They are just as good as eels, as Meinik cooks them--stewed with a blade of cinnamon, and some hot peppers.

I cannot see that they can be a bit more objectionable to eat than eels; indeed, for anything one knows, the eel may have been feasting on a drowned man, the day before he was caught; while the snakes only take a meal once a week or so, and then only a small bird of some kind." "I dare say that you are quite right, Stanley, and I own that the dishes your man turns out look tempting; but I cannot bring myself to try, at any rate as long as I can get anything else to eat.

If I knew that it was a case of snake, or nothing, I would try it; but till then, I prefer sticking to birds and beasts." The next morning Stanley rode off, with two of his escort and Meinik, who declined altogether to be left behind.
"No, master," he said, "there is never any saying when you may want me; and what should I ever say to myself if misfortune were to come to you, and I were not to be there ?" Stanley had a long day's work.

As a rule, the villagers had few complaints to make but, at the place he went to on this occasion, the headman had been behaving as in the old times; and Stanley had to listen to a long series of complaints on behalf of the villagers.

The case was fully proved, both as to extortion and ill treatment.