SOUTH AMERICA. 213 



moment, the negro next to me seized the lance, THIRD 



n JOCRNEY. 



and held it firm in its place, while I dashed head 



foremost into the den to grapple with the snake, 

 and to get hold of his tail before he could do any 

 mischief. 



On pinning him to the ground with the lance, 

 he gave a tremendous loud hiss, and the little 

 dog ran away, howling as he went. We had 

 a sharp fray in the den, the rotten sticks flying 

 on all sides, and each party struggling for supe- 

 riority. I called out to the second negro to 

 throw himself upon me, as I found I was not 

 heavy enough. He did so, and the additional 

 weight was of great service. I had now got firm 

 hold of his tail; and after a violent struggle or 

 two, he gave in, finding himself overpowered. 

 This was the moment to secure him. So, while 

 the first negro continued to hold the lance firm to 

 the ground, and the other was helping me, I con- 

 trived to unloose my braces, and with them tied 

 up the snake's mouth. 



The snake now finding himself in an unpleasant 

 situation, tried to better himself, and set reso- 

 lutely to work, but we overpowered him. We 

 contrived to make him twist himself round the 

 shaft of the lance, and then prepared to convey 

 him out of the forest. I stood at his head, and 

 held it firm under my arm, one negro supported 

 the belly, and the other the tail. In this order we 

 began to move slowly towards home, and reached 



