RATS AND SNAKES 59 



me to handle either the one or the other at the 

 present time, still less could I be capable of feeling 

 any affection for either. Nor do I think that 

 residence in India sufficed to lessen the intense 

 loathing which I entertain for rats and snakes. 

 Were it not for these and such-like creatures, 

 India would, in my estimation, be one of the 

 most delightful of all countries ; but the reptiles 

 and rats are very real discomforts to those who, 

 like myself, have a horror of them. Can anything 

 compensate one for such drawbacks ? Go where 

 you will throughout the length and breadth of the 

 land, there is no possibility of avoiding them. 

 Some places are worse than others in these 

 respects, but in each and all there is an inex- 

 haustible supply of crawling, jumping, squirm- 

 ing reptiles, the majority of which are poisonous ; 

 their presence mars the enjoyment of sport. 

 Walk through the jungle, and the chances are 

 most favourable for encountering a lively cobra or 

 two. Enter a snipe-djeel, and one can hear the 

 water-snakes huge yellow monsters rattling 

 away, and not infrequently are they visible ; they 

 may be harmless, but they are repulsive. For a 

 time I endeavoured to conquer my repugnance to 

 these detrimentals to sport, but after some un- 

 pleasant experiences, I was forced to yield, and 

 not even the charms of the best of snipe-shoot- 

 ing had power to enable me to overcome the 

 feelings of aversion and dread which for ever 

 haunted me. 



