Cuba 95 



took from their shoulders a pole from which a large sack 

 was suspended. The spokesman of the twain indicated that 

 the sack contained the father of all boas. It wasn't long 

 before we struck a bargain and the snake was mine. I 

 dumped him out of the sack in the dark room, a httle de- 

 tached stucco-and-concrete building adjoining the labora- 

 tory. It was obvious at first glance that the snake had dined 

 sumptuously and I was not surprised when looking at him 

 the next day to see that excitement or nervousness had 

 given him indigestion, and a pile of highly aromatic cor- 

 ruption on the floor indicated that not long since he had 

 consumed no less than three hutias. These savory rodents 

 abound in the wilder parts of Cuba and each one of these 

 was about the size of an able tomcat. I got the hose and the 

 broom and went to it, slicked the place up, and the buz- 

 zards took care of the situation in a few moments. 



Time to leave. With some help, I crowded Epicrates, as 

 I may call our victim, for this is his generic scientific name, 

 into a strong carton, the kind that has four f!aps, one on 

 each end and one on each side, pressed them down, 

 and tied up the bundle. I was forced to spend a few days 

 in Havana, and Epicrates resided under my bed in the 

 Inglaterra Hotel. The next day I crossed to Key West. 

 Prohibition was in full swing and no customhouse official 

 was going to pass a carton on my mere statement that 

 it contained a snake; but one peek settled the matter and 

 the bundle was re-corded and carried to the train. I had 

 the southernmost lower in the north-bound car for Palm 

 Beach. We left in the evening and the car was to reach 

 Palm Beach early the next morning and to be placed on a 

 siding for the convenience of its passengers. 



