SNAKES AND EEPTILES. 197 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE SNAKES AND REPTILES PECULIAR TO POET PHILLIP, AND OTHER 

 BUSH ANNOYANCES. 



ALTHOUGH the bushman has nothing to fear out here 

 from the attacks of any wild animals, he has still his secret 

 enemies, which in many cases are as dangerous as the open, 

 foe ; and what he has most to dread in the Australian bush 

 are the snakes. I do not believe any part of the world 

 can be more infested with these reptiles in the summer 

 season. Let him walk where he -will in the depths of 

 .the forest, in the thick heather, on the open swamps and 

 plains, by the edges of creeks or water-holes the shooter 

 is sure to meet with his enemy, the black-snake. It 

 enters his very tent or hut, and coils itself in his 

 blankets. In fact, nowhere is he safe ; and if he did 

 not altogether banish the thought of them from his 

 mind, he could never have a moment's peace. It does, 

 indeed, appear as if the eye of a watchful Providence 

 peculiarly guarded the traveller in these wilds ; for at 

 any moment he is liable to tread upon a deadly snake, 

 coiled up in his very path, which does not always get 

 out of the way, but lies watching him with his basilisk 

 eye, ready in a moment to make the fatal spring if 

 touched, and very, often the snake is not seen till the 



