Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-10
A TREE THAT STRANGLEs.
The Horrible Snalleiike Coils Of Strange
Plant I'm Madagascar.

3ianb Sh Nsht.tpdhCaF.
Far IN tho interior of Madagascar dwellg
the remnant Of tho tribe Of the Mkodos, a
di1ninutiyn race Of primitive people. These
aboIginals never exceed feet inches in
height, always 70 perfectly naked ard
have no other religion than the worship Of
the serpent tree Near where the Mkodos
live in caycrns the serpent tree, hidden in
what appears to be inponctrablo forest,
awaits its victims When these supcrsti-
tious little folk wish TO Danish some evil
Or court some favor they assemble here,
dancing ana singing around their ycrdant
object Of worship
Tho trunk of this tree resembles a pine
apple in shape, is about feet high, black
and rs hard us iron From the top of the
como eight leaves lang TO tho ground.
These are about - feet long, 3 feet wide,
very thick and end IN sharp points Stout
thorps cover the inner side. Tho top of
tho cone 10 white, round and, from afar,
looks lilo . small dinner plato turned
down on a larger one.
This larger plate" contains a clear,
viscous liquid known to possess exceeding
" Intoxicating and soporihc properties
just below IL extend six grcan and hairy
shoots, ahont feet long and sharp
pointed. Above these, from between the
Two 'platen six white plupeliks ten
drills rise vertically about feet They
are ~ constant motion, shooting ana twist
ing around with bewilderng rapidity The
liant Kissing noise thereby produced
strengthens TIE Illusion chat these tendrils
aro snakes performing q hidoou5 dance
Wilder AID wilder grows the dance D;
the natives around the tree; wilder and
wilder sounds tho chant. Finally tho eav-
ages, with !. rush surround enc Of the fe-
males, and ut the point Of their wicked
Javciirs force her to mount to the top Of
the tree There sine sits terror stricken
The mob ytlls. Drink Drinkr' In tles-
perat on tAe unfortunate victim at last
scoops MP some Of the fatal liquid with tho
hollow ot Her hand, drinks it, ana Jumps
20 her feet. shouting and gesticulating
wildly amuag he vicious snaky tendrils
One Of the tendrils coils around her neck,
others wind around hor arms and legs
The woman gives vent to horrible shriels
and more deinonlacal laughter While her
struggles already grow fainter and fainter
the horizontal hairy shoots suddenly riso
ono by one, like great green snakes, and
twno themselves with relentless forca
around her. /. IS q vivid Interpretation Of
LAGOON : fate, without the beauty OF taat
hero dc4th.
Tho woman struggles no longer Now,
almost incredible, the eight monster leaves
raise hoiF tips from the ground They
rise higher and higher, until they incl0s1
the victim rs in a case " iron. They press
closer ana closer untii--oh, horror, tie
serpent tree IS store Of lethe, mingled with
the blood Of the human sacrifice oozs,s
through the iutersyices.
Win a yell Of mad delight the sayases
rush to the tree and lap up every drop q.
the horrd fluid. The god is appeased
After hideoIs orgies the participants sink
down one IF one in commissions and deljri-
um 70 long insensibiiity. while the grim
black tree continues To hold it, victim i'll
tight embrace New York World