The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-27

knew me from them. for the ophidian
intellect Is quite incapable of distdn-
gushing persons.
When I returned from the stairway
after bidding the ladies goodbye. he
vas just as savage with me. so that to,
prevent his doing himself injury was
forced to cover tile front OF his cage
with a cloth. After this the kissing
gradually subsidized But three hours
later. when ] attempted TO remove the
covering. he began as vigorously as be-
fore. SO that I was Reluctantly forced
10 replace the veil; nor did he before
next morning recover his usual eqnan-
Unity Of temper And yet he was a boa
at other times as tractable as a petted
cat. Indeed, Oh the very next day I
gave him into the hands of the gray
haired and venerable Frederick n. Gis-
borne. a member of tho Canadian par
lament. He was delighted with the
tameness OF the huge reptile, but when
told him OF the adventure of the pre-
vious day his courage waned. He lift
ed him from around his neck and neg-
vously let him drop TO the floor. where
upon he promptly gave Mr. Osborne a
sample OF his kissing anger he feared
70 arouse.
In the boa family there are other
kinds with manners extremely bad.
In the trees which fringe the banks OF
the rivers In Venezuela and Trinidad
there lives boa, yealowish in coh5r and
ugly IN countenance. whose name. xiph-
osona Hortuiana, though quite dread
fui enough, Is not half so terrible as
his teeth. They are unusually long FOR
a boa of his size tseven feete. and he Is
always ready 10 use them on those who
venture to approach him. Not even
the famous cobra Is half so ready to
strike as he Is yet even this untainabie
bitter may be handled with tact by one
who knows something OF snakes
At a public lecture which gave h
Port of Spain. Trinidad, in fs9a, HIT
ed out OF his cage on long stick
fierce snake of the same species. which.
previous to my arrival on the island.
had been considered viperine and dead
iy. ard had even been used In expert
msnts by some OF their scientific men
To determine the value OF a remedy
against snake bite. On opening the
cage he few vicEously at the stick. but
finding it inserted beneath his coils, he
moved that before he knew how 10
remedy matters he was laid on the open
table IN the center OF the platform, be-
fore the audience. AS passed before
him he faced me ami every moment
struck cut towards me. kissing through
BIS gaping jaws.
This snake" said /. bites AZ every
thing that moves In his vicinity. and
yet I mean 10 take him BY the middle
with my right hand. which ne viii not
bite. while he Will vicioasly snap at nay
left. ard az any person who may dare
approach me" So saying ceased
speaking. and stood perfectly motion
less at the end 90 the table with both
arms extended above riy head and nay
eyes fixed on the snake. The audience.
seeing me In this curious attitude. and
that the angry reptile ceased striking
while stood there ~, silent and ssata-
ssaue, wondered what Il al. meant. ana
some said: Now surely he Is exercss-
ing his power Of w1H See how his
left hand is working the passes. while
he gases ST the snaker-sae ~ hypno-
tlxsng Il mast certainly"
The left hand IN truth was now NOV
ing slowly. but with INCREASING speed
up and down before The cosied ssrresst,
wf1Scss, with loud Kisses. was striking
upwards AZ IL in vain. for X was kept
carefully beyond his reach. The rfght
hard was hs.i elevated as Sssseee. but
kept perfectly stu. and NOT threater!ng
the snake in any way. consequently -
il he paid no attention. has kept hsEfs-
seir cssnstaasly on ths defensive against
rsae moving ard rs@naesng left whesa
I saw that his whole taceghs VAS caEi-
eentraied on that Maylrg sess 1aad.