P L A T E XXXV.
THE GANGES BREAKING ITS BANKS, WITH FISHING, ^c.
H 0 W I . V E I . eMraorJlnai,' it may appear at first mcnlio,,. It is, nevertliriess,
corlaln lliat most of tl.c accUleiits winch happen from the breaking ol the
Pmliimlies, or arlificial hanks, raised for the purpose of keeping the rivers
,vilhin due bounds during the rainy season, by wlileh hirge traets of eountry
are preserve.l from aniinal iuundatlou, are to he attributed to snakes, rats, aud
other vermin. These hiirrowlng lu the banks, in time work their way eorapletely
throngll. Though tliey generally are near the surface, still the effcet
Is much the same : for when the Mater rises to sueh a lieiglit as to enter any
of the apertures, It penetrates rapidly ioto every crevice, and having a vent
towards the lami side, oceaslons such a draught as, by a gradual increase, soon
heeoincs siiffieiciitly powerful to tear anny very large masses ; when the torrent
comidetes the destruction.
I.Ike most wild animals, snakes are more inclined to retire than to attack.
I believe tliat very fen' instances can be adduced of iheir not availing themselves
of any opening liiat offers for evasion. They throw themselves over broad
dilchc's and I,auks nhen pursued, as if they bad wings. When confined without
the hope of escape thoy become desperate, and attack whatever presents
itself to view, 'nieir mode of attack varies: the large kinds, such as the adjegl„
ir. which has been known to grow to the length of twenty-eight feet, and as
thick as a man's body, generally make an horizontal dart. The covm cajldla,
which usually measures abont eight or nine feet, rears to about half its length,
and often darts to a distance etjual to Its whole measurement. This snake is
peculiarly venomous, as arc the cmm manilla, which rarely exceeds eighteen
inches ill' length, aud a sort of snake, rarely to be founil but in the hills, whicli
is per fect ly cylindrical except for abont an inch at each end; these being conical,
leaves a doubt as to n'hieh is the head ; whence many suppose it to have two
heads. The grass snake, which indeed is often to be seen in trees, and is partienlarly
fond of secreting iLselflu very curious places, such asunder the flaps
of tables, &e. is deserving of particular notice : it is of a beautiful green, with
a enmson or purple bead, and grows to about four feet in length. It is extremely
venomous, and so very activc, that It can skim over the tops of grass,
and searccly be seen ; its velocity is incredible !
During the campaign in Tiohilciind in 1794, while the army was encamped
at about five or six miles from the Ktmnnois} hills, a remarkable snake was
brought to a gentleman, skilled in natural philosophy, which appeared to be
reiilete with venom. It was not more than eight or nine iiicbes long, and was
of a light ash colour, with a black head. The natives consider it to be the most
dangerous of the whole tribe. But may wo not suppose this to he the class, of
which we have so little account as to consider the designation to imply any
venomous reptile!
In digging under old walls, &e. a beautiful snake is often found, of a lively
bottle colour, not usually exceeding seven or eight inches, and thin in proportion
: it is dilTicult to distinguish without a glass, which is its bead. Hence it
is, like the cylludrieal serpent just mentioned, called the double-beaded snake.
I t is said to be venomous, but I never heard of its injuring any animal; and
unless It have a sting, which does not appear probable, I should consider it as
being perfectly inooeent : especially as the size of its month would not allow of
suflieient distension to embrace enough even of the skin to bite through it.
All snakes have a great propensity to enter houses, not only as a temporary
shelter, hut to possess themselves of the numerous rat-bnrrows wherein to remain
concealed. The abundance of vermin to he .seen in bouses even of the first
class, proves the original incitement for snakes to venture in. The rats, however,
soon smell their enemy, and lose no time In shifting their ipiarters. Yet snakes
and rats frequently inhahit the same thatch in numbers. The presence of the
former Is generally announced liy some of the family being lilt in their beds, or
elsewhere ; or perhaps in the contests between the parties, both the snake aud
the rat come tumbling down from the inside. I once was dining with a friend,
when our attention was suddenly arrested by a covra capdla and a rat falling
from the thatch upon one of the dishes on the table. I know not which of the
four were first out of the room !
The dhameen, which grows to a considerable size, often, measuring ten or
twelve feet, rarely bites ; but coiling itself up, and awaiting the approach of
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