SERPENTS 
and deserts. The most dreaded snakes, on account of their 
venomous character, are found lurking just beneath the 
surface of the sand, the colour of the snakes so closely 
resembling the surrounding objects that even if they were 
not buried they could easily be overlooked by the un- 
practised eye ; while others, like the cobra and hamadryad, 
hold their own in the bamboo hedges and clumps of 
bamboo so conspicuous in all Eastern countries. In these 
clumps (especially in gardens) they are very plentiful, no 
doubt attracted by the rats and mice which keep generally 
near large towns and houses. The stranger who finds 
himself suddenly located among these obnoxious and 
dangerous snakes is naturally filled with apprehension, 
and forced to regard them with abhorrence and aversion ; 
therefore, it cannot be a matter of surprise that these 
reptiles should inspire the mind with feelings of fear, and 
the horror and dread of death through such creatures 
appear to justify our natural repugnance towards them. 
TALE OF A BOA CONSTRICTOR. 
My friend J wrote me that he had a monster in 
the shape of a boa-constrictor. What its length was in 
his imagination I now forget, but on seeing it I found it 
of large size, and thought it probably 18 ft. to 20 ft. long. 
Not intending to purchase the animal, and seeing 
several sore places on its skin, I was induced to ask some 
questions about its history, and the following statement 
I have every reason to believe to be perfectly true. 
J said that the captain who brought home the 
serpent expected a large sum of money for it. The animal 
had been confined in a long chest in the ship’s hold, and 
had not been looked at since it was caught and placed in 
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