OUR NERVES ARE ELECTRIFIED. 179 



the ground being very hard, and the sticks having constantly 

 to be resharpened, our progress was rather slow. After dig- 

 ging and scraping away for a long time, we had enlarged the 

 mouth of the hole enough to admit sufficient light to enable 

 us, by stooping and peering into the gloom of the interior, to 

 see some of the reptile's huge coils, which looked as thick as, 

 if not thicker than, a man's thigh. It was an enormous 

 python, and we were surprised to find that it did not as yet 

 evince the slightest signs of resenting our intrusion, although 

 the creature must have been quite conscious of it ; for we 

 fancied we saw its eyes regarding us, as it lay with its great 

 flat head resting on one of its coils. 



Supposing the snake to be in a half-torpid state, we deter- 

 mined to try and draw it. We all three, therefore, proceeded 

 somewhat nervously I must own to lay hold of its tail. 

 To this familiarity it showed its objection by a decided in- 

 clination to wag its caudal extremity, which had such an 

 electrical effect on our nerves that we dropped it like a hot 

 potato, and what shall I call it ? retired. It must have 

 been very sleepy indeed, for immediately on its tail being 

 released it desisted from moving it. This restored confidence, 

 and again and again did we renew our futile attempts to haul 

 it out. We had yet to learn the mighty muscular power of 

 the creature, which had now withdrawn some of its coils 

 farther back into the den, thereby giving them additional 

 purchase. We had, however, so far succeeded, that several 

 feet of its length were now exposed to view. 



A shot would in all probability have induced it to re- 

 linquish its hold. But had I fired at random into the hole, 

 I must have torn and disfigured its beautiful new coat (it was 

 evidently the original owner of the cast-off one), which I 

 wished if possible to secure uninjured as a specimen ; and a 

 wound near the tail might not have altogether disabled it. I 

 therefore refrained from shooting until a more favourable 

 opportunity should offer. 



