AFRICAN REPTILES 175 



Undoubtedly the python saw only a part of 

 the boy's body in the grass and, being hungry 

 and mistaking the lad for a quadruped, seized 

 him on general food principles, not discovering 

 the mistake until too late. 



A porter ran into camp one day with the news 

 that a large python was lying out on some 

 rocks by the side of a stream, not far away. I 

 snatched my shotgun and followed the boy. On 

 arriving at the place I found a snake, about 

 ten feet long, sunning himself on some rocks 

 on the opposite side of the river. There was 

 no ford nearer than two miles, so I contented 

 myself by giving the reptile a charge of buck- 

 shot from where I stood. The snake threw its 

 body high in the air, whipped about, and 

 plunged into the water. Three days later it 

 was found dead floating on the surface. 



On another occasion, while "driving," I had 

 an experience that, for a second, sent a cold chill 

 over my body. Since I have mentioned "driv- 

 ing," may I ask the reader's indulgence long 

 enough to explain this most interesting and 

 exciting method of hunting, although it is en- 

 tirely foreign to the subject of reptiles. 



The greater part of British East Africa is 



