18.1: A COLLECTOR'S EXPERIENCES 



Fatima had contiimallj fasted, and it was decided to 

 take desperate measures to save her life. 



Seven rabbits were killed and neatly fastened to- 

 gether with twine, making one long string. Fatima 

 was taken from her cage, held by six keepers, and 

 the rabbits forced down her throat with a smooth 

 pole. AVhen two feet of the ten-foot pole protruded 

 from her mouth the pole was withdrawn, leaving the 

 rabbits inside ; then the snake was placed in the 

 cage again. This operation was repeated for eleven 

 months, at intervals of ten days, and from the begin- 

 ning Fatima grew rapidly stronger ; after some weeks 

 of the compulsory feeding the "python squad" con- 

 sisted of twelve men instead of six, and all of these 

 had their hands full as they swayed and fought to re- 

 tain the mastery over twenty feet of reptilian muscle. 



At last came victory. All through the time of 

 compulsory feeding the keepers had continued to 

 offer Fatima her regular food, hoping that she might 

 begin taking it voluntarily. One night at dusk, as 

 Snyder was feeding a large snake in Fatima's cage, 

 which had been docile from the first, he was amazed 

 to see within a foot of his face the great head and 

 neck of the regal python, her yellow eyes scintil- 

 lating brightly in the light of his lantern. All her 

 attention seemed concentrated upon the black-tailed 

 python, which was calmly swallowing a chicken. 

 Seizing another fowl, Snyder threw it in front of the 

 reptile as she slid from the big tree in the cage, and 

 with wild excitement and joy beheld Fatima seize 

 and devour it. Such was Snyder's exultation that he 



