218 GANJAM. 



as we were sitting down to dinner one 

 evening, and another dropped almost 

 upon her from the top of a door. 



I met a large cobra in the grounds 

 at dusk one evening, which, instead of 

 avoiding me as I expected, made a rush 

 at my feet, and when I sprang to one 

 side again made a similar demonstration. 

 I was so surprised at this unusual con- 

 duct that I at first made no attack on 

 the creature ; but when I saw it begin to 

 lower itself into the opening of a white 

 ants' nest, from which it had driven me, 

 I understood the reason of its move- 

 ments, and as soon as its head was 

 underground I struck it heavily across 

 the body and killed it ; had the evening 

 been a little darker I should certainly 

 have been bitten. 



