Year: 1869




ADVENTURE WITH A SERPENT.


A correspondent gives the following ac-
count of an adventure with cobra di ca
pello, which occurred to a gentleman who
was reposing under tamarind-tree alone,
after a day of shooting;


| was aroused by the furious baying Of
my dogs on turning round, beheld a
snake of the cobra di capello species, di-
recting its course to point that would
approximate very close upon my position.
In an instant | was upon my feet. The
instant the reptile became aware of my
presence, in nautical phraseology, it bold
ly brought to, with expanded hood, eyes
sparkling, neck beautifully archcd, the
head raised nearly two feet from the
ground, and osciilating from side to side,
in manner Indicative Of resentful foe.
| seized short bamboo, left by one of the
bearers, and hurled it at my opponents
head l was fortunate enough to hit i,
beneath the eye. The reptile immediate
ly fell from its imposing attitude, and lay
apparently lifeless. Without moments
reflection, | seized it little below the
head, hauled it beneath the shelter of the
tree, and very coolly sat down to examine
the mouth for the poisoned fangs of which
naturalists speak so much While in the
act of forcing the mouth open with stalk,
[ felt the head gliding through my hand
and to my utter astonishment, became
aware that | had to contend against the
most deadly of reptiles in its full strength
and vigor. Indeed [ was in moment
convinced of it; for as | tightened my
hold Of the throat, its body became
wreathed round my neck and arm. had
raised myself from sitting posture to one
knee; my right arm, to enable me to ex-
ert my strength, was extended. must,
in such an attitude, have appeared horri-
fed enough to represent deity in the
Hindoo mythology, such as we so often
see rudely emblazoned on the portals Of
their native temples. 1t now became a
matter of self-defence. 10 retain my
hold, it required my utmost strength to
prevent the head from escaping, as my
neck became purchase for the animal tc
pull upon. If the reader is aware of the
universal dread in which the cobra di ca.
pello is held throughout India, and the
almost iastant death which invariably fol.
lows its bite, be will, in some degree, be
able to imagine what my feelings were al
that moment; a shudder, faint kind Of
disgusting sickness pervaded my whole
frame, as l felt the cold, clammy fold o.
the. reptiles body tightening round my
neck. To attempt any delineation of my
sensations would be absurd and futile lei
suffice, they we're most horrible. / had
now almost resolved to resign my hold
Had | done so, this tale would never
have been written; as no doubt the heac



would have been brought to the extreme
circumyolution to inilict its deadly wound
Even in the agony of such moment,
could picture to myself the fierce glow
ing of the eyes, and the intimidating ex
pansion of the hood ere it fastened its ven
omous and fatal hold upon my face or neck
TO hold ii much longer would be impossible
Immediately beneath my grasp there
was an inward working and creeping Of
the skin, which seemed to be assisted BY
the very irmncss with which held 1T
my hand was gloved. Finding, in def
ance Of all my efforts, that my hand wa
each instant forced closer to my face,
was anxiously considering how to act il
this horrible dilemma, when an idea strucl
me that, was it in my power to transiil
the mouth with some sharp instrument, i
would prevent the reptile from using it
fangs, should it escape my hold oft. NJ.
gun lay at my feet; the ramrod appeared
the very thing required, which, with some
difficulty, | succeeded in drawing ou
having only one hand disengaged. M.
right arm was now trembling from over
excrtion, my hold becoming less firm, whci
happily succeeded in passing the roc
through the lower jaw up to its centre
1t was not without considerable hesitation
that suddenly let go my hold of th'
throat, and seized the rod in both hands
at the same bringing them over my heat
with sudden jerk, disengaged the fol'
from my neck, which had latterly becom
almost tight enough to produce strangula