The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-20
IN A SNAKES COILS.
An Orchid Hunters Unpleasant
Experience in Zululand.
Several Dangerous Encounters with Dead.
~ Serpents-Chased by !. Cobra-A De-
cidedly Unwelcome Sleeping Com
panlon-A Country 20 Avoid.

Go to Zululand if you are fond of
snakes; If 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 u span of oxen and, provid-
ing ourselves with the necessary arms,
provisions and servants, started for
D'Urban, 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 Accordingly 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 a beautiful epiphyte
ON the upper branches of grand old
forest king attracted my attention and
] started to climb the tree to secure the
prizo. The climbing was not difficult,
as the limbs of the tree were close to-
sscther, and was soon within reaching
distance of the plant. As stretched
ont ms. right hand to grasp it, heard
my servant yell out in unmitigated ter
ror: ''Buka, buka. 'nkosi: 'nyola pezulu
'nthloko yako" look, look, captain! a
NSsnl>r
ward, saw, swinging to and fro. level
with my head and slightly in front of
me, as large green snake, known in
South frica as the boom slang tree
snal<e9 very venomons and greatly
dreaded by the wood-cutters of the
country. The reptiles jaws were
stretched to their utmost. and its forked
tongue was working nervously in and
out of its mouth with the rapidity of a
lightning fash. Backwards and for
wards it swung, while I, dangerously
attracted by the concentrated evil OK
pressed in the bright glitter of it's in
formal eyes, felt NO inclination for the
moment to stir.
= y It's tail was cntwincd around 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 VIC remained thus when his
snakeship made a rapid snap at my up
lifted hand, which had not yet seized
the orchid YVES after. In making this
tp;sss ut me he had drawn his eyes from
mine and the spell was broken. l
VyyitI ,fpnxv hand
and as its fangs snapped horribly to-
gc.her seized the snake tightly by the
neck. The reptile wriggled violently,
nearly causing me to lose my balance,
but contrived to maintain my hold
for about half u minute when it loos-
cned its tail from the bough above and
attempted to coil itself around my
body, My fear was that he would sue.
coed in getting his tail around my neck,
in which event 1 stood as great chance
of being strangled as did of dying
from the effect of his bite should he get
5sout of my hand. Consequently ex-
tended my arm as far as possible from
ms and bent my body back. In this
position began to descend the tree by
dropping from bough to bough with
my left hand. had not gone many
feet when, despite my strenuous efforts
t. prevent his accomplishing it, the
snake managed to throw his body over
tic thick part of my arm, and instant
ly coiled itself round and round from
wrist TO bicep. The pressure of its coil
Al was so intense that feared that
should be compelled to break my grip
on its neck. Apart from the actual
pain OF the pressure and the weight of
the serpent, my arm was twisted com
plctely around and almost fancicd l
could hear the bones cracking. It was
therefore with extreme difficulty that
descended from bough to 6ough, until
within eight feet of the base Of the
4 tree, when grasping decayed branch,
down came head first to the ground.
= with my friend still in my hand. For.
tunatc}y the fal! did not stun me, and
my clutch did not relax sufficiently to
!. 1llow fhe snake to extricate his head.
-ghesIulu boy, who had been an open
n,onthed witness OF the. occurrence,
ne,s drew his knife End while l held the
serpent against the trunk of the tree,
!. se scted its head from its body, The
rest of the snake was easily uncoiled
from my arm. which had become all
shades from black .to green, owing to
the tight 1T or my singular sbracelet.
1t waAsa couple 81 weeks after this be-
.foues ! eoutd use the muscles Of my arm
with freedom 800
had still another snake episode dur
Ing my ra.nblex atday. We had re-
traced bur steps, aud we . out 81 the
! thick <rartsfs the forest when Inoticed
covey OF small birds circ;ing wildly
4 Abovs . tree and twittcring excitsdly.