Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-12

continuously swinging from side to
side: the snake was much perturbed
over our appearance; his head was
on a level. his bead-like eyes fairly
shooting fire, at intervals his tongue
was flashed out like forked lightning.
AS l stood watching this reptile, it
was a combination feeling Of awe and
disgust.
KILLS SNAKE WITH RIFLE
Just what was going to happen to
Mr.. Snake, I knew. Would he never
quiet down and become placid, that l
might not mako a mistake in placing
the shot. I stood at distance OF
about forty feet, It was fine oppor.
tunity to study the grace and ease
with which he handed himself; he
steadied himself, with his eyes cen
tered on me, at this instant. taking
deliberate aim, I landed 5000 soft
nose In his brain: the tAif relaxed
from around the limb and the body
fell with a dull, sickening thud to the
ground. where it continued to wrlthe
for several minutes. The natives
skinned the snake. We found the stom-
ach absolutely void Of food; the work
OF skinning progressed under my d.
rection; my interpreter RECALLED me
with wild, weird, stories Of the ability
of the python to capture large ami
mails and individuals: stories I very
much question. as feel sure they are
very much afraid Of man. They are
of the non-venomous species, have a
double row Of teeth, which incline the
back; when food is started down the
snakes throat, there is no stopping,
no obstruction is apparently large
enough to stick, although they usually
live on rats, rabbits and an occasion.
al calf or hog
SNAKES CRUSH VICTIMS
After catching the animal intended
for food. their quarry is killed by
compression or strangulation: they
throw several coils of their body
around the victim, with which they
crush out the life, at the same time
the word French the body, for swal-
lowing purposes: the crushing Of the
bones aids digestion and requires less
distention of their bodies; when a
quarry Of considerable size is to be
swallowed, the process Is further aid
ed by the snake pouring copious dis
charge of saliva over its body. After
partaking of a square meal Of solid
food. all pep" disappears. they be
come sluggish. are then in state OF
semi-torpor for several days. With
my snake skin wrapped in moss, rea
dy to be stretched and dried, upon
our return to the village, we pushed
on through to the swamp, arriving
about FIVE o'clock My natives seemed
clipper. I was all in.
FIND MANY DUCKS
Ducks were flying in every direction,
blue wing and cinnamon teal seemed
to be most common. l decided not to
return home until the next day; we
pitched camp on high ridge at the
edge Of the bayou. Taking position
on point which extended out into the
swamp, commenced pulling down the
ducks, while two of my men acted as
retrievers. was meeting with good
success, the chance or prospect OF
duck feed threw much activity into
the workers Could see the smoke
rolling up at the camp. AS had not
aten a bit since noon, was voracious-
ly hungry and knew my helpers were
feeling the same. 1t was quite late
when l came into camp; most Of the
ducks killed had preceded me; could
smell them cooking before ! arrived at
the camp. Arrangements for the night
were very satisfactory to me. They
had gathered cocoanuts that we might
drink the milk in preference to water;
limbs with forks were driven in the
ground convenient height for a bed,
with cross pole accessories; covered
with palm and cocoanut leaves.
found this a most comfortable bed,
threw myself on it for a little
cat nap. before supper was announced.
1t was weird sight; when we were
ready to retire small fires were built
close around the camp. we sleeping
in the center Of the fire circle. The
fires would be kept burning through
out the night, the natives standing
short watches. Wet moss would be
sprinkled over the fires, which were
emitting a. dense smoke or smudge,
which floated over the camp. keeping
out mosquitoes and other insects. This
arrangement was a success, due to the