Python is far from a top performer according to benchmark test...

[Jeff Epler]

numarray is probably the perfect example of getting extremely good
performance from a few simple constructs coded in C. (numarray-0.8 is
less then 50k lines of C code, including comments and blank lines, so
it's also very simple given the amount of "bang" it provides)

All your important logic is in Python, you're in no way stuck worrying
about buffer lengths, when to call free(), and all those other things
that drive me crazy when I try to write in C.  

If I had to execute my Python programs without executing any code
written in "C" behind the scenes, well, I'd be stuck.  Of course, the
situation is about the same for any language you care to name, and if
not then substitute "machine code".  

Jeff