206 WANDERINGS IN 



Third returned in time to help to take the skin off. He had 



Journey. 



spent best part of his hfe in the forest with his old master, 



Mr. Edmonstone, and amused me much in recounting 

 their many adventures amongst the Avild beasts. The 

 Daddy had a particular horror of snakes, and frankly 

 declared that he could never have faced the one in 

 question. 



Attacks Xhe week foilowine;, his courage was put to the test, 



another ^ ^ ^ 



Snake. and lie made good his words. It was a curious conflict, 

 and took place near the spot where I had captured the 

 large snake. In the morning I had been foUoAving a new 

 species of paroquet, and the day being rainy, I had taken 

 an umbrella to keep the gun dry, and had left it under 

 a tree ; in the afternoon I took Daddy Quashi Avith me 

 to look for it. Whilst he Avas searching about, curiosity 

 took me toAvards the place of the late scene of action. 

 There Avas a path Avhere timber had formerly been 

 dragged along. Here I observed a young Coulacanara, 

 ten feet long, sloAAdy moving ouAvards ; I saAV he was not 

 thick enough to break my arm, in case he got tAvisted 

 round it. There Avas not a moment to be lost. I laid 

 hold of his tail Avith the left hand, one knee being on the 

 ground ; Avith the right I took off my hat, and held it as 

 you would hold a shield for defence. ' 



The snake instantly turned, and came on at me, Avith 

 his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me, 

 what business I had to take liberties with his tail. I let 



