1894, Ivan Dexter, Talmud: A Strange Narrative of Central Australia, published in serial form in Port Adelaide News and Lefevre's Peninsula Advertiser (SA), Chapter VII, http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600641.txt Hundreds of snakes had sought refuge in it, and as many of them remained under water, the forders were not able to see them until they almost came in contact with the reptiles.
Source: wiktionary