Chap. XXXIX. A LARGE SNAKE. 
57 
mentioned by me before. It was nearly eight o'clock 
when, proceeding in groups, two of our horsemen, on 
passing near a very large and thick gherret, suddenly 
halted, and with loud cries hastened back to us. We 
approached the spot, and saw a very large snake 
hanging in a threatening attitude from the branches 
of the tree: on seeing us it tried to hide itself; 
but after firing several balls, it fell down, and we 
cut off its head. It measured 18 feet 7 inches in 
length, and at the thickest part 5 inches in diameter, 
and was of a beautifully variegated colour. Two 
natives, who had attached themselves to our troop 
the day before, cut it open and took out the fat, 
which they said was excellent. 
The ride was truly interesting ; but by degrees it 
became too much for me, and after seven hours' 
march I was so utterly exhausted as to be obliged to 
halt, and lie down. Most of the Arabs remained with 
us ; others, with 'Ali ben c Aisa, went on to the well. 
When we pursued our march in the afternoon, the 
country for the first three hours was more level, but 
then became very hilly; and at five o'clock we 
ascended a considerable elevation to our left, the 
highest point in the whole country, but perhaps not 
more than 600 or 700 feet above the level of the 
Tsad. From here we crossed two very pretty valleys, 
or dells, especially the second one, where there werer 
very curious hilly projections of a calcareous stone. 
But these valleys were very poor indeed, in com- 
parison with the valley or henderi Foyo, situated at 
