The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-06-17
= In The DARK y y
! With A MAMBA. I
I By AUSTIN BERRY. :
,l1,T.l.1.I!!I.Ifl

AOOhluS dt u Iudp VI Ndldl anu lOi-
lowing the course of the Tugela River
from its mouth, you will see a small
tributary marked Insult River, which
has its source in the N'Kankhla
Mountains, Zululand. This river fol-
lows very tortuous course as it
rushes to join the Tugela, and is fed
by numerous streams which dash
down the mountain sides in water
falls and cascades, cutting down
through the rocks and forming long
spurs with gorges hundreds of feet
deep between.
Some years ago I was running
Kaf1ir store, which was situated on
the slope of one of the long spurs
aforementioned, overlooking the
N'Kuzana stream. At the time of
which I am speaking. there were
good many prospectors in the valley,
and syndicate was working claims
up the N'Kuzana stream. Besides
trading with the natives did fairly
good business with these plUcky pio-
neers of civilization.
Game was pretty plentiful, and also
snakes; more salubrious region for
these creatures l was never in. l
had an instructive feeling of repug-
nance for snakes, and never passed
Dne without at least trying to kill it.
One evening, after telling the UNI
faan (native lad) to close the store,
I was sitting outside my wattle-and-
daub hut enjoying smoke, when
suddenly the boy came rushing up,
shouting, "Baas, baas, inyoka UNI
kulu, kakulu!" (Master, a big-a
very big-snake!) Springing to my
feet, asked him where it had gone
and what kind of snake it was. He
replied that it was too dark to see,
but 1t was very large; he had seen it
90 into the store just as he was about
to close the door.
"All right" said, ego and shut
the store up now"
But the lad remained where he
was, shaking with fright, and it was
obvious that he dare not go near the
place while that snake remained in
side.
My other boys" had been sent
away on errands in the morning, and
had not returned. At first / thought
I would leave the snake until the
morning, but remembering that had
Just received fresh supply of goods
which were lying about the store and
would give the creature plenty of
hiding places, l thought it better to
have it out with the brute there and
then, otherwise it would mean turn
Ing the store inside out next morning
to look for it. From the boys de-
scription l took it to be young py-
thon, able to infiict severe bite, but
not venomous.
Selecting good stick and taking
a lighted candle with me, I went to
the store, slipped quietly in, and
closed the door behind me. Placing
the candle on the counter, 1 looked
around in the dim light. Hearing a
slight noise at the end of the store l
crept towards it, and presently saw
the head of snake appear just above
q bale of blankets, its body being on
the other side. struck at him, but
as he lodged the blow l saw that il
was not python. Jumping back ]
tripped and fell with a crash among
the tin-billies and Kaffir-pots. In
falling I saw kissing streak OF
black, which struck at me as II
flashed past and made for the door
Amy doubts / had as to the kind o.
snake 1t was we're now dispelled, fol
by the sickly smell of musk ] knew
the creature was black mamba, ant
the largest of its kind had ever seen
Heartily / cursed myself for m,
folly in nos bringing my shotgun will
me, for now was fairly trapped, tn,
brute being between me and tn,
door. The black mamba, may men
tion, is one OF the most dangerous o
deadly snakes. for, besides the viru
lence OF its venom, 1t is very fero
cious, and when at bay will attack
human being with incredible fury.
The extraordinary .quicknass of 1t