The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-12-31
IN A SNAKES COILS.
An Orchid Hunters Unpleasant
Experience in Zululand.
Several Dangerous Encounters with Dead
~ serPeuts-Chased by a Cobra-A De-
cidedly Unwelcomc Sleeping Com
Panion-A Country to Avoid.

Go to Zululand if you are fond of
snakes; ii you are not, but fear their
poisonous fangs and murderous en-
braces, cast your lines elsewhere.
In the summer of 1884, three young
Englishmen and myself purchased a
wagon and q span of oxen and, provid-
ing ourselves with the necessary arms,
provisions and servants. started for
Durham, Port Natal, on hunting trip
through Zululand and the Transvaal
republic.
1t was bright sunny morning, when,
leaving my companions at the wagon, |
strolled into the woods near our en-
campment, accompanied by one of our
Zulu servants. My object was peace
full one, viz, to make collection of the
orchids in the vicinity. an occupation
always absorbingly interesting to any
one possessing the slightest botanical
knowledge. had been fairly success
full in the accumulation of terrestrials
and we had advanced into the heart of
the forest, when beautiful epiphyte
on the upper branches of a grand old
forest king attracted my attention and
i started to climb the tree to secure the
prize. The climbing was not difficult,
MS the limbs OF the tree were close to-
gether, and l was soon within reaching
distance of the plant As stretched
out my right hand to grasp it, heard
my servant yell out in unmitigated ter
ror: "Buka, buxa, 'nkosi: 'nyoka pezulu
'nthloko yako" Look, look, captain! A
snake above your head. CHANGING up
ward | saw, swinging to and fro, level
with my head and slightly in front of
me, a large green snake, known in
South Africa as tbs boom slang tree
snake). very venomous and greatly
dreaded by the wood cutters of the
country. The reptiles jaws were
to their utmost and its forked
tongue was working nervously in and
out of its mouth with the rapidity of
lightning fash. Backwards and for
wards it swung, while /, dangerously
attracted by the concentrated evil ex-
in the bright glitter of its in
fernal eyes, felt NO inclination for the
to stir.
Its tail was entwined around a thin
branch about four feet above me and
its body undulated gently, as it moved |
by the zephyr breeze which stirred the |
leaves of the tree. For two or three
seconds we remained thus when his |
made a rapid snap at my up
lifted hand, which had not vet seized |
the orchid was after. In making this
pass at me he had drawn his eyes from
mine and the spell was broken. I |
withdrew my hand instantaneously.
and as its fangs snapped horribly to- |
gether seized the snake tightly by the
neck. The reptile wriggled violently,
nearly causing me to lose my balance.
but contrived to maintain nv hold
FOR about half minute when IL loos-
ened its tail from the bough above and
attempted to coil itself around nv
body. My fear was that he would sue.
coed in getting his tail around my neck,
in which event stood as great chance
of being strangled as did of diving
from the effect of his bite should he get
put OF my hand. Consequently / ex-
'ended my arm a. far as possible from
ne and bent my body back In this
position began to descend the tree bv
iropping from bough to bough with
ny left hand. / had not gone many
eet when, despite my strenuous efforts
o prevent his accomplishing it, the
make managed to throw his body over
he thick part of my arm, and instant
y coiled itself round and round from
.rss y 6lesp The prssspFs q ~ seu |