BIG SNAKE! 51 



about the width of a brick ; a favourite sort of 

 abiding place for cobras. Just where the present 

 " Lean-to " is built, there used to be a small pigeon 

 house, enclosed with wire netting to keep out civet 

 cats (which it didn't). One day in May, like this, 

 the morning sun being very hot, we placed some 

 large dried palm-leaves in front of the netting to 

 render it cooler inside ; as I was also rearing some 

 young ducks on the ground floor, below the pigeons' 

 shelves. One morning after, I was standing out- 

 side, close to these palm leaves, when I suddenly 

 heard a rustle amongst them ; just on a level with 

 my face. I could not see what it was caused by, 

 and felt inclined to part the leaves, and look for a 

 possible lizard or a chameleon, but did not, luckily. 

 How little did I dream what it really was ! In a 

 minute or so I went off to the portico fern-house, 

 and sent a man to bring me a plant that was 

 standing by the pigeons' house. He came running 

 back in terror. 



"Big snake ! " he cried, "very bad snake, black 

 one." He said that it was sliding along the grass 

 towards the little ducklings, who were nestling in 

 a bunch together on the lawn ; when, as it saw him 



