The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1896-02-13
srRAN0LED By i TREE.

Hswrihss Snnsxs- K.ike Coim on q Strange
Tree In MadaKascnr-
Ear In the interior OF Madagascar
dsecfls the remnant OF the tribe OF the
tnrcdes, diminutiye race OF primitive
people. These aborjginals never exceed
Four feet eight inches in height, always
30 perfectly naked and have no other
religion than the worship OF the ser.
pent tree. Near whore the Mkodos liv.
I'm caverns the serpent tree, hidden In
whatappears 10 be an impenetrable for.
est, awaits it's victims. When these su.
perstitious little folk wish to Danish
some evil or court some favor they as
Eemble here, dancing and singing
around their verdant object of Worship
The trunk of this tree resembles
pineapple in shape, is about eight feet
high, black and as hard as iron. From
The top to the cone eight leaves hang Ia
che ground These are about 10 feet
long, three feet wide, very thick and
end IN sharp points. Stout thorns cove.
the inner side. The top Of the cone Is
white, round, and from afar looks like
small dinner plate turned down on n
larger one.
This larger ''plate" contains clear.
viscous liquid, known to possess exceed.
ingly Intoxicating and soporifc proper
ties just below 1t extend six green and
hairy shoots, about eight feet long and
sharp-pointed, Above these, from be-
tween the two plates" six white
plume-like tendrils rise vertically about
six feet. They are In constant motion.
shooting and twirling around with be-
wildering rapidity. The faint kissing
noise thereby produced strengthens the
illusion that these tendrils are snakes
performing a hideous danes
Wilder and wilder grows the dance Of
the natives around the tree; wilder
and wilder shouts the chant. FINALLY |
the savages, with rush, surround one /
OF the females, and at the point OF /
their wicked javelins force her To I
mount to the top of the tree. There she
sits, terror-stricken. The mob wells:
Drink Drink" In desperation the
unfortunate victim at last scoops I'm
some of theA..4tal liquid with the hoI
low OF her hand, drinks it and jumps 3
20 her feet, shouting and gesticulatiny +
wildly among the vicious snaIey ten
drills.
One of the tendrils coils around her
neck-others wind around her arms
and legs. The woman gives vent 10 hor-
rible shrieks and more demoniacal
laughter. While her struggles already
grow fainter and fainter the horizontal
hairy shoots suddenly rise one BY one.
ike great green snakes, and Irvine
themselves with relentless force around II
Ger. 1t is a vivid Interpretation Of Lao
looms fate, without the beauty of that ,
lero's death. Al
The woman strugglesnol longer. Now,
Utmost incredible, the eight monstay
caves raise from their tips to the
round; they rise higher and higher.
Until they inclose the victim ais in case I
4 iron; they press closer and closer. ],
Intil--oh, horrori the serpent trees &
tore of lethe, mingled with the blood T =
4 the human sacrifice, oozes through :
he iuterstices. i
With yell OF mad delight the saw q
ges rush to the tree and lap up every r
rop of the horrid fluid. The god i T
ppeased. After hideous orgies the par. Z
cipants sink down one by one in con. Il
lislons and delirium DO long inscnsl n
slity, while the grim. black tree contir,- q
e 70 hold it's victim in tight EN- brace.
IN. x. World. !,