%6i< DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
third mounted on the back. A second stroke of 
the knife then severed the head from the body. 
The flesh was much relished by the negroes, and 
did not appear to Adanson so bad as had been re- 
ported. 
Our author observed, also, a gigantic species of 
serpent, frequent on the banks of the Senegal. 
The largest he saw was 22 feet long ; but concur- 
ring testimonies assured him, that they were often 
of much greater dimensions, and resembled the 
mast of an ordinary ship. This creature wreathes 
his tail into several circles, above which he rears his 
head and part of his body. In this attitude he looks 
round for prey ; but, fortunately, he is thus very 
conspicuous, and warns men and even animals to 
avoid him. He devours chiefly lizards, toads, and 
locusts, the scourges of the country, and his pre- 
sence is thus considered as a blessing. 
Our author, in one of his rambles, had an op- 
portunity of observing the negroes' mode of tillage. 
The whole village went out with their lord or chief 
at their head, and accompanied by all the musical 
performers whom they were able to assemble. On 
reaching the field, the music immediately struck 
up, and the labourers began their task, keeping 
exact time, and working faster or slower, accord- 
ing to the tune that was played. Their attitudes 
were such, that no uninformed spectator could 
i 
