The Snaketree.

Manawatu Herald, 16 January 1894, Page 2

The Snaketree.

THE LATEST TBAVELLER'S TALE.

The Horticultural Times is indebted to a correspondent for the following account of the bo called snaketree, which is said to exert such a terrifying influence upon the natives of the Mexican wilds : - A late traveller was in Mexico on a botanical expedition. One day he saw a dark object on one of the outlying spurs of the Sierra Madre Mountains, which so excited bis curosity that he examined it carefully through his fold glans. He saw it was a tree of such unusual appearance that he decided to visit the spot. He rode on horseback to within a few rods of the summit, when he came to an abrupt rise he could not climb. On the top stood the tree. He saw it had long, slender limbs drooping like a weeping willow. They had a eliroy, snaky appearance, and at times the whole tree seemed to writhe. His curiosity led him again and again to visit the spot to learn more, if possible, about this horrible tree. One day he saw a bird circle about it for some time, and then alight on the top. Then the branches began to mova and curl upward. They turned around the bird, which began to cry, and drew it down until he lost sight of it. The botanist tried, as he had several ; times before, to climb the steep. The rock on which he stepped loosened and fell, himself with it. He was not injured, and he found I that the rock had left a cavity. He j looked in and saw quite a cavern, | and felt a current of fresh air blowing on his face. With his trowel ho enlarged the hole so as to admit of his ascent. He saw the flattened b idy of the bird fall to the ground, which was covered with bones and feathers. Ho approached the tree as closely as he dared. It was not above twenty feet in height, but covered a great area. Its trunk was of prodigious thickness, knotted and scaly. From the top of this trunk, a lew feet from the ground, its slimy branches curved upward and downward, nearly touching the ground with their tips. On his venturing to touch lightly one of the limbs it closed upon his hand with such force that it tore the skin when he wrenched it away. The next day he visited the tree, carrying several chickens with which to feed it. The moment he tossed the fowls into the branches the latter began to sway to and fro with a snaky motion. After they became gorged they were perfectly quiet, and he ventured to approach and examine them closely. They were covered with suckers similar to those <>f the octopus. The blood of the fowls had been absorbed, leaving crimson stains on their surface. There was no foliage on the tree.