SOUTH AMERICA. 



203 



me, with the pomt about a foot from the ground. The Third 



Journey. 



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 to me seized the lance and held it firm in 

 its place, while I dashed head foremost into the den to 

 grapple with the snake, and to get hold of his tail before 

 he could do any mischief. 



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 on all sides, and each party 

 struggling for superiority. I called out to the second 

 negro to throw himself upon me, as 1 found I was not 

 heavy enough. He did so, and the additional Aveight 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. 



The snake, now finding himself in an unpleasant situa- 

 tion, 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 pre- 

 pared to convey him out of the forest. I stood at his 



2 D 2 



