works of Creation. You never find a snake with 

 unsightly angles and corners (though the heads of 

 a few snakes are repulsive). The movements of 

 the snake are silent and graceful, they make no 

 disturbing noise, and do not fight and quarrel with 

 each other, which is more than can be said of the 

 Human race. In fact, the malicious nature so 

 often attributed to snakes is entirely non-existent. 

 Another reason for the fear occasioned by snakes 

 (mostly noticeable, by the way, in those who have 

 seldom, if ever, seen a snake) is the extremely 

 ** tall " romances that are related sometimes by 

 people who have been out in the East, and wish on 

 their return to thrill their hearers with highly- 

 exaggerated stories. Some time ago, when reading 

 over a rather old number of a magazine, I came 

 across such a story. 



The Author starts by entering his billiard 

 room one morning and finds twenty-seven snakes 

 in it, which he kills. He then goes for a walk in 

 his garden, to repair his shattered nerves, and is 

 chased round and round a hayrick by a cobra. 

 When this has gone on for half an hour, the cobra 

 leaves him, and he retires to bed (and about time 

 too!), and in doing so steps on a deadly viper. 

 The Author ends by stating that he is a teetotaler, 

 and I can quite understand why. It is stories 

 such as this that intimidate possible visitors to the 

 East, and make them expect to find cobras 

 regularly " with their morning tea." 



The following is taken from a book on Ceylon, 

 recently published. Referring to a journey between 

 Polgahawela and Mihintale, the Authoress mentions 

 that '* that peculiar hiss heralded the approach of 

 a cobra, who, with head erect, would gaze at the 

 travellers." Again, " Amidst the cracking and 

 roar" (of the flames) ''the hiss hiss of the cobra 

 was distinctly visible, besides the muffled moan of 



