Gelgel, the Python Lady.

It was a day in August 2016 when I was visited by one of my maternal cousins. I could tell by the expression on his face and body language that he had something seriously important or bad to tell me. He was sweating as well so I had a mixed feeling but mostly fear of bad news.

It was in my office at the Goroka Provincial Hospital where I was working at the Accountant. I greeted him cordially and made a joke or two two make him relax and feel at ease so that he can tell me what was that weighing down on his mind.

What he said took me by surprise and greatly heightened my interest. He told me that while hunting in our tropical rain forest high up in our tribal mountain, two of our boys have stumbled on a big snake and have brought with them to the village. It has become a big story in the village but everyone was afraid to visit because it was a sacred snake.

This means that people with evil hearts or were bad in nature or who have done so many bad things in their lives will die or be badly affected or cursed when the snake looks at them or are touched by the snakes scent. We believe that the snake is only an avatar for a spiritual guardian angel who guards over the treasures of our tribe in the mountains.

I was told on a Wednesday so I decided to visit the snake on Friday when weekend started. So on Friday I bought some food, a blanket, carpet, and a bowl dish to present to the snake during my visit. The boy guarding the snake knew about my arrival so he was expecting me when I went and visited with my father and mother.

Upon arrival in the village, the guardian boy took us to his area where he kept the snake. In a newly built hut, there was an open 44 gallon drum which he used to keep the snake in. We made a little bed-spread with banana leaves and put the goods that we brought on the leaves. The items were meant as gifts for the snake as a token of welcome.

When we were done displaying the gifts, the boy by the name of Lameh actually spoke to the snake that we were blood family and true members of the tribe and that we were directly related to our grandfather (my mother's father who was the owner of the mountain where the snake was found). We were here to visit her and welcome her with gifts.

When he finished speaking, to all our surprise, we could see the tip of the snake's head looking at us from the top of the 44 gallon drum. At its own accord, it slid down from the drum to the ground as we all stared in both fear and awe at its size and beauty. It was about 4.5 meters in length and 4-6 inch thick. It had very glossy black shells on the top and evenly striped golden black and yellow flanks and surreal golden underbelly. Sparkles of rainbow colors were given off her back while you can see a glimpse of the majestic sky-blue color under the shells when they were slightly opened in the sunlight. (They are also called the 'Blue Moran' due to this color). These shells are fully displayed when they are basking in the sun and or especially when they want to be recognized by the landlord because they have something important for him like diamond or gold).

It glided under the bed-spread of banana leaves we made with the gifts on top and stayed their for about 10 seconds which I took as her way of saying 'Thank you'. Then she glided over to my mother and stayed between her feet for another 5 seconds then slid over to the opposite side to where my father was and did likewise. I was at the back of my father taking videos with my phone but it came and did likewise and the next minute in climbed up the house post and was back in the drum where she was placed.

It all happened in less than 5 minutes but it was very intense. For one thing, nobody was afraid of the snake, even those of us who were usually afraid. That fear was gone at that moment. It was a snake from the wild but it did not try to run or escape when it was kept in an open drum with no lids and no fence to keep her or in fear of many people surrounding her. It didn't even crawled on top of the banana leaves and gifts that were presented like any other animal. No it simply went under the leaves and went to greet each one of us as a sign of respect and appreciation. This snakes can do that ONLY to those who are chosen within the tribe to lead or guard over the treasures of the Tribe. Next I will write about the amazing events on how the two boys met her and brought her to the village.