The Globe-republican., 1906-05-03
STORIES OF SNAKES
vENoMoUs REPTILES THE cuRsE
OF INDIA.
Thousands Of Natives Annually Are
Victims Of the Deadly Fangs--Dis-
bollcal Form Of Murder BY the Aid
Of Cobra.

VI The official reports for recent year
gave the number Of deaths from
ssnake-bite throughout India as 10000.
No doubt In the remotar districts ma
tiyes often report the deaths Of their
relatives as having been due 10 snake
bite in order to avoid the troublesome
inquiries which they detest; and all
evidence having been carefully de-
stroyed, 1t Is impossible 10 arrive at
the truth. Occasionally, too, report
ed death from this cause Is in reality
a case Of murder. But after making
all deductions the number OF
persons killed every year by
snakes Is enormous. This is
caused partly by the fanaticai
dislike which the ordinary native has
for killing, or even interfering with.
any wild creature, and partly by the
common habit Of going about with feet
and legs bare. have myself seen
native soldier walk boldly into patch
Of grass in my compound to drive out
a cobra which had been seen to glide
into 1t. The fact that his legs were
bare to the knee did not cause him
the slightest hesitation Fortunately
he did not meet the snake, says writ
er In the Pail Mall Gazette.
1t Is commonly reported, though
with what truth do not know, that
natives sometimes adopt a particular
diabolical and Ingenious method Of
getting rid Of an enemy, in such wise
that the death shall he correctly at
tributed to snake-bite. A small cobra.
or kalait-a snake quite as venom
ous-is caught uninjured and piece
Of string is fastened to its tail. The
string is then run through the hollow
stem Of bamboo just large enough
to contain the body OF the snake, and
by it the creature is dragged, tail
first, inside the cane. Great care is
taken not to injure the reptile in any,
way.
Armed with this abomiDable weap-
on the murderer waits for a suitable
opportunity for using it. Nothing is
easier than to approach the hut of his
intended victim when he is asleep.
and creeping through the open door.
way to bring the end of the bamboo
into contact with some part of his
body. The snake, enraged and terri
fed by the treatment which 1t has re-
oeived, bites as soon as its head
touches the man. II the victim il
sleeping soundly he is probably not
even awakened by the slight puncture'
of the cobra's needle-like fangs. He
passes insensibly into death. The
next day his body is discovered, with
all the unmistakable symptoms Of
snake poisoning; and save through an
accident, 1t is not even suspected that
q crime has been committed. The muir
derer, having liberated the snake and
destroyed the bamboo, is perfectly
safe. Even IL suspicion falls upon
him 1t is impossible to prove his guilt.
Snake stories, more or less incredible,
abound. The following, which was told
to me on such authority that am
forced to believe 1t, is fair speci-
men: A cobra was discovered In the
compound or garden surrounding an
officers bungalow, and the entire
male portion Of the household turned
out to destroy it. The snake was driv-
en- from one hiding place to another
and at last it took refuge in narrow
culvert. All sorts of expedients were
tried to drive it out. Shots were fired
through the pipe and bundles Of burn
Ing grass were thrust into it, without
effect. Finally the culvert was dug
up and the snake was found and
killed.
1t was large and handsome one
and therefore the skin was taken off
and hung upon nail driven into the
wall of the vsranda outside the bunga-
low. The next morning the owner Of
he house was astonished by finding
On the ground beneath 1t second
cobra skin.
The natives, one and all. declared
hat the mate Of the dead snake had
,ome along during the night and shed
ts skin there through grief at its loss.
This explanation being considered In
it was supposed that some
me had INDUCED in rather pointless
PRACTICAL joke, though the circum-
stances of the case made 1t difficult
o see how this could have been pos
'ible. But whatever might be the
rue explanation, there were the two
kins.
n $3.50. iestsfl