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Article ON THE FASCINATING POWER OF SERPENTS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Fascinating Power Of Serpents.
I requested that the distance between the place where the bird had experienced the convulsions , and that occupied by the serpent before it was shot , mig ht be measured . Upon doing so , we found , it to-be three feet and a halt ; and we were all convinced that the shrike had died neither from tlie bite nor the poison of its enemy . I stripped it also before the whole company , and made them observe that it was
untouched , and had not received the slig htest wound . I had my reasons for what I did . Extraordinary as the fact may appear , and though the persons who had been the witnesses could hardly believe , even after having seen it ; it was to me not new . A similar adventure had happened to me in the canton of the -Twenty-four Rivers , and I instantly related it , to confirm what we had just seen . heard all at
Hunting one day in a marshy piece of ground , I once , in a tuft of reeds , a piercing and very lamentable cry . Anxious to know what it was , I stole softly to the place , where I perceived a small mouse , like the- shrike on the tree , in agonizing convulsions , and two yards farther a serpent , whose eyes were intently fixed upon it . The moment the reptile saw me , it glided away ; but the business was done . Upon taking up the mouse it expired in my hand , without jts being possible for me to discover , by the most attentive
examination , what had occasioned its death . Tlie Hottentots , whom I consulted upon this incident , expressed no sort of astonishment . Nothing , they said , was more common ; the serpent had the faculty of attracting and fascinating such animals as it wished to devour . I had then no faith in such power ; butsome time after , speaking of the circumstance in a company of more than twenty in the number of whom was Colonel Gordon ; a captain of
persons , his regiment confirmed the account of the Hottentots , and assured me it was an event which happened very frequently . " My ^ testimony , " added he , " ought to have the . more weight , as 1 had once " nearly become myself a victim to this fascination . While in garrison * ' at Ceylon , and amusing myself , like you , in hunting in a marsh , I * ' was in the course of my sport suddenly seized with a convulsive had
' . ' and involuntary trembling , different from any thing I ever ex-< " perienced , and at the same time was strongly attracted , and in spite " of myself , to a particular spot of the marsh . Directing my eyes to * ' this spot , 1 beheld , with "feelings of horror , a serpent of an enor'• ' mous size , whose look instantly pierced me . Having , however , * ' not yet lost all power of motion , I embraced the opportunity before " it was too late , and saluted the reptile with tlie contents of my " fusee . The report was a talisman that broke the cha ' rm ..- All at
" once , as if by a miracle , my convulsion ceased ; I felt myself able tf to fly ; and the only inconvenience of this extraordinary adventure " was a cold sweat , which was doubtless the effect of my fear , and of " the violent agitation my senses had undergone . " Such was the account given me by this officer . I do not pretend to vouch for its truth ; but the story of tlie mouse , as well as of the . shrike , I aver to be fact , I will add also , that , since my return ta
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Fascinating Power Of Serpents.
I requested that the distance between the place where the bird had experienced the convulsions , and that occupied by the serpent before it was shot , mig ht be measured . Upon doing so , we found , it to-be three feet and a halt ; and we were all convinced that the shrike had died neither from tlie bite nor the poison of its enemy . I stripped it also before the whole company , and made them observe that it was
untouched , and had not received the slig htest wound . I had my reasons for what I did . Extraordinary as the fact may appear , and though the persons who had been the witnesses could hardly believe , even after having seen it ; it was to me not new . A similar adventure had happened to me in the canton of the -Twenty-four Rivers , and I instantly related it , to confirm what we had just seen . heard all at
Hunting one day in a marshy piece of ground , I once , in a tuft of reeds , a piercing and very lamentable cry . Anxious to know what it was , I stole softly to the place , where I perceived a small mouse , like the- shrike on the tree , in agonizing convulsions , and two yards farther a serpent , whose eyes were intently fixed upon it . The moment the reptile saw me , it glided away ; but the business was done . Upon taking up the mouse it expired in my hand , without jts being possible for me to discover , by the most attentive
examination , what had occasioned its death . Tlie Hottentots , whom I consulted upon this incident , expressed no sort of astonishment . Nothing , they said , was more common ; the serpent had the faculty of attracting and fascinating such animals as it wished to devour . I had then no faith in such power ; butsome time after , speaking of the circumstance in a company of more than twenty in the number of whom was Colonel Gordon ; a captain of
persons , his regiment confirmed the account of the Hottentots , and assured me it was an event which happened very frequently . " My ^ testimony , " added he , " ought to have the . more weight , as 1 had once " nearly become myself a victim to this fascination . While in garrison * ' at Ceylon , and amusing myself , like you , in hunting in a marsh , I * ' was in the course of my sport suddenly seized with a convulsive had
' . ' and involuntary trembling , different from any thing I ever ex-< " perienced , and at the same time was strongly attracted , and in spite " of myself , to a particular spot of the marsh . Directing my eyes to * ' this spot , 1 beheld , with "feelings of horror , a serpent of an enor'• ' mous size , whose look instantly pierced me . Having , however , * ' not yet lost all power of motion , I embraced the opportunity before " it was too late , and saluted the reptile with tlie contents of my " fusee . The report was a talisman that broke the cha ' rm ..- All at
" once , as if by a miracle , my convulsion ceased ; I felt myself able tf to fly ; and the only inconvenience of this extraordinary adventure " was a cold sweat , which was doubtless the effect of my fear , and of " the violent agitation my senses had undergone . " Such was the account given me by this officer . I do not pretend to vouch for its truth ; but the story of tlie mouse , as well as of the . shrike , I aver to be fact , I will add also , that , since my return ta