PYTHONe STEAK. 79 
rat showed no fear of the snake. I allowed it to remain for a 
couple of weeks, feeding it regularly. The rodent invariably 
sought refuge within the Python’s coils when alarmed ; and at 
other times would sit on top of the coiled-up Python, and busy 
itself cleaning its whiskers. One morning I was astonished to 
observe that the flesh had been eaten for several inches along the 
back of the snake near the tail, exposing many sections of the 
backbone. The rat had evidently dined off the Python during 
the night, and the beast had seemingly not resented the liberty, 
for the rat was sitting in a corner with an expression of content- 
ment upon his cunning visage. Now, although the Python had 
not tasted food for fourteen months, this extensive wound healed 
up completely. 
PYTHONS IN CAPE COLONY. 
Pythons could not have been very common in Cape Colony, 
at least in fairly recent geological times, as most parts are not 
particularly favourable to their existence. The old Hottentots 
and Bushmen, however, when questioned, declare that they 
existed when they were boys, in the warm, moist regions of the 
Colony. However, they are now supposed to be extinct within 
the borders of the Cape Colony. It is possible, however, that 
there may be a few individuals left. They seem to be fairly 
plentiful in the neighbourhood of Palapye Road, in Bechuanaland, 
as Mr. Paul Jousse has sent me several from that locality. 
PYTHON STEAK. 
Snakes are really good wholesome food, and Python steak 
grilled in the red glowing wood fire of the hunter’s camp is not 
to be despised. One day when hunting, we killed a Python, 
and two of our men, who were a mixture of several breeds—the 
Hottentot element predominating—after skinning the reptile, 
carried the carcase off to camp. When we arrived many hours 
later, gameless and famishing with hunger, our men were all 
squatting round a fire, each one with a lump of Python flesh impaled 
upon the sharpened point of a freshly-cut stick, and holding the 
meat in the fire. It smelt so savoury that I set the example and 
ate a piece, and liked it so much that I tried another piece, for 
it was really nice, tender and juicy. 
