CURIOUS DWELLERS OF SWAMP AND FOREST. 155 



self-defense. I carried the lance perpendicularly before 

 me, with the point about a foot from the ground. The 

 snake had not moved ; and, on getting up to him, I struck 

 him with the lance on the near side, just behind the neck, 

 and pinned him to the ground. That moment the negro 

 next me seized the lance and held it firmly in its place, 

 while I dashed head foremost into the den to grapple with 

 the snake and get hold of his tail before he could do any 

 mischief. 



10. On pinning him to the ground with the lance, he 

 gave a tremendous loud hiss, and the little dog ran away, 

 howling as he went. We had a sharp fray in the den, the 

 rotten sticks flying upon all sides, and each party strug- 

 gling for superiority. I called out to the second negro to 

 throw himself upon me, as I found I was not heavy enough. 

 He did so, and the additional weight was of great service. 

 I had now got firm hold of his tail, and, after a violent 

 struggle or two, he gave in, finding himself overpowered. 

 This was the moment to secure him. So, while the first 

 negro continued to hold the lance firm to the ground, and 

 the other was helping me, I contrived to unloose my braces, 

 and with them tied up the snake's mouth. 



11. The snake, now finding himself in an unpleasant 

 situation, tried to better himself, and set resolutely to 

 work, but we overpowered him. We contrived to make 

 him twist himself round the shaft of the lance, and then 

 prepared to convey him out of the forest. I stood by the 

 head, and held it firmly under my arm ; one negro sup- 

 ported the middle, and the other the tail. In this order 

 we began to move slowly toward home, and reached it 

 after resting ten times, for the snake was too heavy for us 

 to support him without stopping to recruit our strength. 

 As we proceeded onward with him he fought hard for free- 

 dom, but all in vain. The day was now too far spent to 



think of dissecting him. If I killed him, a partial putre- 

 12 



