40 



motion will give way to a whip-like lashing as the 

 serpent retreats down the hill. If the latter is 

 steep, and the ground bad, the chances of catching 

 the snake will be practically nil, unless you have 

 coolies lower down, who will drive it so that it will 

 move along the hillside instead of downhill. The 

 reptile may be cornered or taken by the tail as it is 

 entering a hole in the rocks. If the snake is a 

 large one (of some seven or eight feet in length) 

 and gets its body well into the hole some little time 

 may elapse before you can draw it out, for when 

 once a snake has got a hold, however slight, for its 

 body or its coils its power of traction is tremendous. 



If a Rat-snake of some eight feet in length gets 

 its coils round a raised beam it can, with the 

 posterior portion of its body, draw up, for several 

 inches, a man weighing nine stone. 



This sounds incredible, but if anyone dis- 

 believes me they should get two strong men and 

 tell them to try and pull out, to full length, a large 

 and uninjured Rat-snake. 



When you eventually get your snake out the 

 trouble will begin. A Rat-snake when caught or 

 cornered becomes extremely savage, and will 

 therefore give you a lively time. Retaining your 

 hold of the tail, you must endeavour to put either 

 your foot or a stick on the snake's head without 

 injuring it. 



The snake, on the other hand, will have no 

 scruples about inflicting injury, and (being 

 supported by its tail) will keep drawing its body 

 up and striking repeatedly at your face. The 

 snake must be made to miss its aim by jerking the 

 tail, and the blows parried with a stick. 



The head having been eventually pinned to 

 the ground, and the neck seized, the serpent will 

 coil round your wrist, and bringing its full power 

 into play, in an ingenious manner, attempt to 



