266 POISON - SPITTING SNAKES. 



looker-on. The puff-adder always springs backwards, and 

 can make extraordinary leaps. There is a very fine speci- 

 men now to be seen in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's 

 Park. 



I have heard from both Dutchmen and Kaffirs that there 

 is a snake which spits out its poison at any one who may 

 approach, and makes capital shots. Blindness often follows 

 if the victim is struck in the eyes, and a horrible disease 

 of the skin if the face or hands are touched by the poison- 

 ous secretion. I am not aware of the appearance or name 

 of this reptile. Besides the venomous snakes that I have 

 mentioned as being common about Natal, there is also a 

 species of boa- constrictor which grows to a considerable 

 size ; and although this snake is not dangerous, still it is 

 slaughtered by man whenever met, as it is destructive to 

 birds and small bucks. I shot six of these during my 

 prowlings around the bush and swamps of Natal; the 

 largest was shot when I was in company with an English 

 gentleman who rarely went out shooting and was a prey 

 to despair almost before he had commenced. As the whole 

 of that day's proceedings serve to show that it is well never 

 to give up or to throw away a chance, I will describe them 

 in detail. 



We had for nearly four hours continually searched kloofs 

 and ravines, but we had seen no game whatsoever. As we 

 were riding over a little hill, I thought I saw something 

 move on an opposite ridge, a little behind me and on my 

 left hand. I would not look round, but rode steadily away 

 until we had passed over the hill and were quite out of 

 sight of whatever had caught my attention. 1 then men- 



