Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The following extraordinary account of the very great power of distention in the Snake may be depended on as a fact. A Snake of about fifteen feet long was caught by the Molungees in an Aurung, four or five miles distant from Contai, and having been disabled by them, was dragged along with a rope fastened about his neck. The Paunch appeared very much swelled, and upon examining it with a stick, all the parts of some four footed animal were distinctly felt, which was supposed to be a wild pig; but on ripping up the Snake, it was found that he had contrived to swallow a whole full grown spotted Deer, and that without breaking or crushing any of its bones: the Deer measured round the body two feet ten and a half inches, and as he was by no means offensive, must have been recently swallowed. After the Deer was taken out of his body the Snake measured no more, round in the largest part of his body than seventeen inches, and his mouth only to appearance, four inches wide: when he was brought in, he discovered only faint signs of life, however no sooner was he relieved of his load, than he revived, erect his head, and attempted to make off with considerable agility.
Calcutta Gaz