ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 69 



the coiled folds, and seemed to be settling down to sleep 

 again. All was over and done quickly enough, as we reckon 

 time ; but truly those few seconds were the longest in my 

 life, and stand out distinct from every other memory. 



I do not think now that there was any real danger 

 whatever from that cobra in its contented, slumberous 

 mood ; if it had fancied that its safety was in any way 

 threatened it would have become enraged, but its be- 

 haviour expressed neither fear nor irritation. The question 

 was how long would that amiable frame of mind last. 

 The creature's suspicions once aroused, nothing could have 

 saved the situation. 



But now another difficulty arose. How could the cobra 

 be persuaded to leave the premises amicably ? None of 

 our servants would harm, let alone kill, it on any account. 

 We were then living at Calicut, where the people venerate 

 cobras, believing them to be inhabited by the souls of their 

 ancestors ; therefore, as religion was concerned, no one 

 could be either ordered or bribed to despatch one. Finally, 

 however, this one was driven away by the very simple 

 device of tilting up the chair with a long bamboo cane. 

 Our Hindu servants were on tour with the Doray, or it 

 would never have been allowed to escape scot-free. 



Whilst we were still living in that same place a friend 

 came to spend the day with me — a very favourite way of 

 enjoying each other's society with Englishwomen in India. 

 She brought with her her two children and an ayah for 

 each of them. 



My friend and I were ' lazing ' by ourselves when 

 frightened cries reached us. On our going — or more 

 probably sending, it being India and the hot weather — 

 to see what was the matter, we found that one of the babies 

 had been playing by a hole in a wall, pulling out the crumb- 

 ling chunam (mortar), and trying, baby fashion, to make 

 the hole larger. The hole was tenanted, and the child 



