occurred: One stormy even
ing door being heard to slam one O
our family went in the dark to close ii
This time, not from any odor but from
feeling the instinct taught by eX
perience, our friend stopped, with on
foot raised, and called for light. TIL
light was brought Qor we do not hav
gas) and revealed a green, triangular
headed viper, just ready to strike wit
its ivory-white fangs, which at the tim
seemed immensely long. The reptil
was struck down at once and held firml
with one stick until a second one coul
be brought. Meanwhile the deadly
but still pretty, creature was within
about the cane which held it, bitin
and tearing its own flesh. The strang
fact, which DIR. Weir Mitchell mad
known to the world in 1868, that
poisonous "snake cannot poison II
self" is no less strange because true.
One evening, sending servant t
hunt for pair of missing scissors, W
were not much surprised to have hiT