NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
119 
plains, a ‘ boy ’ came up to me with a stone in his hand, 
saying they had disturbed a ‘ Nyoka kubwa Sana ’ (very 
large snake), whose diameter he indicated was the size of 
his wrist. I went off with him at a run, and on nearing the 
shambas or native allotments saw a smoking pile of rubbish 
and two boys standing by. About fifteen others were standing 
afar off and shouting what I expect was the very best of 
advice. When I came up they began to rake away the rubbish 
with long poles, whilst I stood ready with my forked stick. 
Presently a black-necked spitting cobra ( Naia nigricollis) 
came gliding from the heap. The boys discreetly retreated, 
and the snake turned up over the pile, making for the fence 
against which the heap had been thrown. I pinned it six 
inches back of the head first go off, and shielded my face with 
my helmet, as these pretty creatures have a dirty habit of 
spitting their venom at one’s eyes ; this causes a temporary 
blindness lasting several days and extremely painful. I have 
met several people out here who have suffered in this way, as 
also the keeper of the reptile house in the London Zoo. They 
can spit at the distance of twelve feet, and aim for the eye 
every time. 
With all the rubbish and brambles sticking up, and his 
lordship slamming about, I couldn’t very well have picked 
it up, and the boys were shouting lustily for me to kill it, and 
the two at hand, making menacing gestures with their poles, 
having returned. As I was telling them that I would not 
kill it, and to keep away, the snake settled the matter by giving 
a quick muscular contortion and freeing itself ; it turned 
straight in my direction, but without any idea of attacking ; 
the boys left hurriedly, and I jumped backwards off the pile. 
She was very quick, and turned again for the fence like lightning. 
In the excitement of the moment, and as it was within six 
inches of the fence, I gave it a blow on the back which stunned 
it. The top flew off my snake stick, and the snake did not 
move. I gave it another tap, to which it only responded 
by wriggling its tail, so creeping up I recovered the fork and 
replaced it in the ferrule, and then pinned the cobra by the 
back of the neck. Picking it up, and keeping the head well 
away from me, I transferred it to a bag, one of the boys holding 
