Year: 1869

A correspondent gives the following


account of an adventure with a cobra di


capello, which occurred to ge ntlemian


who was reposing under a tamarind-tree


alone, after day of shooting:


was aroused by the furious baying of


my dogs; on turning round, beheld o


snake Of the cobra di capello species.


directing its course to point that would


approximate very close upon my posi-


ton. In an instant / was upon my feet


The instant the reptile became aware of


my presence, in nautical phraseology, it


boldly brought to, with expanded hood,


eyes sparkling, neck beautifully arched,


the head raised nearly two feet from the


ground, and oscillating from side to side


in manner indicative of a resentful foe.


l seized short bamboo, left by one of


the bearers, and hurled it. at my oppo-


nents head. / was fortunate enough to


hit it beneath the eye. The reptile i'm


mediately fell from its imposing atti-


tude, and lay apparently lfeless. With


out q moments reflection, seized it a


little below the head, hauled it beneath


the shelter of the tree, and very cooly


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 / now
had to contend against the most deadly
of reptiles in its full strength and vigor.
Indeed, was in a moment convinced of
it; for as / frightened my hold of the
throat, its body became wreathed round
my neck and arm. l had raised myself
from sitting posture to one knee; my
right arm, to enable me to exert my
strength, was extended. l must, in such
an attitude, have appeared Mortified
enough to represent deity in the Hin
doc mythology, such as we so often see
rudely emblazoned on the portals of |
their native temples. Il now became
matter of self-defense. To retain my
hold, it required my utmost strength to |
prevent the head from escaping, as my |
neck became purchase for the animal |
to pull upon. If the reader is aware of |
the universal dread in which the cobra
di cspello is held throughout India, and
the almost instant death which invariably |
follows its bite, he will, in some degree, be
able to imagine what my feelings were at
that moment; shudder, faint kind Of |
disgusting sicnkess pervaded my whole
frame, as l felt the cold, clammy fold Of |
the reptiles body tightening round my
neck. To attempt any delineation Of my
sensations would be absurd and futile;
let it 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
head would have been brought 10 the ex-
treme circumvolution to inhict its deadly
wound. Even in the agony of such
moment, could picture to myself the
fierce glowing of the eyes, and the in
expansion of the hood ere 1t
fastened its venomous aud fatal hold upon
nv face or neck. To hold it much
longer would be impossible. Immediately
beneath my grasp there was an inward
working aud creeping Of the skin,
which seemed to be assisted by
the very 6rmness with which l held il;
my hand was gloved. Finding, in de-
iance of all my efforts, that my hand was
each instant forced closer to my face,
was anxiously considering how to act in
this horrible dilemma, when an idea
struck me that, was it in my power to
iranstx the mouth with some sharp in
strument, it would prevent the reptile
from using its fangs, should it escape my
hold of it. Ny gun lsy at my feet; the
ramrod appeared the very thing required,
which, with some difficulty, / succeeded
N drawing out having only one baad
Ny right hand was now
trembling fro=s over-exertion, nv hold
less frm, when / succeeded