Untitled

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 67, 17 July 1851, Page 4

There are several species of serpents used by the Chinese, either as medicine or food; and it is quite a common thing to see these reptiles exposed for sale in baskets, small tubs, or earthern jars. There who follow the profession of catching serpents, manifest equal boldness and intelligence. When they have discovered one of these reptiles asleep on the grass, they slide the Imnd along its body so softly as not to alarm the animal. On coining to the back of the head they suddenly grasp it lightly, to prevent the serpent from escaping or biting them. They immediately extract the fangs and the receptacles of the poison, and put the serpent into a small basket which they carry for thnt purpose at their waist. The poison is contained in two small pouches, each siliuteil beneath a hollow crooked tooth. Who" the animal biles, these pouches are compressed; the fangs, which are extremely sharp, pierce the flesh, and the poison which is conveyed through them to the wound, renders it duigerous, and even mortal, when speedy measures are not taken to counteract the ellects. When once deprived of the fangs and pouches, the anim il is perfectly harmless, the other teeth being very small and blunt, and making scarcely any impression on the fingers. The author oC the " Costumes of China" asserts, that he has s 'en one of the persons who make a profession of exhibiting serpents, put nearly iho whole of one of these reptiles info his mouth, and then di.iire one of the spectators to pull it. out by the tail, to show that there was no deceit in the trick. — Cliina in Miniature.

Ficht with Sea-uuli.s.—During the last week, tlic coasts of Norniamly Slave been visited with heavy gults. Tlic fishermen and inhabitants who dwell near the shore have seen their dwellings and vessels invaded by clouds of gulls. A fisherman a.serts that, just as he wbs drawing his nets, in which he had a good tike of full, his boat was covered with gulls, which came tlo.m to dispute with him his spoil*. In ordfi to gut rid t>( these troubletome guests, he was compelled to lay about him lustily with his boathook, and had not completed his task before several hundred birds had fallen on the field of b.iltle. Numbers of nulls have been seen in the court-yards of mansions, and entire gardens have been Inid wa-te. The numbei of gulls which have been destroyed is estimated by tens of thousands. For three or four days the markets have been choked with them, the fishermen's wivfj sclliiiji them at any price.— La Marine.

A Hear- Anecdote. —An old Indian, named Keskarrah, was seated at the door of his tent, by a small stream, not far from l'"ort Enterprise, wh- n a large bear came on the opposite bank, and remained for some time, apparently surveying him. Kcskarrali, considering himself 10 be in great danger, and having mi one to assist him but his aged wife, made a solemn speech, lo the following effect: —"Oh, bear! I never did yon any harm ; I have always had the highest respect for you and your relations and never killed any of llicm except through necessity, l'ray go away, good bear, and lei me alone, and I piomUc not to .'molest you." The bear (piobably regarding the old gentleman as rather a tonsil morsel) walked oil? and the old man, fancying that he owed his safety to his eloquence, favoured Sir John Iticliarclson with his speech at length. The bear in question, however, was of n different species to, anil more sanguinary'than ihe blackbear, so that the escape u r the old couple was regarded as remarkable— Bcntley's Miscellany.