40 BEING LOST IN THE FOREST. 
But after several hours walking and run- 
ning, he became more bewildered than ever, 
and at last sat down upon a fallen tree, com- 
pletely worn out. 
He had scarcely sat two minutes, when a 
snake with a curious mark on the back of its 
neck, something like a pair of spectacles, raised 
its head, and looked at him in a threatening 
manner. It was evidently provoked that any 
one should dare to sit down so near it, and it 
puffed out its neck like a hood. The soldier 
knew too well what kind of enemy he had to 
deal with; it was the spectacle, or hooded, 
snake,* and one of the most deadly of its tribe. 
Strange as it may seem, the natives of 
Ceylon regard the hooded snake with venera- 
tion. They think it is as powerful as their 
gods, and that it belongs to another world, 
and only comes here as a visitor. They never 
kill one if they can help it ; and when it gets 
into their houses, they contrive to put it in 
a bag, and carry it away to a distance. 
The hooded snake never bites unless it is 
provoked; and then it gives warning of its 
* Cobra de Capello. 
