18 OUR REPTILES. 



tree. There the naja was to be found, but my guide 

 refused to go an inch further. As I could see nothing 

 from where I stood, I slowly and cautiously ap- 

 proached the tree, until, at about fifteen yards dis- 

 tance from it, I stood as if rooted to the spot. A 

 foot from the trunk I observed in the grass a 

 greenish light, apparently proceeding from a single 

 point. After a time I could see the cobra coiled 

 near the foot of the tree, slowly swaying its head to 

 and fro in front of the shining object. Save that 

 this shining light was steady and not intermittent, I 

 might at first have thought it due to the female of 

 the well-known fire-fly, for the air was swarming 

 with these insects. Unfortunately I had no gun, and 

 my guide, who seemed to feel that he was responsible 

 for my safety, entreated me so earnestly to let the 

 snake alone that I acceded. Moreover, he promised 

 to bring me this stone within three days, for he said 

 that the cobra, if not molested, would return to the 

 same spot night after night. The coolie kept his 

 word, for the second morning afterwards he brought 

 me the stone. He had climbed the tamarind tree 

 before dark, and after the snake had taken up its 

 position he had emptied a bag of ashes upon the 

 stone. The frightened reptile, after chasing about 

 for a while trying to find its treasure, had gone off. 

 The coolie remained in his safe position until day- 

 light, when he descended the tree, dug the stone 

 Out of the ashes, and here it was in my hand. The 



