186 A REMARKABLE DELIVERANCE.

three places,and, pursuing him closely, twined itself
several times around his head and neck, as tightly
as possible. Hxpecting now to be strangled to
death, he gave himself up for lost, and afraid lest
his brethren should suspect that the Indians had
murdered him, he, with surprising presence of mind,
wrote with a piece of chalk upon his table—‘ A
serpent has killed me.” Suddenly, however, the
promise of the Saviour darted into his mind: “ They
shall take up serpents and shall not be hurt.”
Animated by the recollection of these words, he
seized the creature, and exerting his utmost force,
tore it loose from his body and flung it out of the
hut. He then lay down in his hammock and slept
tranquilly ; nor did he experience any serious injury
from the wounds inflicted by the serpent, which
was probably one of that class whose bite is not
venomous, but which destroy life by strangulation.

lo return to our missionary naturalist. Decidedly
the most valuable natural production, in a com-
mercial point of view, of the Nicobar Islands, are
the nests of the esculent swallow (Hirundo edulis),
called by the natives Hinlene. As is well known,
these singular constructions are not only eatable,
but considered one of the greatest delicacies of the
table by the luxurious Asiatics. They are com-
posed of some gelatinous substance, about the
materials of which authors generally differ. Some