The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-23
A FREE THAT STRANGLES.
The Horrible snskeiike Coils OF Strange
Plant In Madagascar.


Far in the interior of Madagascar dwells
the remnant of the tribe of the Mkodos, a
aiminutive race Of primitive people. These
aboriginals never exceed feet inches i'm
height, always go perfectly naked and
have no other religion than the worship of
the serpent tree. Near where the Mkodos
live in caverns the serpent tree hidden in
what appears to be impenetrable forest
awaits its victims. When these supcrsti-
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 8 feet high, black
and as hard as iron. From the top OF the
cone eight leaves hang 20 the ground.
These are about l2 feet long, 3 feet wide,
very thick and end in sharp points. Stout
thorns cover the inner side. The top of
the cone is white, round and from afar,
looks like "a small dinner plate turned
down on a larger one.
This larger 'plate" contains a clear,
viscous liquid known TO possess exceeding
ly intoxicating and sopOrilc properties
just below it extend six green and hairy
shoots, about 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 the dance of
the natives around the tree; wilder and
wilder sounds the chant. Finally the saw
ages with rush, surround one of the fe-
males, and at the point of their wicked
javelins force her to mount to the top of
the tree. There she sits terror stricken.
The mob yells, Drink! Drink" In des-
peration the unfortunate victim at last
scoops up some of the fatal liquid with the
hollow of her hand, drinks it, and jumps
to her feet, shouting and gesticulating
wildly among the vicious snaky tendrils.
One of the tendrils coils around her neck,
others wind around her arms and legs
The woman gives vent to horrible shrieks
and more demoniacal laughter. While her
struggles already grow fainter and fainter,
the horizontal hairy shoots suddenly rise
one by one, like great green snakes, and
Irvine themselves with relentless force
around her. 1t is vivid Interpretation of
Laocoon's fate, without the beauty of that
hero's death.
The woman struggles no longer. Now
almost incredible, the eight monster leaves
raise their tips from the ground They
rise higher and higher, until they inclose
the victim as in case of iron. They press
closer and closer, until-oh, horrorl the
serpent trees store of lethe, mingled with
the blood of the human sacrifice, oozes
through the interstices.
With yell of mad delight the savages
rush to the tree and lap up every drop of
the horrid fluid. The god is appeased.
After hideous orgies the participants sink
down one by one in commissions and deliri-
um TO long insensibility, while the grim
black tree continues to hold its victim in
tight embrace. New York World