Morning journal and courier., 1888-07-09
AND sERPENTs.
Nlght-Flyers SIX Feet Wide-A Crew.
 some Snake Story.

some Snake Story.
 Bats are of enormous size in Burmah, some kinds measuring over six feet from tip to tip of their wings, writes San Francisco Chronicle correspondent. There is stinking kind that will fly into your bedroom and hang on the top rail of the bed. The ef1uvia arising from their bod ies is very nauseating and disgusting A newcomer can't make out from whence the filthy smell comes until the light of day discloses one of the animals suspended mo- tionless to the bedrail The snakes come into the dwellings during the wet season A cobra, one of the deadliest of snakes, will crawl under your pillow, and when you are asleep will lie upon your body for warmth. They will not bite you unless you frighten or anger them by moving sud- denly, or awake and try to throw them off, Should you awake and find snake an uninvited bedfellow, you have to lie quite still until it pleases his snakeship to move away of his own accord. I was din- ing at the officers mess of regiment sta- tioned at Tounghoo. It was during the wet monsoon at the time. We were sitting over our wine when young lieutenant called out: "1 feel something creeping up my right leg" may mention that wide trousers of Ameri- can 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 it was no doubt a snake, and 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 perfectly quiet. He told us in low voice that the creature, whatever 1t was, could not get past his knee, and that it had coiled itself around his leg. Not know SwaaH h4w- e-s- had sent to town for snake charmer. Two of thess worthies soon made their appear ancs, one with . reed pipe somewhat resem- bling fageolet, the other bearing q basket with flaps to 1t. 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 charm CTS. The musician commenced to play a low, soft melody on his pipe, monotonous but pleasing. In few minutes the head of the reptile was seen to peep out of the bot tom 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 keep ing time with it until, with rapid, sharp ] movement, the man on the floor caught the snake by the neck, thus forcing it's jaws apart. Producing steel instrument, the I operator pulled the poison bag out with a | dexterous jerk; then threw the snake into the basket and shut down the flap. On re- ceiving few rupees the charmers made | low obeisance and retired with their prize. | The snake proved to be cobra di capella, | or hooded 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 Gold hand" had a tumbler of brandy l ready, which he made the youth swallow. | mt fC rib though don't suppose he forgot the incident 1 for some time.