SUNDERBUNDS. 
261 
sent a boat into one of the creeks to obtain some fresh 
fruits which are cultivated by the few miserable in- 
habitants of this inhospitable region. Having reached 
the shore the crew moored the boat under a bank, 
and left one of their party to take care of her. Dur- 
ing their absence, the lascar, who remained in charge 
of the boat, overcome by heat, lay down under the 
seats and fell asleep. Whilst he was in this happy 
state of unconsciousness, an enormous boa- constrictor 
emerged from the jungle, reached the boat, had already 
coiled its huge body round the sleeper, and was in 
the very act of crushing him to death, when his com- 
panions fortunately returned at this auspicious mo- 
ment, and attacking the monster severed a portion 
of its tail, which so disabled it that it no longer 
retained the power of doing mischief. The snake 
was then easily despatched, and found to measure 
sixty-two feet and some inches in length.* The 
immense size of these snakes has been frequently 
called in question, but I know not why it should 
when the fact has been authenticated by so many 
eye-witnesses. Nor was it unknown to ancient histo- 
rians ; for Suetonius, in the forty third chapter of his 
Lives of the first Twelve Caesars, mentions that the 
Emperor Augustus over and above the regular shows, 
gave others occasionally for the purpose of exhibit- 
ing any extraordinary object of which he might have 
* The original picture, painted by Mr. W. Daniell, is in the 
possession of le Baron de Noual de la Loyrie; and that of the 
“ Favourite of the Harem,” also by the same artist, is the 
property of R. W. Cox, Esq. of Lawford, Essex. 
