32 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



jungle, led by the native who made the discovery. 

 I was surprised to find the largest snake I had ever 

 seen. It looked at least thirty feet long and about 

 eighteen inches in diameter. For a moment we 

 stood there gasping. 



The python was sleeping peacefully, digesting 

 the pig. I called to the men and put them to work 

 at staking the crate to the ground and securing it 

 so that the snake could not lash it around. The 

 crate was about eight feet long, six feet wide and 

 two and one-half feet deep; just large enough to 

 hold him and just small enough so that, once inside, 

 he would not be able to get leverage and break it. 

 Again I explained what each man was to do. Then 

 I passed a rope through the crate, tying one end 

 to a tree and preparing a running noose to be slipped 

 around the snake's head when we were ready to 

 draw him forward. Two more ropes were laid 

 out, running from his tail. These we wrapped 

 around trees on each side of the tail, and I stationed 

 men at the ends, showing them how they were to 

 pay out the rope as the snake was drawn toward 

 the crate, keeping it taut enough to prevent him 

 from lashing. 



The python slept soundly through all these prep- 

 arations. When we were ready, I gathered the men 

 about me and cautioned them against becoming 

 excited. I warned all those who had not been 

 given work to do to stand back out of the way and 

 not to approach unless we needed them. 



