The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-15

How They Arc Made nrmlcs nnd Helpless
AFTER Ncing Captured.
From the ST. Louis Giobe.Democrat.

From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
Mcnageries arc always in need OF snakes. and
as India abOunds in these reptiles. perhaps 10 a
greater extent than any other country in the
world. to India go the managers when their
stocks begin to run low. Snake hunting in
India, unless one understands the trade, is n
perilous business, for n larger percentage of the
Indian scrpcnts are poisonous than in any other
part of the globe, and even n llinduO has no de-
sire To die of srakc'bItc, nor within the crushing
folds OF u cunstrictor. Besides, however, tho
demands from the mCnHgCrics. the Indian Gov
crnment pays II bounty ON snake heads, so there
Is n double incentive to Indian snake hunters,
and when there are sufficient orders on hand
from the mcnagcrics n hunt is organized,
Preparations are made by HsccrtaininE from
the natives a promising snake district. which is
grass undcrGIOwth. III such lands snakes are
found by thousands. and, after a promising
clearing or burning the underground from a
strip entirely enCirrling the snake farm; then u
broad eXpanse of perhaps an acre is cleared on
netting extended for 300 or 800 yards On each
side of the cleared tract, its wings gradually
contracting To lend the reptiles into cyl d." sac,
from which there Is no escape. Several hundred
natives are assembled. and on II day when tho
the district selected, and, at a given signal, set
fire to the jungle. After the rre has fairly
started ne natives are called nchina me net,
other sides. for every snake tenant OF the brush
fees in the same direction toward tho fatal net
llllH.
Behind it stand rows OF men, armed with
clubs and sticks, ready 10 give their snnkcships
n lively reception. As tho fire approaches the
netting the snakes come III crowds, 10y hun.
drcds, sometimes by thousands, \ I the wings
the men, are, concentrated. with their clubs.
ready to Kill those attempting 10 ESCAPE, and as
the main body Of the reptiles approaches the
netting. the wings are pushed forward toward
each other. the stakes supporting he netting
are driven firmly into the ground, and tho
snakes are Enclosed. Rut snakes can climb al
most aS well as monkeys. and so the men at tho
wiuNS arr Kent hIlSE killing those thai crIpnynr
to escape over the ropes. At the cul do
sac the netting extends aboyS as well
ton OF the reptiles are finally concentrated
within this inclosurc. There the scene : one OF
some OF the vtnOnoUs REPTILES of India not being
more than six or eight inches in length. and.
footed heaters are kept dod ging about IN a
manner AZ once gr9'"sque and a. using. their
through the netting Ike a flash being even
greater than their eaEerncss To XIII AS many
snakes as possible and 'hns rccciye n larger
permitted TO escape. and after all the smaller
reptile, which can, work their way through the
mcsnrs OF the net hav" been killed. attention ia
turned to the larger which remain:
In various parts Of the netting there are loops
after The slaughter OF the little snakes has been
finished. tn" work OF capturing the most prom
i naiE,. 7 AZ nm nmac "%E,nSi lint tn viii II'iTn rins a gSnI
price, AMI, rs 'ho animal thrnsts its head
against the netting in %fruitlr-S otiorts 10 escape,
- IL NJ ~ WV s'I'l' - NlN ~ - u l'''liN''N'
the snake T. lassocd Immediately back OF tho
h"nd. the wire istlShtcucd. and the future oCcu.
pant OF Il meltHgcri" cage, Kissing and writing.
j. dragged through and S"ilct by u dozen ma.
tivcs at once. Bundles ui bamboo. cut into
proper lengths. have already boon prepared,
three or four men straightrn the snake and lay
him on a hniuouo. sometimes placing three
or four, smaller srIint- around him. and
then lashimg him securely down with BAN
boo withcs every inch OF his length. Gen.
orally the flashing is found to be sufficient. and
only when the serpent is very large md power
full are the extra hamhous tied Rroun him for
fenr he might hrrnCk the stick to which he is
fastened. This operation is not carried on With
out an immense amount Of protest from the
snake. which kisses in the most terrifying man
ncr and wriggl"s wildly in mn effort TO ESCAPE.
But Kissing aud wriggling are all in vain; the
HIndons lash him down, finishing the operation
by forcing his upper. jaw upon the lower and
tying the two together 10 the stick In such n
way that he cannot even hiss. After AL tho
best specimens have been selected and tied, the
remainder mr.. killed. hchcahed, and the heads
sent To the nearest Government station for the
lOunty. and the cRptivcI are loaded into carts
for trans p0rtRtion TO Bombay. where they are
disposed OF to the European agents.