The Arizona sentinel., 1888-09-15
THE DEADLY COBRA:
How an Army Officer Was Relieved of
 Poisonous Reptile.

How an Army Officer Was Relieved of
 Poisonous Reptile.
 There are innumerable tales told or hair-breadth escapes from death people have had from encounters with cobras and other venomous snakes. Although snake stories are numef0us, ] will ir1= fict one of these narrow escapes upon your readers. I was dining at the offi- cers' mess of a regiment stationed at Tounghoo.
 It was during the wet monsoon at the time, We were sitting over our wine when young Lieutenant called out: q feel something creeping up my right legn I may mention that wide trousers of American drill are worn for the sake of coolness. An old officer present told the young fellow for Gods sake not to stir, but sit perfectly quiet. adding that 1t was no doubt a snake, ahd that if he was to move his position he might be fatally bitten: The young fellow behaved with much nerve. His face became @ shade paler, but he took the advice given and remained quiet. He told us in low voice that the creature, whatever it was, could not get past his knee, and that it had coiled itself around his leg.
 Not knowing how the affair might end, the Colonel had sent to the town for d snake-eharmer: Two of these worthies soon made their appearance, 0ne with reed pipe somewhat resem- bling d flageolet; the other bearing basket with flaps to it. The basket, with one flap up, was set down behind the young officers chair, the bearer squatting down beside it. The other officers made room for the charmers.
 The musician commenced to play a low, soft melody on his pipe, monot- onous but pleasing. In a few minutes the head of the reptile was seen to peep out of the bottom of the young officers trousers, and after nodding it about little, keeping time with the cadence of the music, the snake slowly wriggled itself free from the young fellows leg and glided toward the piper.
 The music now became fast and wild, the snake keeping time with it, until with rapid, sharp movement the man on the floor caught the snake by the neck, thus forcing his jaws apart. Producing steel instrument, the oper- ator pulled the poison bag out with d dexterous jerk. then threw the snake into the basket and shut down the flap. On receiving a few rupees the charm CTS made low obeisance and retired with their prize: The snake proved to be a Gobra-di-capella Or nodded snake about eighteen inches in length. After the reptile had withdrawn from about his person the young officer would have tainted from the reaction, but the ''old hand" had tumbler of brandy ready, which he made the youth swallow. This restorative soon put him to rights, although I don't suppose he forgot the incident for some time.
 Snakes have their use in houses, for they will chase and devour the rats and mice that infest the dwellings of men. Often in the ardor of pursuit they will fall from the rafters, and it is rather unpleasant should you happen to be underneath.
 There are many varieties of the ser bent tribe in the jungle, the boa-con- strictor, the python and rock snake being the largest. These are often as long as forty feet, with bodies as thick as big mans thigh. There is a small, venomous snake here very fond of sucking hens eggs. It will bite a little piece out of the shell at the point or end and suck out the contents through the hole. was on a visit to a friend one day, when, requiring eggs, he sent servant into the yard to look for some. On putting his hand in a nest in the hollow of tree one of these snakes bit him on the wrist. The man died within an hour. There is no hope in such a case. never heard of snake stone being found in Burmah. San Francisco ChrO11- | icIe