St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-01-18
1tlisrellatiu.
THE PYTHON AND THE IMAMBA,
Tbe SERPENT Family in Africa ana Some
of its CharacteriStics.

that danger, except 10 the Dare lOOt-
ed and bare bodied Africans, is often
exaggerated. Seldom did we expert
ence ANYTHING more than a common
fright.
The serpent family in South Africa
is legion, and its determination is a
matter OF great difficulty, if not an
impossibility. In point of size we
place the python at the head.
1t is often found as large round as
the calf OF mans leg, and rom hf-
leen to twenty feet long.
Some Zulu boys, while hunting near
my house, heard the cries of an ante
lope in cluster OF bushes, and run.
ming to the spot, found a python in
The act of swallowing it. Dispatch
ing his serpentship, with spears and
clubs, they toasted on the game en-
trapped in this novel fashion.
A story is told OF python attack
ing a Zulu boy while he was asleep,
and attempting to swallow him, he
ginning with oneleg. Not getting on
satisfactorily, and the unfortunate
lad awakening to a realizing sense"
OF his situation, the serpent tried to
eject the limb, but the tangS were too
deeply fixed in the flesh to render this
an easy matter. The poor lad was
obliged to make the best OF this awk-
ward situation till help came.
During a long residence in South
AI,,n1 | L n of Iant l.
to human being from an encounter
rom this serpent. If armed with a
knife or club, one is tolerably safe.
And it is easily destroyed while d.
costing an antelope or rabbit.
When boiled, the flesh of the python
is tender, and looks like paddock. 1t
is said to be an article of food among
some tribes in the interior of Africa.
Pythons in South Africa are often
reported as long as thirty ieet, but |
never saw one over twenty. one.
None are large enough to swallow an
animal bigger than goat.
The most formidable serpent is
called the imamba. There are two
kinds, black and green, the former be-
ing the most poisonous, and the only
snake which is known to attack hui
man beings when unprovoked. It
fully grown it is as large as a mans
wrist and twelve or fifteen feet long.
The sight of in hot chase, with he ld
erect, eyes dlated and tongue pro-
truded, is not calculated to awaken
pleasant emotions in man or beast.
The Zulus, unless well armed with
clubs and spears, generally take to
their heels when goodsized one APP
pears in their path. Rev. Lewis
Grout, in his interesting book called
Zulu Land, gives graphic account
of a narrow escape from one which
pursued him, although he was on
horseback. When it enters Zulu
Praal, the greatest CONSERVATION
prevails. remember a casein which
woman was Obliged to quit her
house dragging her three children
after her, an imamba having taken
possession. Her husband, a brave
fellow, entered alone, and, after a
severe contest, succeeded in killing
the reptile.
The appearance OF snakes in native
dwellings, is always regarded as an
evil omen. Generally after such a
visitation an OK is slaughtered as a
propitatory sacrifice TO the spirits
which have sent the snakes on some
evil errand. A part of the beef is usu
ally laid aside for these reptiles. We
should suppose that, as the beef is
never eaten. their faith in the utility
OF this offering would be shaken, but
this does not appear to be the case
African snakes often 80 in pairs
and when one is killed in house the
uncomfortable apprehension remain:
that another is some where on the
premises.
~ missionary once hearing rustl
ing on the floor of his bedroom, il
The middle of the night, struck ligh
and ascertained that horrid imam
ia was the cause OF the disturbance
He killed it and returned to his bed
Halt an hour after he was startled b,
similar visitation and was obliged
10 repeat the operation. The rid
dance OF two deadly serpents in on
night was quite feat, and the mex
morning the Zulus were loud in thei
praises of their Teacher" using ;
common exclamation among them
Jek abelungu ba va nlulwa akut'
Kodwa," meaning: ooh, white PEG
pie! Nothing overcomes you bu
death!"
Another missionary was reading
one of "Spurgeon's sermons" to hi
wife, when she suddenly exclaimed
My dear, what is that under you
char?" To his horror he found ;
green imamba coiled up near his feet
how long the visitor had been listen
ing to the great London preacher wa
1.-THE question to consider but hov
TO get rid of him, which was not
very pleasant business.
Thelamented DR.. Adams, one of tn
pioneer missionaries, was one
preaching in a grass covered chapel
when beautiful but venomous i'm
amba entered, and slyly crept aloni
the ridge, till it came directly abov
the good mans head, and then as
summed an attitude of rest and al
tention.
The preacher, nothing daunted
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