APPALLING SITUATION. 215 



brtter disappointment. A shallow lake or pond had 

 been there, which the long drought and heat had dried 

 up. I then pulled a quantity of the rushes and spread 

 them at the foot of a large stone, which I intended for 

 my pillow, but as I was about throwing myself down, a 

 rattlesnake coiled, with the head erect, and the forked 

 tongue extended in a state of frightful oscillation, caught 

 my eye immediately under the stone. I instantly re- 

 treated a short distance ; but assuming fresh courage, 

 soon despatched it with my stick. On examining the 

 spot more minutely, a large cluster of them appeared 

 under the stone, the whole of which I rooted out and 

 destroyed. This was hardly accomplished, when up- 

 wards of a dozen snakes of different descriptions, chiefly 

 dark brown, blue, and green, made their appearance; 

 they were much quicker in their movements than their 

 rattletailed brethren, and I could only kill a few of 

 them. 



This was a peculiarly soul-trying moment. I had 

 tasted no fruit since the morning before, and after a 

 painful day's march, under a burning sun, could not 

 procure a drop of water to allay my feverish thirst. I 

 was surrounded by a murderous brood of serpents, and 

 ferocious beasts of prey, and without even the consola- 

 tion of knowing when such misery might~ have a proba- 

 ble termination. I might truly say, with the royal 

 psalmist, that " the snares of death compassed me round 

 about." 



Having collected a fresh supply of rushes, which I 

 spread some distance from the spot where I massacred 

 the reptiles, I threw myself on them, and was permitted, 



