A BLACK COBRA. 79 



identical with the mahseer of India.* This is a 

 regular drinking place for a large variety of game. 

 During the full of the moon effective execution 

 among the big animals might be done here from a 

 skerm. 



At length, with regret, we had to turn our faces 

 to the southward, for I was anxious to get home (?) 

 as early as possible, when Sunday, who was leading, 

 turned and grasped my hand with an effort as if to 

 press me down. Naturally, I obeyed this admoni- 

 tion, then followed him a few paces to the right, 

 when he pointed out, through an opening in the 

 trees, a family party of six giraffes. When these 

 animals are not alarmed, and are feeding, they are 

 very graceful, and as unlike your Zoological captives 

 as is possible to imagine. Prison life, I am told, 

 makes as wonderful an alteration in man's appear- 

 ance. With great care and patience we stalked fifty 

 yards closer, and I was about to rise and fire when 

 my attendant gave a wonderful jump, which I 

 hastened to follow ; the cause of this was that my 

 " boy " had almost placed his hand upon a black cobra 

 that seemed more than disposed to give us battle. 

 Of course, our apparently absurd conduct alarmed 

 the giraffes, which went off at their best pace. This 

 description of snake is, I believe, peculiar to South 

 Africa. I never heard of it in India or elsewhere, 



* This fish is called by Africanders the " big scale," but it is 

 unquestionably the veritable Barbus tor. 



