INDIA. 271 



the appearance of the late visitors, were roused from 

 their dormant condition and displayed an activity be- 

 gotten by fear. We finally came to the door of a large 

 room in which darkness was complete. The moment 

 we entered a fearful hissing from every part of the room 

 greeted us, mingled with short raps resembling the tap- 

 ping sound made by striking a wire screen with a small 

 hammer. I was in a cobra den, in the midst of 150 

 of these terrible reptiles, imprisoned in cages, it is 

 true, but wide awake and roused to anger by our un- 

 timely intrusion. They were assisted in their hissing 

 and striking against the wire screen which guarded the 

 open end of their cages by 50 other snakes still more 

 venomous, KussePs viper. (Daboia Busselli.) Through 

 the meshes of the wire screen shot the red forked tongues 

 of 200 of the most venomous reptiles known. Add to 

 the hissing- and striking noises the 200 forked red 

 tongues, 400 staring, deceptive and treacherous eyes, 

 the snaky odor that pervaded the atmosphere of their 

 dungeon and you will have a good idea of what is meant 

 by a cobra den. The cobra (Naia tripudians) is about 

 four feet in length, and when angered the flat head 

 and neck expand into wing-like projections on each 

 side, increasing their width to the size of the palm of 

 the hand. The color is almost black, the tail taper- 

 ing into a sharp point. The viper is of about the same 

 size, but has circular stripes. I know of no more ugly 

 sight than a cobra in striking attitude. Ever}'- snake 

 in the room was in a fighting mood, hissing and strik- 

 ing the wire screen with a thud-like noise; at short 

 intervals red forked tongues shot out through the 

 meshes of the wire screen on all sides, and the situa- 

 tion was made more horrible by the revolting snake 

 smell issuing from so many cages. 



The snake, the most despised animal in creation, is 

 an object of fear and horror to all who are familiar 

 with his damnable record in the Garden of Eden, and 

 with the curses imposed on him by the Almighty. I 



