242 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



sotto voce, and then applying close scrutiny of my 

 double optics to the spot whence proceeded above said 

 disturbance I was much horrified and temporaneously 

 paralysed to lo ! and behold a mighty enormous 

 reptile of Cobra-de-Capello making frontal attack. 

 My pedal appendages being only clothed in wooden 

 sandals ; I thereupon immediately took to nether 

 limbs and beat hasty retreat(as stated in war telegrams) 

 or in other words made rapid retrograde movement 

 by locomotion of lower shanks, though personally 

 much courageous. I should like to indignantly 

 question — what arc newly selected City Fathers 

 cogitating that they should not take commensurate 

 steps to relegate such carnivorous animals to limbo 

 oblivion and insure safety of pedestrians and footpads ? 

 Please answer me this inscrutable question, famous 

 Sir ? Praying for welfare and increase of filial bond. 

 I am. I am, most obedient Sir, your ever obedient 

 servant, Babu ClIOWDRY BOSE. 



N.B. — If this epistle is consigned to wastepaper 

 basket and no notice taken of my humble complaint, 

 I shall memoriate in other papers. — M. Mail, Jan. 27. 



A few days later we had a most interesting 

 visit from two snake-charmers — who undertook 

 to catch any snakes that might lurk round the 

 bungalow. Another cobra had been seen in 

 some grass, but below the flower garden, so we 

 were glad to let them try, first stipulating that 

 unless snakes were found and caught, they 

 would receive no payment. Every precaution 

 was taken to ensure that they did not them- 

 selves place the snakes where they were after- 



