Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-10-20

paDlon-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 1854, three young
Englishmen and myself purchased a
wagon and 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
repub ic.
1t was a 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
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 Il grand old
forest king attracted my attention and
l started to climb the tree to secure the
prize. The climbing was not difficult,
as the limbs of the tree were close to-
gcther. and l was soon within reaching
distance Of the plant. As I stretched
out my right hand to grasp it, heard
my servant yell out in unmitigated ter
ror: "Buka, buka, 'nkosi: 'nyoka pezulu
'nthloko yako" Nook, 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, large green snake, known in
South Africa as the boom slang tree
snake), very venomous 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 q.
lightning flash. Backwards and for
wards it swlng, while |, dangerously
attracted by the concentrated evil ex-
pressed in the bright glitter OF it's in
fernal eyes, felt no inclination for the
moment to stir.
It's tail was entwined around a THU
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 l was after. In making this
pass at me he had drawn his eyes from
mine and the spell was broken.
withdrew my hand instantaneously,
and as its fangs snapped horribly to-
gcsher 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 a bout half minute when it loos-
cned it's tail from the Dough 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 stood as great chance
of being strangled as ! did of dying
from the effect of his bite should he get
out Of my hand. Consequently ex-
tended my arm as far as possible from
M; and bent my body back. In this
position l 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
TO 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 it's coil
was SO intense that feared that l
should be compelled to break my grip
on it's neck. Apart from the actual
pain OF the pressure and the weight of
the serpent, my arm was twisted COM
plctely around and I almost fancied l
could hear the bones cracking 1t was
therefore with extreme difficulty that I
descended from bough to bough, until
within eight feet of the base of the
tree, when grasping a decayed branch,
down ! came head first to the ground.
with my friend still in my hand. For
tunatcly the fal. did not stun me, and
my clutch did not relax sufficiently to
allow the snake to extricate his head.
The Zulu boy, who had been an open
mouthed witness Of the occurrence,
now drew his knife and while held the
serpent against the trunk of the tree,
severed 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 fit Of my singular bracelet.
1t was couple of weeks after this be-
fore could use the muscles Of my arm
with freedom.
had still another snake episode dur
ing my rambles that day. We had re-
traced our steps, and we . out of the
thick part OF the forest when noticed
cover OF small birds circiing wildly
above . tree aud twittcring excitedly.