of the Old World. 277 



so startled me in the dark, still in the same place 

 coiled round the date-tree, evidently fast asleep, in a 

 state of repletion. I saw at a glance that it was a 

 beautifully marked "damian," or rock-snake (a kind 

 of boa), which is not venomous, and I determined, if 

 possible, to capture it alive, it appearing an excellent 

 specimen. This was soon effected. Chineah fastened 

 a slip-knot to a stout bamboo, and, passing it over its 

 head, pulled, whilst some of the rest of the gang 

 struck the tail with sticks until it unloosened its coil 

 from the tree, and wound round the bamboo, to 

 which it was tied with the stalks of creepers. It 

 proved about eleven feet in length, and over a foot 

 in circumference. A wicker-basket was soon con- 

 structed, and in a few days it became quite tame, not 

 attempting to escape when handled.* 



Our captive secured, we soon made our way to the 

 spot where the dead elephant was lying, and whilst 

 some of the gang worked by turns with the axe to 

 cut out the tusks (a tedious and lengthy operation, 

 requiring much care), and others prepared our 

 morning repast, I strolled about with Googooloo, and 

 examined the trail of the herd, in order to ascertain 

 whether there were any other large tuskers in it 

 worth following up. 



* The author subsequently gave it to A. Bain, Esq., of 

 Madras, who transferred it to the Liverpool Zoological Gardens, 

 where it is now, much increased in size. 



