Photo clicked in 1969 by Mick Bhoori
As told by Bob Kitching- British India Steam Navigation Company applepie@bigpond.net.au
Through Andrew "Scruggs" Fairgrieve - ex sparks - BI
On Board SS RAJULA - BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION CO.
I cannot remember the exact year, I suspect about 1962 but may have been earlier. Rajula was in dry-dock in Japan for her 20 year special survey. We were alongside in the next dock. Rajula had a large amount of rock as ballast, memory says it was in #2 but I didn't see it myself. The Japanese crew were sent down to remove all this rock prior to tank top inspection and, very shortly after they started, baled out of the hold with incredible alacrity. 
On starting to move the ballast they had disturbed several cobras. I believe in the 50's and early 60's Rajula, on the Madras -Singapore run, carried vegetables and fruit in the hold. The Cobras are assumed to have come onboard with the vegetables and survived very nicely on the rats in the hold. Needless to say the vessel was fumigated before any further work was undertaken.
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