Evening star., 1901-02-09


between Calcutta and Rangoon. When the
snakes die they go to Borongos. mat
is; their paradise: there they hold high car
piyal. | spent three years among them,
and know of these things. From the giant
python down to the deadly KARAT they are
al there. all the ophdians. Even the salt
water snakes that are all poisonous-they,
too are there.
Two Europeans had preceded me on the
Borongos 50 there was considerable natural
history ON tap when i arrived, and we
rapidly acquired more. One can't i've
among snakes without studying them; they
iusis! upon il.
An eternal war ragged on the island be-
tween the forest growth and the sea- The
Jungle crept down from the hills and pre-
empted every foot of land in sight; the sea
rushed up and tried to wrest 1t from the
grasp of the giant creeDer and its more
stately brothers of the timber growth. 1he
little Clearings, worked into ;iny rice fields
like ye.ow mosaics, by the natives, were
but speCks on the green map OF the is
lands extent.
our bungalow was built on disputed terri
tory: bit of sand beach inside of a barrier
oyster reef. sea-swept at full tide, over
which the hill streams spread a carpet of
jungle debris when the rains were on and
The tides were neap.
Upon my first introduction to the dining
room | observed long handled fish spear
placed within easy reach. Spear fish from
ihe veranda?" L asked Mr.. Cooke nodding
toward it
No; snakes" he replied laconicallly.
rs we sat down to the table. j noticed
Cooke and the other veteran raise their
eyes instinctvely, and scan the leaf roof.
BY Jovei there's Oner exclaimed Cooke,
reaching for the spear. Look out, you
fellows and he deftly disiodged long,
big-headed green snake. 1t was an arbo-
real. tree snake and DOlSOQOuS. Then
ate our tiffin in peace.
Scarcely day passed during the rainy
season that one or more snakes were not
killed i'll the bungalow. During the hot,
dry months they burrowed; when the rains
came they were flooded out of their holes,
and were always heading for the pleasant
shelter of our leaf thatch Also. there were
rats there for them to stalk. There was no
ceiling to the bungalow, we could plain
ly see the creatures coiled up between the
leaves or lying along the bambooS of the
roof. 1t wasn't exactly soothing to the
nerves. No man went into dark room
without a light; no man put on a boot
without first turning 1t upside down; nor
was any ones bed left day or night, with
out the strong mosquito curtain tucked in
ali around
After 1 had been there about two weeks
and my nerves had become the sum of my
existence l got my first fright. 1 was
awakened from sound sleep by a stinging
pain in my thigh. As / awOke l threw my
hards UP and soft. mobile body went
hurting over my head against the mos
quito net. l realized that / had been bit
ten by snake. | did not wait TO find the
opening in the side of the curtain, but
came away from that bed very fast. My
room was dark, but in the next was a light.
Without unnecessary delay / arrived In
that room.
Get up, Bel.' / said. I've been bit
Ten by d COBRA"
If you don't get out of here and let me
sleep you'll be bitten by a club" responded
81 u
jokes had been our only form of amuse-
ment up 10 that time.
For Gods sake get up!' I begged him.
and something in my voice told il was no
joke this time.
Jumping up hastily he took the light and
examined the spot where / had telt the
pain. There. sure enough, were two tiny
punctures such as a cobra's fangs would
have made, fringed by a drop of red blood.
Then Bell became frightened also. The
talking had aroused Cooke, in the next
room. whats the shindy, you fellows?"
he inquired sleepily. Going to have a
smoker?
1--WE been bitten by COBRA and haven't t
an hour to live" I replied dramatically.
Come on, We'll kill him. though 1 added.
and the others followed in ominous silence.
Cooke held the light and Bell lifted the
curtain with commendable caution, while
stood with heavy stick ready to have my
revenge. There was nothing to be seen.
He's under the pillow-I threw him over
my head
Bell quickly turned the pillow over and
dark body scuttled down the white sheet.
1t rat,
Let him 60" I said The stick dropped
from my hand. the perspiration found its
way through the closed. drawn pores of
my forehead, and my heart went rippety-
at. hundred and twenty to the minute.
It's not good to feel that you've been Bit
zen by cobra.
One day Lab Bob, headman of the Mhug
he. f1i,,ey f,,fa
ton that a snake. about a hundred feet
long. was lying in the jungle waiting to be
caught. a couple of coolies, under Lab
Boh's direction. prepared a snare. A rope