^7^ ' DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
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 reported. 
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 presence is thus considered as a blessing. 
Our author, in one of his rambles, had an op- 
portunity of observing the negroes' mode of til- 
lage. 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 as- 
semble. On reaching the field, the music im- 
mediately struck up, and the labourers began 
their task, keeping exact time, and working fas- 
ter or slower, according to the tune that was 
played. Their attitudes were such, that no unin- 
formed spectator could have doubted that it was 
a ball at which they were performing. 
