SNAKES. 433 



lively few. I have seen more monkeys in one day, than I have found 

 snakes during my entire sojourn in the forests. When I did fall in 

 with them (and they were not wanted for dissection), whether they 

 were poisonous or harmless, I would contemplate them for a few 

 minutes ere I proceeded, and would say, " Gentlemen of rainbow- 

 colours, be not alarmed at my intrusion. I am not come hither to 

 attempt your lives, or to offer wanton molestation. This boundless 

 territory affords an ample range to both yourselves and me. Our 

 interests can never clash, as though we were in commerce : so, pray 

 enjoy yourselves, and let me do the same." 



I find it somewhat difficult to give instructions by the pen, how 

 to distinguish a snake with fangs from one without them as you are 

 travelling through the woods. Many of the former present an appear- 

 ance which clearly shows their nature : the Cerastes of Egypt, to 

 wit. Its flat head, its scales somewhat in colour like to the fallen 

 leaves its thick and short form, at once give warning, that, if the 

 traveller should wish to take it, he must go very cautiously to work. 

 The labarri, too, of Guiana, is easily known by its colour and appear- 

 ance, and warns us how to act. Some, again, are of so dubious a 

 composition, that you are at a loss whether to consider them inno- 

 cent or dangerous serpents. The whip-snakes, that is, long and 

 slender snakes not unlike the thong of a whip (hence their name), 

 throughout the whole of Guiana, may be handled with perfect safety ; 

 and I have no doubt in my own mind that all snakes of this make, 

 no matter what region they inhabit, are harmless in every sense of 

 the word. I was once put to my wit's end, as to whether the snake 

 before me was armed with poison-fangs or not It lay reposing on 

 the branch of a bush about four feet or so from the ground, and was 

 of marvellous beauty. It showed a vivid green throughout the whole 

 of its body, which was chequered with markings of ivory white. This 

 puzzled me much ; and for the life of me, I could not pronounce, 

 whether it were of good or of evil parentage. So I laid hold of it with 

 all possible caution. It proved to be eight feet long, and venomous. 



Confiding in the notion that snakes never use their poison-fangs, 

 except when driven to extremities, I would rove in the forests, day 

 after day, without shoes or stockings, and never consider myself in 

 danger from them. 



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