BOA CONSTRICTOR IN A SHIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 769, 12 January 1877, Page 3

BOA CONSTRICTOR IN A SHIP.

The following account of how a bon constrictor was found among the cargo of the ship Surprise, which sailed from Natal, is related by a correspondent of the London Times:—lt appears that, while at port, she went within the bar to load, being a small vessel, and consequently was close to the bush. One evening after her cargo had been shipped, while the crow were having a little jollification among themselves, one of the crew, who happened to possets a concertina, was playing various tunes for the amusement of his companions. It is supposed that the music attracted the boa on board, and being disturbed it must have found its way into the hold, as the hatches were off at the lime, and c mcealcd itself amongst the cargo, an it was not discovered till the ship was wc'l on the voyage home. When she arrived in dock the question arose to how it was to be captured, but with the assistance of Mr Jnmrach, it was successfully accomplished. I have seen the reptile, and I should think it is about .S or 9 feet in length, and as thick as the calf of a man’s leg. It has existed during the voyage on rats and other vermin, with which I am informed the vessel swarmed while at Port Natal, and now there is not a rat to bo seen on any part of the vessel, so that in future it may be thought to bo desirabletoshipa boa constrictin’ instead of other ani- .■' mats to catch the vermin.