AN ASCENT TO HEAVEN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 178, 15 November 1876, Page 3

AN ASCENT TO HEAVEN.

A Japanese paper named the Skhi-nkhi-shinbitH has recently published a wonderful account of the ascent to heaven of a water snake near the village of Ni-irrimnra, in the province of Chtlcnzen. A large snake ascended to heaven from the Lake Itacbi, wher: he had lived for many years. The foil;-wing report, containing a full account of thj has b«;en presented to the provincial Governor by tlte Kucho. The letter is headed, " The Ascent to Heaven of a Large Snake. —Reported with respect. To-day, I, Morimasa, and seven others, wsXe attending to our usual business in the district office. About twelve minutes past one p.m., the office boy, by name Heisttbe, ran in and informed us, in great haste, that just then a snake was ascending to heaven. We asked him, " Where f' in a dubious manner. He replied, * You can see it before the front gate/ Each of us started from his chair, and to onr great wonder we found the boy's words were true. The white clouds ttew high in the air. We saw one dark cloud, undtr which ha*f the body of the snake was visible. It was about 540 ft. in length, and the end of its tail was seen about 180 ft. in the air. Tne body was about 3ct. in diameter in diameter in its largest part, and the point of the tail was about lift, in diameter. Its movement seemed tike that of the rolling waves. For about five mtntttts this serpent was creeping into the doml. It was s<jen no more again. It was just like a small snake creeping on the ground. Ho wind was blowing at the time, and no rain fell. But the dark cloud turned round on tt3elf. In fifty minutes it ascended tip high into Heaven, and the white clouds dispersed in alt directions gradually. We write the above account of what we have really seen, wituout the slightest stretch of imagination. We report this respectfully.—fcJtnr-roAGA-MOKBUJU."