THE DEADLY CURE 119 



in whose godown he was arranging firewood when 

 he was bitten in the foot. Without looking at the 

 snake he rushed out and, falling on his face on the 

 ground, implored the bystanders to take care of his 

 wife and children as he was a dead man. The news 

 spread and all the village ran together. The man 

 was taken to an open room in his employer's premises 

 and vigorous measures for his recovery were set on 

 foot, in which his employer's family and servants, 

 his own friends and as many of the general public 

 as chose to look in, were allowed to take part. 



First of all, some jungle men were called in, for 

 the man of the jungle must naturally know more 

 about snakes than other men. These were probably 

 Katkurrees, an aboriginal race, who live by wood- 

 cutting, hunting and other sylvan occupations. 

 They proved to be practical men and at once sucked 

 the wound. An intelligent Havildar of the Customs 

 Department, who chanced to be present, then lanced 

 the wound slightly to let the blood flow, and tied 

 the leg tightly in two places above it. This was 

 admirable. If what the jungle men and the Havildar 

 did were always and promptly done whenever a man 

 is bitten by a snake, few such accidents would end 

 fatally. 



But this poor man's friends did not stop there. 

 A supply of chickens had been procured with all 

 haste, and these were scientifically applied. This 

 is a remedy in which the natives have great faith, 

 and I have known Europeans who were convinced 

 19 



