Snake Slaying...

So today i woke bright and early for circumsicion part 2. It began yesterday and finished up today but that is not the story i want to tell about today, right now; instead
I have something way more "badass" or "discovery channel" (i suppose) for all of you.

After the circumsicion i came home and took a nap, because i had to get up before the sun came up to go to the circumsicion. After my nap i ate lunch, worked on a drawing, and then sat down with a friend to discuss projects on my "porch." While we were talking i saw the pastor, who lives near me (closer than anyone else by far) and is also my supervisor, running frantically around near his home with a stick and rungu (maasai club). I started laughing and was a bit confused. There were also 2 other guys out walking near where he was running and they started yelling and running around too. The guy i was talking turned around to look and he said "there must be a snake?" His tone of voice was in question form and very unenthusiastic and unworried; which surprised me because there were 3 grown men running around yelling. I need to add that these were Maasai men who kill lions and get circumsized at the age of 16, without any anesthetics at all, in front of a huge crowd who watch for any signs of pain or weakness while the cutting takes place, which will result in a punishment and disgrace.

Anyways, we got up and walked over towards the men; on the way the guy i was talking to picked up 2 big rocks. As we got closer to the men we saw them chucking their rungus and stones at something, though we couldnt see what it was until we got closer. As we approached there its was! It popped up towards me and my friend, standing at least 3 or 4 feet off the ground! We turned and ran away, in opposite directions. As we ran we circled back, at this point i armed myself with a couple rocks, and saw the other men going on the attack! We joined it, though there wasnt much coordination in our effort as we were all scared and ran away after throwing our weapons because the snake would head towards you. After about 5 min of this the snake headed for the tree, which you'll see in the picks. We circled the tree and proceeded with the onslaught. Realizing it was tired and had no where to run, i suppose, the snake headed up! Luckily the tree wasnt to tall and the snake, which we could tell at the time was big but didnt realize just how big until it was dead, was very tall when it wanted to be.

The snake proceeded upwards and sort of disappeared in the branches. The others could still see it, i couldnt at first, because Maasai are excellent watchmen as they graze their livestock in lion and leopard country. So we continued throwing things into the tree at the snake. Soon enough more people showed up (all men and then a few kids) and we eventually maxed out our "lynch mob" around 40 or so. After about 5 min, while i stood and watched because there were enough people with experience there, i saw a white lady headed our way. She walked up and stood next to me as i chucked the rock i had in my hand, then i said hi and asked her who she was. She replied that she was a Ph.D student from NY, U.S.A. who was studying vultures in and around the Maasai Mara; she was passing thru town and her jeep tire got punctured which is why she was out walking around my town...coming to interrupt our fun, even though i was the only one who stopped participating. After saying that she looked a little perplexed (i also decided not to pick up another rock in front of her) and i figured it was because she couldn't figure out just what in the hell all of us were doing out here hurling things at an innocent tree?! Legit question i decided so i told her we had chased a huge snake, which we thought was a Cobra, up that tree we were all throwing shit at. She said "Oh...poor snake!" i felt validated in deciding to stop participating after hearing that, after all American, even western friends, are hard to come by out here where i live and i didnt want to lose a potential entertainment source becasuse i threw a rock at a tree; which is what most of us were doing as we usually missed the snake completely and were actually closer to hitting another person on the other side of the tree. Anyways, she stood and watched with me, occasionally i let out a little snicker because it was funny watching all these men throw shit at a tree! While we stood she talked about how the snake prolly wasnt even poisonous and about "that poor tree!"

Eventually, after about 30min the death blow had finally occurred and the snake slowly fell out of the tree. We approached with caution as it still moved around a bit. When we got close and stretched it out we realized it was about 7ft in length. However, noone could be sure what type of snake it was exactly...some said Cobra, some said a Mamba...i dont know for sure either but when i walked up that very first time and it stood up at me and my friend i swear it was fanned out like a Cobra?! Regardless, they started a small fire, reminded me of a funeral pyre, and put the snake into it.

And thats that! Hope you enjoyed the adventure! I will post pictures and the story of the circumsicion ASAP.


F. Porter Nellans Jr. - From Kenya With Care