GREAT BOA. 
85 
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 under- 
wood around him with the facility of a sythe mow- 
ing grass, and, by flouncing his tail, caused the mud 
and dirt to fly over our heads to a considerable 
distance. Of this proceeding, however, 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 minutes, and at any rate persisted in 
the assertion that he was neither able nor inclined 
to pursue us ; which opinion he supported by walk- 
ing 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 but slightly wounded, 
he sent up such a cloud of dust and dirt as I never 
saw but in a whirlwind, and made us once more 
suddenly retreat to our canoe; where now, being 
heartily tired of the exploit, I gave orders to row 
towards the barge : but David still entreating me to 
permit him to kill the animal, I was, by his per- 
suasions, induced to make a third and last attempt, 
in company with him. Thus, having once more 
discovered the snake, we discharged both our pieces 
