128 TlMEHRI. 



the expanded hood of a cobra (Naja). When examined, 

 it was found to be a female, containing forty large, sub- 

 oval eggs, nearly ready for deposition, and this gives a 

 sufficient explanation of its desire to attack, while the 

 other one, presumably a male, made off into the bush. 

 It seems to me that herein lies the simple explanation of 

 the fa6l that certain widely distinct snakes, such as the 

 innocuous yellow-tail (Spilotes corais) and the deadly 

 bushmaster (Lachesis mutusj, have been known, on good 

 authority, to take the offensive when met with. It cer- 

 tainly is not the habit of these snakes always so to act, 

 since they are frequently known to make off when 

 troubled — a fa<5t, that, in the case of the yellow-tail, at 

 any rate, my own experience confirms. 



Some few years ago there was a large Indian settle- 

 ment at Pacoutout ; and a clearing was made on the hill 

 on the northern bank, over which the portage path runs 

 and from which the view, commanding nearly the whole 

 valley below, must have been extremely grand. The 

 place is now deserted, however, and but one large settle- 

 ment is met with, at Manakparu, about half-way between 

 Pacoutout and Amutu, before the Kaieteur is reached. 



From the upper end of the portage, the first distant 

 view is obtained of the abrupt northern escarpment of 

 the sandstone table-land, projecting like a bold headland 

 into a sea of forest; and parts of this formation present 

 themselves to view at intervals as one journeys along, 

 until the actual valley is entered, which the river has 

 hollowed out in the table-land during the long course of 

 time. Soon after starting, a small rapid was encountered, 

 and here the river was partly blocked by thick clumps of 

 rushes fThurnia), which afforded safe stepping-places in 



