Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-02-24
sI.oo A YEAR.
NEW VOL. 33.--NO. II.
Catching Big snakes in India.

ing from the natives a promising snake
district, which is usually tract of
jungle with thick bamboo or grass
underground. In such lands snakes are
found by thousands, aud after prom
Using patch is discovered beginning
is made by clearing or burning the un-
dergrowth from strip entirely sur
rounding the snake farm. Then a
broad expanse Of perhaps an acre is
cleared on one side, and there is set
the snake trap netting extending for
500 or so yards on each side of the
cleared tract, its wings gradually con.
tracing to lead the reptile into a cul
De sac from which there is no escape.
Several hundred natives are assem-
bled, and on day when the wind
blows from the right quarter they sur
round the district chosen and at a
given signal set fire to the Jungle.
After the fire has fairly started the
natives are called behind the netting,
as there is no need of their services on
the other side, for every snake tenant
of the brush fees in the same direction
toward the fatal netting.
Behind it stand rows OF men, armed
with clubs aud sticks, ready to give
their snSkeships lively reception,
AS the FIRE approaches the netting the
snakes come in crowds, by hundreds,
sometimes thousands. At the wings
the men are concentrated, with their
clubs, ready to kill those attempting
to escape, and as the main body Of the
reptiles approaches the netting the
wings are pushed toward each other,
the stakes supporting the netting are
driven firmly into the ground and the
snakes are inclosed
After all the smaller reptiles which
can work their way through the meshes
Of the net have been killed attention
is turned to the larger ones that re-
main
In various pats OF the netting
there are loops which can be united
and then refastened, and after the
slaughter Of the little snakes has been
finished the work OF capturing the
most promising specimens begins.
The superintendent points ont an
anaconda that will bring a good price,
and as the animal thrusts Its head
against the netting in fruitless efforts
to escape, a stick with wire loop at
the end i Introduced, the snake IL
lassoed Immediately back fthe head,
the wire is frightened, and the future
occupant Of a menageiie cage, wrltn-
ing and Kissing, is dragged through
and seized by dozen natives at once.
Bundles Of bamboo, cut into proper
lengths, have already been prepared.
Three or forr men straighten the
snake and lay him on bamboo, some
times placing three or four smaller
splints round him, and then lashing
him securely down with bamboo WITH
ers every inch Of bis length. Gener.
ally the lasbing is found to be sufi-
cient, and only when the serpent is
very large and powerful are extra
bamboos tied round him, for fear be
might break the stick TO which he Is
fastened. This operation is not car.
rled on without much protest from
the snake. But Kissing and wrig.
Cling are all in vain; the Hindoos lasb
him down, finishing the operation by
forcing the upper jaw upon the low
er, tying the two together TO a stick
in such a way that be cannot even
hiss. After the best specimens have
been selected and tied, the remainder
are killed, beheaded, and the heads
sent to the nearest Government sta
tion for the bounty. The captives are
packed into cars for transportation 10
Bombay, where they are disposed Of
to the European agents.