Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
A SNAKE EATER
The Story Of a Man Whose Appe-
tite Has Strange Cravings
WATCHING THE PROCESS
First He Cuts on the Head. Then Skins the
Snake and Then Eats the Meat-Hunger,
He Says, First Drove Him to It-A Snake
Stew.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star
HDQRs. NICARAGUA CANAL CoNs'N Co.,
~ Tr,.

~~--NSboh"cAAS9oA Auo evening star.
HDQRs. NICARAGUA CANAL CoNs'N Co.,
San JUAN DEL NoRrE (GREYrowN),
NICARAGUA. March 20, 1891.
"E HAD BUT FINISHED DINNER, AND,
w gathering in our tent. were preparing to
undress and get under our mosquito bars and
there, protected from the myriad of humming
and buzzing insects that were swarming about,
have quiet hours reading before lights we're
put out. cold rain had been falling during
the day and now the night seemed growing
hldeous with heavy peals of thunder and vivid
flashes Of lightning. Inviting indeed seemed
the tent and no place ever more snug appeared
than our mosquito bars.
"Ilngles has another snake" said Humes,
one OF the occupants of the tent. Now you
have chance to see whether what told you is
true or not"
SNAKE EATER.
This remark referred to the subject discussed
at the dinner table-the assertion of a number
OF laborers that Tingles. Swiss. employed as
policeman, was a snake eater. The man had
drifted into San Juan del Norte; had been
hired by the canal company and detailed for
duty among the Jamaica negroes who were en-
pioyed In the work of building the canal
tnrough the swamp. The report was circulated
through the complaints of n number of men
that Iingles was in the habit of sneaking their
TN drinking cups in which to stew the snake
meat, ana this they objected to with all the
vlgor that asserts itself in a Jamaica negro
when he has grievance. The story had been
discredited. it being believed that the man
wishing to brighten the negroes for some pur-
pose OF his own had imposed on their credulity
We had heard of snake eaters in central Africa
but could connect such a disgusting act only
with humanity in its lowest FORM while Tin
giles. though OF brutal nature and a strange
combination of character, was a Caucasian
and OF ordinary intelligence for a man of his
class, though illiterate 30 far as education was
concerned.
DAT MAN GOT DEBIL IN HIM.
No one had time to reply to Humes' remark
before couple Of wild-eyed negroes came
stopping through the mud to our tent and in
extreme excitement exclaimed: q
Dat ar mann got a debil in i'm sure's Satin
iioes. He's eatin snakes agin. We carnt lib
| in same shack"
There was a crashing peal Of thunder at this
moment seeming to give emphasis to the
darkeys protestations. Still doubling, but
ton from the driving rain. we started toward
the shack. some hundred yards off, that
formed the dormitory for several hundred Of
the iaborers. We soon saw Tingles crouching
on the log floor near his cane bed, penknife in
hand. and, while half of the slimy skin of a
seven-foot toboba was stretched on the logs. he
was busily engaged in separating the balance
from the body. careful all the while to keep
the meat from dragging in the mud. great
crowd OF negroes. talking excitedly, were
filled with fear by the actions of the 'bedebiled
mann, as they called him. Our first thought
was that, having killed the SNAKE not an I'm
common occurrence, he was preserving the
skin, which, when cured, could be sold at San
Juan for few dollars to CURIOSITY seekers
who aWaya N fficior ,bara 90
| market for such things.
HOW he DID IT.
But We now saw him slip out his tongue.
lick his lip and then continue maunching
motion Of his jaws. The imagination could run
no higher than ours now mounted, and a sick feel
ing coming over us seemed to make il adyis-
able that We retire. but the very hideousness of
the scene, heightened by the Pickering light of
the lanterns hung about and the flashing light
ming and peals of thunder, caused us to stay
and see more Of the beastial exhibition. Tin
giles looked up with a show Of fear lest he
might be caused to leave his feast. but con-
tinued to busy himself in the skinning process
every now and then chopping off small pieces
OF the flesh OF the reptile and raising them to
his mouth on the point of the knife and, with
evident relish. bury his teeth in the meat
NEGLECTED HIS REGULAR MEAL.
1t appeared that the snake being killed early
in the afternoon and, anticipating the meal that
he would have with it. he had neglected his plate
beans. rice, plantains and beef that the labor
ers have served to them with coffee. The
coffee only he had kept and now slipped over
his snake feast The flesh seemed tender and
was well stripped with fat. The reptile was one
OF the deadly poisonous snakes of this region
seven feet long and as big about the body as
the arm OF heshy man. The head was fiat
that being characteristic mark Of the poison
GUS snakes.
For full half hour we stood near the man,
lost in astonishment at the sight which 10 few
have seen and which can only be credited by
those who also have witnessed it. Having ac-
complished the skinning he cut off pieces of
the meat and placed them safely in an old tin
case that had contained sea biscuit. Then. in
a smaller can, he placed a quantity of the meat,
poured over little water, adding a bit of salt
and starting a fire in a protected spot outside
the shack and away from the kitchen, for the
cook would permit none Of his bedebling in his
vicinity, allowed the mixture to boil As the
water was simmering, watched by himself with
eager eyes, some one spoke to him for the first
time.
Where did you learn to eat snakes?" he was
asked.
HE TOLD HIS STORY.
When he could be induced to talk he gave us
his story in broken English. He had been
cook on an English ship, had been engaged for
a cruise to Valparaiso, there deserted and later
on worked his passage up to the Central Ameri-
can coast, and again leaving his ship at Punta
Arenas, Costa Rica. Here he began a tramp's
life and started mp the mountain road for San
Jose. where he lived for a time. Thinking to
reach the Atlantic coast and at San Juan ship
for England he attempted to go from San Jose
to the San Carlos river, where by means Of a
dugout he could. float down stream, having for
companions a couple of natives who were well
acquainted with the woods and the river and
whom he trusted as guides. They were not
long out when, losing their way in the forest
during a long spell Of rainy weather, they wan.
dered about for q couple Of weeks before
the sun came out and the natives were able
to start with certainty in the direction Of the
river. Their provisions had been scanty and
when they finally became exhausted the cab
bage palm and few roots dug from the ground
were their only means Of subsistence. Sleep
ing on the bare ground, constantly wet and al
most famished, their condition was becoming
hopeless. They had been unable to secure
game Of any kind except q young monkey,
which had strayed from its mother. The call
of the pavon, the treading noise Of the light
footed deer and the bowling Of the monkeys
we're but torrents to tantalize them from their
inability to kill or trap game Of any kind
Their weakened condition did not permit them
to resort to many means Of getting food that
are known to the natives
HUNGER DROVE HIM TO IT.
1t was at this period Of their desolation that
n great snake was seen sleepino nv rha sida ~ 4,