The snake does not masticate
his food, and thus the only service his teeth have to perform is to seize
his prey and hold it till he swallows it whole.
In general, the skins of snakes are sent to museums without the head: for
when the Indians and negroes kill a snake they seldom fail to cut off the
head, and then they run no risk from its teeth. When the skin is stuffed in
the museum a wooden head is substituted, armed with teeth which are large
enough to suit a tiger's jaw; and this tends to mislead the spectator and
give him erroneous ideas.
During this fray with the serpent the old negro, Daddy Quashi, was in
Georgetown procuring provisions, and just returned in time to help to take
the skin off. He had spent best part of his life in the forest with his old
master, Mr. Edmonstone, and amused me much in recounting their many
adventures amongst the wild beasts. The Daddy had a particular horror of
snakes, and frankly declared he could never have faced the one in question.
The week following his courage was put to the test, and he made good his
words.
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