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Another Ssssnake Story Print E-mail
Written by Kristien (Mostert, van Woenssel) Massie   
Monday, 09 March 2009 19:43

Seeing Linda's article reminded me of mine.  Am afraid it is a little repeat but with some alterations due to memory recall.  Has age got something to do with this as in regeneration??!

I still shudder in remembrance of my close encounter of the Gaboon Viper kind ...

Living on the farm not far from Kitwe and across the Kafue River which bordered the farm, lush vegetation being kept at bay didn't stop the odd undesirable visit or two.

We had a fire one day in the pine plantation quite close to the house and as we were only 8 miles or so from Kitwe's town centre, we fortunately had the services of the fire brigade.  After they had doused the flames we went into the forest to check on any logs still smouldering.

Wearing sandals, I didn't venture too far but while I was standing on the fringe amid the autumnal leaves, I felt something move against my toes, looked down and with horror saw it was a snake.  At first I 'identified' it as a python but very soon realised it wasn't when the vivid colours became more visible!  A Gaboon Viper immediately sprang to mind but thank goodness it appeared to be somewhat lethargic, possibly from smoke inhalation - anyway off I was like a rocket, much to the amusement of the firemen.

I had sprinted home whilst throwing instructions over my shoulder to kill it and collected the snake book from which they had seen the photographs.  On my return, I made quite sure the snake was dead.  An unfortunate deed but it was just too close to the house for comfort.  I wanted to show them how this species was 'back fang' so carefully, we levered the mouth open and I then took another stick to lever one of fangs from its 'not in use' spot.  The fang was some size and stopping short of lying, it looked like a 6" nail ... As we were looking closely, suddenly, the tongue flicked out.  Oh no, I thought, its not dead and not even thinking about rigor mortis, I ran like the wind for the house with by now gales of laughter accompanying my exit.

Everyone came in for refreshment and found me sitting on the sofa with my arms wrapped round my legs completely off the floor.  I spent days checking under and behind anything in the house.

We also often found baby mambas in the children's shoes within half an hour of their being taken off plus up to four could be found lying along the skirting board of the passage on waking in the mornings.  I lived in dread of coming across mama or papa but never did I am delighted to say!  Our house servant would nonchalantly sweep them out with the broom 'tsk tsking' all the while as if he were chastising naughty children for being in the wrong place at the wrong time!

How the devil they frequented us so often was always a puzzle, and still is.

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