342 
VLSIT OF SNAKES 
It was a trying day to the sick of all the vessels. A 
fiercely burning sun, the air close and sultry, with the 
thermometer 90® at noon in the shade, and scarcely 
below 85° even at night, raised the fever to its height ; 
and it seemed with several, that without continued 
artificial ventilation by fans, and frequent cold spongings, 
they would have expired under the oppression of 
breathing and heat of skin. Many of those not yet 
entered on the sick-list were evidently beginning to feel 
weak and apprehensive. 
In addition to the enervating fever, we seem to be 
threatened with another and more singular visitation, 
not less dreaded by the seamen. For the last two 
nights, the little tenement on the starboard sponson — 
which having been comfortably fitted up by Lieutenant 
Strange for some of the blacks, went by the name of 
Kru Town — had been disturbed by unwelcome intruders 
in the shape of snakes, which were now abundant in the 
waters, being driven off the high gi’asses on the inun- 
dated islands. The fear of these — as some were said 
to be venemous — was certainly one of the horrors, and in 
all the vessels several were killed at night, having either 
twisted themselves up by the cable, or by the paddle- 
wheels. While we lay aground at English Island, they 
were seen frequently coiled round the tops of the reeds 
which appeared above water, and one of the officers of the 
‘ Amelia ’ tender, absolutely practised with a pistol at a 
bunch of these reptiles, collected in that way near the 
