Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-13
Copyright. 1901. by W. a. Frsser)

The Boronso islands lie about half way
between Calcutta and Rangoon. When the
snakes die they go to the Borongos That
is their paradise: there they hold high
carnival spent three years among them
and know OF these things. From the giant
python down TO the deadly KARAT they are
oil there. all the ophidians Even the salt
water snakes. that are all poisonous-they.
too. are there.
Two Europeans had preceded ne on the
Borongos so there was considerable natural
history on tap when / arrived. aud We
rapidly acquired more. one can't live
among snakes without studying them. they
ireist upon ~.
An eternal war ragged on the island be-
tween the forest growth and the sea
The Jungle erept down from the hills and
pre-empted every foot Of land in sight; the
sea rushed up and tried to vrest It from
the grasp Of the giant creeper and its more
stately brothers OF the timber growth. Ths
little clearinKs worked into tiny rice heios
like yellow mosaics by the natives. were
but specks on the green map OF the island
eIteut
Our bungalow was built on disputed ter
Yitory: a bit Of sand beach inside OF bar
Yier oyster reef sea-swept at full tide, over
which the hill streams spread a carpet OF
Jungle debris when the rains were on and
the tides were neap.
Upon my nrst Introduction 10 the dining
,oorn observed a long handled FISH spear
ni.ced within easy reach Spear fish from
,he verandAh7'' asked Mr.. Cooke. noddins
towards Il.
''So: snakes" he replied laconically.
As We sat down to the table ] noticed
Cooke and the other veteran raise their eyes
snstinctively and scan the leaf roof.
by Jove, there's one" exclaimed Cooke.
yeaehins for the spear Look out. you fel-
lows" and he deftly dislodged lonE big
headed green snake. 1t was an arooreal' OF
tree snake. and poisonous. Then we ate
cur tifin in peace.
Scarcely a day passed during the rainy
season thst-one or more snakes we're not
Killed in the bungalow. During the hot. dry
months they burrowed; when the rains
came they were flooded out Of their holes
and were always heading for the pleasant
shelter Of our leaf thatch. Also there were
rats there for them to stalk. There was nc
ceiling TO the bungalow. so We could plainly
see the creatures coiled up between th'
leaves or lying along the bamboos OF th'
roof. II wasn't exactly soothing TO th'
nerves No man went into dark room
without hight: no man put on boot with
out hrst turning II upside down; nor ~ai
any ones bed left day or night. without
tie strong mosquito curtain tucked in al
around.
After had been there about two week.
and my ner--s had become the sum OF N!
existence got my hrst fright. was awak
ened from a sound sleep by stinging paii
IN my thigh. As awoke threw my hand!
up, and a soft mobile body went hurtlin.
over my head against the mosquito net.
realized that I had been bitten by snake
] did not wait to find the opening in th'
side Of the curtain. but came away from
that bed very fast. My room was dark. bu
in the next was a light. without unneees
sary delay I arrived in that room.
Get up. Beilr' said. I've been bitter
BY a cobra
''If you don't get out OF hes and Jet ms
sleep you'll be bitten by a club, responded
Bell drowsiIy. That was because praetiea
Jokes had been our only form OF anusemen'
up TO that time s..ssS. esz,s. L. > =.
For co.'s sake get up." begged him
and something in my voice told IL was n'
Joke this time. -.
Jumping up hastily he took the light ant
examined the spot where / had felt tn
pain. There sure enough were two tin,
punetures such as a cobra's fangs woult
have made. fringed by a drop OF red blood
Then Bell became frightened also Tn
talking had aroused Cooke in the next roou
What's the shindy. you fellows he in
quired, sleeply. Going 10 have a smoke !,
i've been bitten by a cobra. and haven
m hour TO live" I replied dramatically
"Come on. we'll kill him though" l adde'
md the others followed in ominous silence
Cooke held the light and Bell lifted III
curtain with commendable caution while
stood with a heavy stick ready TO have m
-,
Hes under the pillow threw him owe
my head"
Bell quickly turned the pillow over an
dark body scuttled down the white shee
II was a rat,
LET him 60" said: The stick droppe
rom my hand. the perspiration found II
say through the closed. drawn pores Of N
forehead, and my heart went rippety- tat,
hundred and twenty to the minute II
not good TO feel that you've been bitten
cobra.
One day Lab Bob, headman OF the Mn
coolies. brought me the startling informs
tion that a snake. about a hundred fe
long. was Tying in the jungle waiting TO
caught. couple Of coolies. under la
Boh's direction. prepared a snare. A roI
was made fast TO two long bamboos vii
. moose in the center. Taking my l2-bo
to prevent a surprise from the big fello'
We followed Lab Bob The snake was
immense python, about twenty feet Ion
He was lying. evidently asleep, in the jui
gle. sat on a log and held the gun
him. while the two Mugs each graspil
sne OF the bamboos OF the snare, edged alol
cautiously until they had slipped the noe
pver the sleeping monsters head. Th
they pulled back, and as the rope tighten
about his slim neck bsdlAm let loos
The leaves swirled and branches few. Al
IL was as though some giant were snappi
yellow twenty foot whip-lssh In the h
Burmese sunlight. The two men rock
back and forth, nearly jerked of their fe
at times. Lab Bob and l laid hold OF 1
bamboos with them; and in the end 4
notified thing, Ike queer-pattsrned cha
was beaten. Then he sulked.
They dragged him out TO the pathway
triumph. As he lay on the hard grouu
his big ugly head rattened out. he seem
perfectly Indifferent TO our presence.
looked so iaEy-like that went up and 1
cautiously touched him on the nose vi
my foot. II was as wise as kicking a bri
in a hat. Like the stroke of a boxel
arm his hideous head. with the meerschay
colored fAngs. shot out. Luckily Lab b
vas holding one OF the bamboos. and.