Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-08


 took the slightest notice of them.
 When it was decided that was to re- turn to Europe, my passage was en- gagged in the Dunrobin Castle, to sail from Port Elizabeth. Of course my snakes were with me-forty as fine specimens as Africa could produce-all packed up in a large iron bound trunk. This intended to keep with me in the cabin. And, lest there might be any difficulty about it, I took the precau- ton of previously getting introduced to the captain, who agreed to my mal1- ing them my fellow-lodgers, on condi- tion that their presence on board should be an absolute secret from all the passengers To this readily con- sented; and wrapped in my warm wool- ly ulster went gayly on deck. To me the passengers all were strangers; but it so happened that among them was gentleman from Grahamstown who knew me by sight, although I did not know him. When the first few days of sea-sickness were past, and ladies and gentlemen began to walk the decks, I found that most people eyed me curiously askance; and if by any chance ven- tured near little group of takers or Ioungers, my proxlm1uy Invarlaply pe- came signal for their dispersal. This apparent rudeness seemed very strange, and as it increased day by day made me feel most uncomfortable. Strangely, however, at table the pas o1,ot Tod h fn tent that I could hardly eat, but no ore ever occupied the seat at either side of me. The weather grew warmer as we approached tho tropics, and the ulster was thrown off, and with it the principal cause of distrust to my ship mates. q may here mention that l continued wrapped up Q few days longer than others, on account of cold was suffering from at the time.) The same day that the ulster was left aside, as I was sitting by the main mast, the doctor came up laughing heartily, and drawing over chair sat down to explain what source of ap- prehension had been to all on board "Im glad to see you've thrown off that blanket-coat," said he; "there's Grahamstown man here who knows you and he has spread the report that you have lot of live snakes on board, md that to keep them warm you carry them always about with you beneath that woolly coat"
 On the day before we reached Ma deira deputation of nine maids and matrons did me the honor of approach ing me in solemn procession to know if the report were true that I had col lection of reptiles in the ship, and if so would I kindly exhibit them on the quarterback, for every one on board steward down for the woolly ulster, which I spread out on deck, turning every pocket inside out to show that there were no snakes whatever con- cealed in it. As they were still un- satisfied referred them to the cap tain. Off to his cabin at once they went, and soon brought him out beam ing and smiling to where I sat. ''Mr. OReilly," said he," expected it would come to this. You will have to gratify the ladies, provided you can do so with out danger" 1 treasured him on this point, taking care, however, to have a few sailors posted around to see that no one touched the reptiles. Then I went down to my cabin, hastily filled an old-fashioned traveling-bag with many varieties of wrigglers, all bundled in loosely, like so many yards of saul sage in butchers basket, and hur- riedly ran up on deck. All the people in the ship had collected first and second cabin passengers as well as sailors, fremen and engineers were mingled together-even the white-aproned, paper-capped cooks were there. A space being cleared for me opened the bag, and emptied the whole wriggling mass on the hot deck. There was no awning over the spot and the tropical sun made them, in a few moments, unusually lively. With both hands working busily I constantly gathered back to the heap those that tried to scurry off. This operation and threatening aspect of some of the snakes surprised the beholders The beautiful yellow and black puff-adders swelled themselves out and puffed so loudly that they could be plainly heard over the noise of the crowd. Tts cobras hissed and reared themselves up with outspread hoods, and danced about erect, high above their prostrate fellows, striking each moment at every moving shadow that crossed them, and more than one sprayed their copious venom over the surrounding deck. A green whip snake wound his long, sim uous form among the others. Every where from the heap black forked tongues, with incessant activity, were nervously running out, quivering and glistening in the bright sunlight; while