Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-01-04
A Strange Tree.

Far In the interior of Ma.lagascar
oweils the remnant of the tribe Of
tho Mkodes, a diminutive race OF
primitive people. These aborlginals
never exceed four feet eight inches in
height, always go perfectly naked and
have no other religion than the wor-
ship OF the serpent tree. Near where
the Mkodes live in caverns the ser
pent tree, hidden in what appears to
be impenetrable forest, awaits it's
victims. When these superstitious lit
tie folks wish to Danish some evil or
court some favor they assemble here,
dancing and singing around their YER
dant object of worship.
The trunk of this tree resembles a
pine apple in shape, is about eight
feet high, black and as hard as iron.
From the top of the cone eight leaves
hang to the ground. These are about
twelve feet long, three feet wide, very
thick and end in sharp points. Stout
horns cover the inner side. The ton
OF the cone is white, round and frou,
affair looks like small dinner platte
turned down on "a large one.
This larger plate" contains a clear,
viscous liquid, known to possess ex.
ceedingly Intoxicating and sophorific
properties. Just below it extend six
green and hairy shoots. about eight
feet long and sharp pointed. Above
these from between the two "plates,' '
Six white, plume-like tendrils rise YER
ticaHy about six feet. They are in
constant motion, shooting and twist.
ing around with 'bewildering rapidity.
The faint kissing noise thereby pro-
duced strengthens the illusion that
these tendrils are snakes performing
a hideous dance.
Wilder and wilder grows the dance
of the natives around the tree; wilder
and wilder sounds the chant Finally,
the savages, with a rush. surround
one of the females, and ait the point
of their wicked iaverils force her to
mount to the top of the tree. There
she sits terror-stricken. The mob
yells, Drink! Drink" In despera-
tion the unfortunate victim at last
scoops UP some of the fatal liquid
with the hollow of her hands, 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 women give vent to
horrible shrieks and more demoni ac al
laughter While her struggles already
grow fainter and fainter, the hori-
zontal hairy shoots suddenly rise one
by one, like great green snakes, and
twine themselves with relentless force
around her. 1t is a vivid interpreta.
tion 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 frou:
the 9round; they rise higher and
highe until they enclose the victim
as IN case of iron; they press closer
and closer. Iintll-oh. horror! the SER
pent tree store of lethe, mingled
with tie blood of the human sacr:-
flee, oozes through its interstices.
With yell of mad delight the saw
ages rush &c the tree and lop up every
drop of the horrible fluid. The god is
aPpeased. After hideous orgies the
participants sir; down one by one in
commissions OF delirium to long insensi.
bility, while the grim black tree con
tinues ito hold its victim in tight en-
brace.-CincinnaIti Enquirer.