The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-07
HUNTING \ SNAKE.


 strictor. It is probably the fault of the snowman, who advertises such titles as draw. A Bengal tiger used to be regarded as the essence of ferocity, but people have finally learned that the country in which a tiger was captured makes little differ ence with his size or disposition. While the anaconda, the boa, and the python are all large snakes, all seize their pray and then crush it in their coils, and while they also closely re- semble each other, they have many points of difference. In Natal the python is called the rock snake; in Ceylon the tree snake. The bite of these big serpents is not poisonous, as in the cases of the cobra, rattlesnake, and other species, but it might as we'll be. The mouth is full of terrible faugs, set on the same principle as a sharks, and the victim who escapes after being struck may look upon it as miracle.
 think the python the ugliest cus- toner of the three. have helped to capture at least fifty of them, and have seen a couple of hundred of others at liberty. While he does not attain the length of the anaconda he is more powerful, quicker and harder fighter. But tor the torpor into which they sink when digesting heavy meal, being at the time almost helpless, it would be almost impossi- ble to capture even the smallest speci- men. Here is serpent thirty feet long, as large around his middle as beer keg, with mouth full of sharp teeth, and temper easily aroused. He is lord over all. He takes no impu- dence from any living thing, and will thrust himself upon an elephant as soon as upon deer. If he was only to be found in the depths of the for ests the natives could avoid him, but he comes out in search of his prey and he enters the villages with more bold ness than lion. One evening as the menagerie men, five of us in all, were spending the time in a village, about fifteen miles from Columbo, Ceylon, a great outcry was suddenly raised, and we soon discovered that a python was at hand. Almost in the center of the village the owner of domesticated buffalo had tied the animal to a stake for the night. The buffalo was bull of great size and strength, and could carry larger burden than a horse. The snake had come across some gar den land, passed close to several huts, and attacked the buffalo in plain view of a dozen people. He struck the poor beast in the neck with his fangs, and by the time we got there he had three coils around the body, and the buffalo had no show for his life. The great beast beloved and roared and plunged about, but the serpent rolled him over and over like log, and I heard plainly his bones crack as the terrible coils frightened. It was barely possible to make out the de- tails, for the snake was as quick as lightning in his movements. He never let go with his fangs, and paid no heed to us. He rolled the buffalo over fifteen or twenty times, and then, reaching out with his tail, took 8 turn around tree, tightening his coils like springs, and the buffalo was reduced to a pulp with the effort.
 While the natives were for killing the big serpent at once, we were for capturing it alive, being out from Columbo on that very .errand. How ever, there was 30 much excitement that nothing was done, and finally, becoming alarmed at the outcry around him, the python reluctantly took his leave. He, however, moved the body of the buffalo about two hundred feet, and had he been left undisturbed he would no doubt have drawn it across the garden to the for est. AS an experiment four of us seized hold of the carcass and tugged at it, and by a great effort we moved it three or four feet. I do not mean to compare the strength of that snake to four men. I believe he was the equal of a span of draught horses.
 When the excitement had subsided somewhat the chief ordered a litter prepared, torches lighted, and the carcass of the buffalo was removed to tuo cuBc ol Suc AoEcots I1c saiu tAle serpent, having tasted the blood, would be sure to find it there. Such proved to be the case. We had scarcely left the spot, when a scout, who had remained behind, came run ming after us with the report that h. had heard the python hissing and thrashing about in the tangle. Hi bite was a savage one. The neck ol the buffalo was red with blood, and the fiesh was torn as if . bulldog hai taken hold. Such was the excitement that no one slept that night, and ths village was surrounded by bonfres for fear of . visit from another ser- pent. This was the first time in year that . python had made such raid
 When the chief was asked how i
 l A AH-