3G8 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



barrels of the rifle into the mass, at the same time 

 drawing the horse back to the pathway, as I did not 

 know the customer I had to deal with. The snake 

 made ofif down the hill, and my horse refused to follow, 

 so that, before I could dismount and get down on foot, 

 all trace of him was lost. I was taken by surprise, or 

 should perhaps have made a better business of it. My 

 impression was that the creature was about twenty-five 

 feet long, of a leaden colour, and about as thick as a 

 large man's thigh. I have seen one killed in the same 

 jungles, which measured sixteen feet in length. They 

 are of a very sluggish disposition, and do not molest 

 man. The stories of their swallowing spotted deer 

 whole, antlers and all, I believe to be utter myths. 



HORNS OF broTTED DEEU. {Scak, one-ieiitli.) 



