446 SNAKES. 



huge camoudi snake for a fallen tree. He sat down on it, and the 

 snake quietly glided off into the thick surrounding cover. You will 

 be pleased to make a distinction betwixt disturbing a snake and sur- 

 prising one. If you surprise a snake, you are supposed to come on 

 him unawares. In this case, if you tread on him, or are very near 

 him, he is almost sure to turn upon you in self-defence. If you dis- 

 turb a snake, your presence has caused him (in my acceptation of the 

 word) to move from his place ; and, in this case, he will not stop to 

 give you battle, but will go away, and you will see no more of him. 

 A snake, too small and feeble to make a meal of you, would have no 

 object in disputing the path with you. I have seen numberless 

 snakes retire at my sudden approach, and I have seen many remain 

 quite still until I got up quite close to them. I once saw a snake in 

 a tree with a bird, the size of a thrush, in its mouth. I approached 

 most cautiously, and took the bird out of its mouth, taking great care 

 to apply my hand very slowly and in great silence. The snake 

 which was about eight feet long, as far as I could judge let go his 

 hold of the bird, and then glided down the tree and disappeared. 

 Should you read the ' Wanderings/ you will see that, near Pernam- 

 buco, I saved my life by great gentleness in an affair with a rattle- 

 snake. 



In conclusion, I would beg to remark that, were I at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, I think I could demonstrate to you, by actual experi- 

 ment, that none of the snakes there would give me battle or dispute 

 the path. If I were unfortunate enough to come unawares upon a 

 poisonous one, and tread on it, I should consider my death almost 

 certain. If, on the contrary, I got sight of a snake, were he ever so 

 poisonous, I would manage to disturb him in such a manner that he 

 would never think of remaining in my presence for half a moment 

 after he had once moved. The first movement would be continual 

 with him until he were in a place of safety. I might prolong these 

 remarks, but I trust that I have explained myself sufficiently to give 

 you to understand that I was pretty well master of my subject when 

 I ventured to say that ' I never saw a snake tarry for half a moment 

 after I had disturbed it.' Perhaps, at your perfect convenience, you 

 will drop me a line, should this explanation prove satisfactory to you. 

 I remain, sir, very truly yours, CHARLES WATERTON. 



