The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-06
A TREE THAT sTRANeLes.
The Horrible snalseli'te Coils OF q Strange
Plant In Madagascar.

Far in the interior of Madagascar dwells
the remnan: OF the tribe OF the Mkodos, a
diminutiye race Of primitive people. These
nbOriginals never exceed feet s inches In
height, always so perfectly nakod and
have no other religion than the worship Of
the serpent tree. Near wherc tho Mkodos
live in caverns the serpent tree, hidden In
what appears TO be impenetrable forest,
awaits its victims. When these supersti-
tious little folk wish to Danish some evil
or court some favor they assemble here,
dancing and singing around their verdant
object of worship.
The trunk of this tree resembles pine.
apple in shape, is about feet high, black
and as hard as iron. From the top Of the
cone eight leaves hang 10 Che ground.
These are about IL feet long, feet wide,
very thick and end in sharp points. Stout
thorns cover the inner side. Tho top Of
the cone is white, round and, from afar,
looks like "a small dinner plate turned
down on larger one.
This=lasster piate,1 contains efear,
visoous liquid known TO possess exceeding.
ly intoxicating and soporiflc properties.
Just below it extend six green and hairy
shoots about 8 feet long and sharp
pointed. Above these, from between the
two pilates" six white, plumelike ten.
drills rise vertically about feet. They
are In constant motion, shooting and twist
ing around with bewildering rapidity. The
faint kissing noise thereby produced
strengthens the illusion that these tendrils
are snakes performing hideous dance.
Wilder and wilder grows tho d,fce Of
the natives around the tree; wilder and
wilder sounds the chant. Finally the saw.
xtfit e,H II tb..f 70
males, and at the point of their wicked
javelins forco her to mount to the top oi
tho tree. There she sits terror stricken.
The mob yells. Drink Drinkl" In des.
poratlon the unfortunate victim ut last
scoops up some of the fatal liquid with the
hollow of her hand, drinks IL, and jumps
TO her feet, shouting and gesticulating
wildly among the vicious snaky tendrils.
One of the tcndrils coils around her neck,
others wind around her arms and legs.
The woman gives vent Go horrible shrieks
and moro Economical laughter. While hel
struggles already grow fainter and fainter,
the horizontal haRy shoots suddenly rise
one by one, like great green snakes. and
twine themselves with relentless f0rcs
around her. IL is vivid interpretatlcu -
La0coOn's fate, without the beauty O. thrl
hero's death
The woman struggles no logger. NoH,
almost incredible, the eight monster leaves
raise their tips from the ground. They
rise higher and higher until they incloss
the victim As in q Gao of iron. They press
closer and closer, uDtil--oh, hOrs0rl the
serpent trees store Of lcthe, mingled with
the blood Of The human sacrifice, oozcs
through the intersticcs.
With yell OF mad delight tho savagos
rush to the tree aud lap up every drop oi
the horrid 1uid. Tho god is appeased
After hideous orgies the participants sinh
down ono by one In convulsions and dcliri
unto long irsensibiiity. while the grim
black tree continues 30 hold It's victim iI
tight embrace. York World.