By Abdool Aziz
SINCE leaving school he drifted from place to place sustaining himself doing odd jobs. But the coastland was getting harder and harder, so he decided to try his luck in the bush. He would visit miners’ and loggers’ camps and tell stories of his exploits in the Rupununi. He told his favourite: how he swam on the Irene River to save a Harpy Eagle from drowning. The eagle had sunken its talons into a big fish. But he struggled to be airborne and fell back into the water still alive and the eagle was going under. He went to the bird’s rescue.
After telling his story, he would then beg for a meal. The host would oblige and he would seek their permission to sleep the night. That night he was given a jute bag to snuggle into. The men slept in hammocks and he bedded down on the rocky floor.

THE DRIFTER AND HIS DEADLY COMPANY
The next morning the men saw their guest still in his bag. They hollered for him to get up. No sound, no movement. The camp attendant walked over to him. He saw the man wide-eyed and agonised. Then he saw the huge bulge in his belly. He peeped into the bag. “Serpent! Serpent!” He shouted and stepped back. “A snake?!” asked the camp manager.
The Brazilian nodded his head.
“Well don’t just stand there, kill it!” ordered the boss. The Brazilian shook his head. No way.
“Well we have to go to the Amazon, you deal with it. Try to save this man. He looks like a corpse.”
They went off giggling. “
A snake on his chest, what a slumber!
The native from the Amazon raised the mouth of the bag again. He tried to locate the head of the anaconda. It was huge. But he feared any disturbance would agitate the serpent and the victim could be constricted to death.

THE AGONISING WAIT
He must wait for the sun to rise. As soon as he saw its first rays, he dismantled the tent. The ray spotlighted the bag. The Brazilian waited in anxiety. Then there was a movement. The reptile crawled out slowly and slithered away. But the Amazon warrior ran after it and caught its head. He drove a nail into it. The sleepy joe took its last breath and slept forever.

RESUSCITATING THE SLEEPER
The drifter was stone cold. He was almost paralysed from poor circulation of blood due to the heavy coils. The native of Brazil massaged him back to normalcy. The anaconda made a good Bar – B – Que dinner and the boss got the skin as a trophy. The drifter lumbered off afraid of the bush. He returned to the coastland. Now he had a really true story to tell ‘Babysitting the Anaconda.’ No one believed him. They believed he got the bush bulges. At nights he gets nightmares. His advice: Never sleep in an open bag especially if it’s warm. Snakes love the warmth!