BOAS. 189 



uncommon to the inhabitants, no traveller has 

 ever mentioned it. We were ten men on horse- 

 back, two of whom took the lead, in order to 

 sound the passages, whilst I preferred to skirt the 

 o-reen forests. One of the blacks who formed the 

 vanguard returned at full gallop, and called to me, 

 ' Here, sir, come and see Serpents in a pile ! ' He 

 pointed out to me something elevated in the 

 middle of the savannah which appeared like a 

 bundle of arms. One of my companions then 

 said, ' This is certainly one of those assemblages 

 of Serpents which heap themselves on each other 

 after a violent tempest. I have heard of these, 

 but have never seen any ; let us proceed cau- 

 tiously, and not go too near.' When we were 

 within twenty paces of it the terror of our horses 

 prevented our nearer approach, to which, how- 

 ever, none of us were inclined. Suddenly the 

 pyramidal mass became agitated ; horrible hiss- 

 ings issued from it ; thousands of Serpents rolled 

 spirally on each other, shot forth out of their 

 circle their hideous heads, presenting their en- 

 venomed darts and fiery eyes to us. I own I was 

 one of the first to draw back ; but when I saw 

 this formidable phalanx remain at its post, and 

 appear to be more disposed to defend itself than 

 to attack us, I rode round it, in order to view its 

 order of battle, which faced the enemy on every 

 side. I then sought what could be the design of 

 this numerous assemblage ; and I concluded that 

 this species of Serpents dreaded some colossean 

 enemy, which might be the great Serpent or the 

 Cayman, and that they reunite themselves after 

 having seen this enemy, in order to attack or re- 

 sist him in a mass." 



