42 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
attention, when, starting behind me, he called out, 
f Me see snakee V and in effect there lay the animal, 
rolled up under the fallen leaves and rubbish of the 
trees ,* and so well covered, that it was some time 
before I distinctly perceived the head of the monster, 
distant from me not above sixteen feet, moving its 
forked tongue, while its eyes, from their uncommon 
brightness, appeared to emit sparks of fire. I now 
rested my piece upon a branch for the purpose of 
taking a surer aim, and fired, but missing the head 
the ball went through the body, when the animal 
struck round, and with such astonishing force as to 
cut away all the underwood around him with the 
facility of a scythe mowing grass, and by flouncing 
his tail caused the mud and dirt to fly over our heads 
to a considerable distance. Of this proceeding, how- 
ever, we were not torpid spectators, but took to our 
heels and crowded into the canoe. 
* The negro now entreated me to renew the charge, 
assuring me the snake would be quiet in a few mi- 
nutes ; and at any rate persisted in the assertion that 
he was neither able nor inclined to pursue us, which 
opinion he supported by walking before me till I 
should be ready to fire. And thus I again undertook 
to make the trial ; especially as he said that his first 
starting backwards was only to make room for me. 
I now found the snake a little removed from his 
former station, but very quiet, with his head, as 
before, lying out among the fallen leaves, rotten bark, 
and old moss. I fired at it immediately, but with 
no better success than the other time ; and now being 
