CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 245 



say — but twice I have seen its efficacy proved. 

 Ionly wish that doctors would not be too proud 

 to study the subject. 



The man was evidently in great agony, and 

 at this stage, I must confess I took myself off, 

 as there were plenty of people to attend to him, 

 and I thought every moment he would die. 

 Rob gave him some whiskey, and awaited 

 events. 



In about twenty minutes, I heard the sweet 

 little trills of the pipe once more, and on going 

 out, found the invalid quite recovered, though 

 looking rather shaky, and the two men hunting 

 for more snakes ; no more, however, were found. 

 Before going away they said they wished to 

 give us a little performance, which meant letting 

 the four cobras and two tic polongas creep and 

 crawl about the yard almost up to our feet, then 

 catching and throwing them from one hand to 

 the other, and letting them crawl up to us 

 again, and so da capo. As the bite of either 

 would be deadly, it was a gruesome entertain- 

 ment, even with snake-stones at hand, so we 

 soon said we had had enough. Rob gave 

 them R. 10; they presented him with a snake- 

 stone, and departed carrying the snakes with 

 4fcem. 



