The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-23
CANACUCHI AND MANUTA.
South American Tropical Snakes that
Garry Deadly, Quick-acting Venom.

South American Tropical Snakes that
Garry Deadly, Quick-acting Venom.
"A rattlesnake in rage is a sight |
that some folks can't gaze upon with
out having their sleep disturbed for a |
long time, but if any such person after
seeing an angry rattlesnake at its worst
should see an angry CanaCuChi-the |
venomous Central and South American
snake more familiarly known as the
bushmaster would feel as if he
might take the rattlesnake to his bosom
and make a pet of it," said the natural
list. Fortunately for the natives where
this deadly reptile is found, it is by no
means numerous in its habitat, or the
record of deaths from its bite would be
comparatively as many as those that
befall the natives of India from the
fangs of the venomous snakes Of that
country. BY the unqualified state
ments of people in Guiana, in the rank
undergrowths of which country the
bushmasters are most numerous, | was
assured, before | had seen one of those
reptiles that they are the equal in
swift deadIiness of venom to the dreaded
cobra of India, and after | saw what
the bushmaster was capable Of had
not the slightest doubt of any tale that
had been told me about it.
"My first sight of Canacuchi was
startling one. In company with a ma
tive was in a canoe on a small arti-
fetal lake which supplied water for
irrigating surrounding plantations, fish
ing for jllapos, fish peculiar to that
region. This fish resembles in shape
our yellow perch, but is OF silvery
white, with two brilliant red spots just
behind the gill covers The strange
thing about this fish is its ability to
travel overland for long distances in
search of other waters when the pond
in which it had been domiclled dries
up, as these pond have a way of doing
down there. To enable it to make good
Roadway on these land trips the fish
has two movable bony hooks on its
belly, by which it pulls itself over the
ground. | was intent on my fishing
when | was startled by cry from the
native, and looking up saw an expires
sion of great terror on his face. He
was pointing toward the shore, which
was only three or four yards distant.
Canacuchi Canacuchi he
screamed.
81 turned my head in that direction
and saw a most Misunderstanding ser.
pent. 1t was about five feet long and
as big around as my arm. 1t had a
head enormously out of proportion to
its body Two prominent eyes that
shone like Goals of fire, were set well
forward on this hideOus head. The
snake was in tremendous rage. Its
great mouth was open, showing two
long, curved fangs on each side of the
upper jaw. AS 1t moved to and fro,
with his formidable head constantly
turned toward US, its brilliant markings
glittered in the sun. | was told after
ward that if the water had not been be-
tween the boat and the snake it would
have rushed upon us without a sec.
Ond's delay, as the tactics of the bush
master are always offensive, but it will
not enter water
Gas soon as my native regained
something Of his composure he seized
the paddle and was for fleeing from the
sight of the terror striking reptile, but
| restrained him and put two pistol
balls in the snakes head and ended its
furious maneuverings. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that | could induce
the native to paddle the canoe ashore
so that | could make closer examina-
ton of the snake, so intense was his
dread of the bushmaster, even when it
was dead. He landed me on the
shore finally, but as soon as | stepped
out of the boat he padded away several
yards. found that closer inspection
of the reptile added greatly to its hid
eous aspect. The fangs were nearly
two inches long, and unlike those of
other venomous serpents, were not in
tended to work in sockets and lie fiat
against the upper jaw when not in use,
but were stationary in the jaw, |
picked up the snake to take it with me
for better investigation at my quarters,
but the native was so Mortified at the
prospect Of having it in the boat with
him that he absolutely and empbatcally
refused to come ashore after me unless
/ left the bushmaster, which | was re-
luctantly forced to do, as | could get
back home in no other way than by
the canoe.
"Another venomous snake Of South
America of which the natives live in
mortal terror is one called the manuta
ltabounds in parts of Venezuela There
is an old Indian guide down there who