Then he filled up the bed place, between the poles, with dry leaves.
One end of the bed was some inches higher than the other.

This was immaterial, and he felt satisfied that even the craftiest snake could not reach him.
As to the roof, he was by no means particular about it.

In this part of Burma the rainfall is very small, the inundations being the effect of heavy rains in the distant hill country which, as they come down, raise the level of the rivers, in some cases, as much as eighteen feet, and overflow the low-lying country.
Before beginning to construct the bed, he had carried the snakes into the Phongee; after first cutting off their heads which, as he knew, the Burmans never touch.
"This is good, indeed, my son," the priest said.

"Here we have our breakfast and dinner.

I will boil some rice, and fry four of them for breakfast." The bed was but half completed, when he heard the priest sound a bell.