Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

In the Savannahs of Izacubo, in Guiana, I saw the most wonderful, the most terrible spectacle that can be seen; although it be not uncommon to the inhabitants, no traveler has ever mentioned it. We were ten men on horseback, two of whom took the lead, in order to sound the passages; whilst I preferred to skirt the great forests. One of the blacks who formed the vanguard, returned full gallop, and called to me, “Here, sir, come and see serpents in a pile.” He pointed out to me something elevated in the middle, of the savannah or swamp, which appeared like a bundle of arms. One of my company then said, “this is certainly one of the assemblages of serpents, which heap themselves on each other, after a violent tempest; I have heard of these, but have never seen any; let us proceed cautiously, and not go to near.” When we were within twenty paces of it, the terror of our horses prevented our near approach, to which, however, none of us were inclined. On a sudden, the pyramidal mass became agitated; horrible hissings issued from it, thousands of serpents rolled spirally on each other, shot forth out of the circle their hideous heads, presenting their envenomed darts and fiery eyes to us. I own I was one of the first to draw back; but when I saw this formidable phalanx remained at its post, and appeared to be more disposed to defend itself than to attack us, I rode round it, in order to view its order of battle, which faced us on every side. I then sought to find what could be the design of this numerous assemblage; and I concluded that this species of serpents dreaded some colossian enemy, which might be the great serpent, or the caiman, and that they unite themselves, after having seen this enemy, in order to attack or resist in a mass.