STORY OF A SNAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15056, 27 July 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

STORY OF A SNAKE.

INDIAN'S QUAINT NARRATIVE.

The following is a report written by an Indian clerk to his master, a British officer in Persia, narrating an experience with a snake near Nasrabad: —

On the 7th instant at noon I reached Nasrabad seven farsakhs from Khaf and met the following accident. I halted this place for nihar (breakfast) only. I spread my carpet near the flowing water under the shadow of a tree. As it was hot I pulled oft* my crat and waistcoat and using them for t, pillow went for a nap. I had scarcely slept for a quarter an hour when something cold as ice touched my neck and I awoke.

This was a snake less than half » yard and I cannot say where it has come from and how it went under my neck instead of biting me when 1 was sleeping. When I saw the snake I jumped up and called my servants for help, and before they came the snake went into the pocket of my waistcoat. Unfortunately my handerchief with black margin was also under my head. When my servant shook off my coat and waistcoat there was no snake (it was in my pocket then) and we all came to the conclusion that I saw the handerchief and mistook it for the snake.

" I shook my clothing again and again, but there was no snake, and I forgot, the matter. After half an hour I took my nihar, and wanted again to sleep. . It struck me then to see the time, and when I was going to put my hand into the pocket I again saw the snake coiled round my watch. I threw the waistcoat away, and then fainted. A few villagers were sitting round me, and one of them pulled out the tail of the snake from my pocket, and took it away. The villagers said that the snake had come from the water, and that it was not a poisonous one. Thank God, how mysteriously He saved me. I cannot sleep day and night owing to the idea of the snake in my mind. My case is exactly like the proverb, "The snake-bitten man is afaid of rope."