344 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



the snake-catcher descended the bank, dropped him into the 

 empty basket, and closed the lid, he then began to play, and 

 after a short time raising the lid of the basket, the snake darted 

 about wildly, and attempted to escape ; the lid was shut down 

 again quickly, the music always playing. This was repeated 

 two or three times ; and, in a vfery short interval, the lid being 

 again raised, ihe snake sat on his tail, opened his hood, and 

 danced quite as quietly as the tame snakes in the other basket, 

 nor did he again attempt to escape. " 



The Cobra as ^ gentleman in India once visited a neighbour- 

 Companion ing station for the purpose of taking part in a 

 ° » * • cricket match, and was hospitably entertained. 

 He was put up in a large tent, accompanied by his wife. 

 After the day's play, at dusk, he went between the canvas walls 

 of the tent where his bath was ready. Touching the bath-tub, 

 were placed two large earthenware jars, full of cold water, and 

 next to them was a brass basin, also containing water, on a 

 stand ; the light was burning in the centre of the tent so that 

 between the canvas walls was darkness. He stepped into the 

 tub, and finding the water too hot, bent down to take up one 

 of the cold water jars, but something induced him instinctively 

 to refrain. He stayed his hand, at the same time calling out 

 to his wife to bring a light, which she did when, to his horror, 

 he saw a large cobra coiled round the mouth of the jar, within 

 a foot of his naked legs. The sensation can be imagined. To 

 move was probably death, to stand still required nerve. Ex- 

 perience and courage decided the point, and fixing his eye on 

 the reptile, he quietly told his wife to put down the light on 

 the ground and get him a stick. The wife, a sensible crea- 

 ture, obeyed, leaving her lord in the agonies of suspense as to 

 what the snake's next move would be. This was soon settled 

 by the reptile uncoiling itself and gliding up the chillumchee 

 stand on to the basin, from which it commenced drinking. 

 By this time the stick was gently put into the bather's hand, 

 who with a well-directed blow cut the snake in half against 



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