BOTANY. 325 



placed so that the snakes could reach him. The dog was sufficiently 

 frightened, but being tied he could not retreat ; and after a short 

 while one of the serpents " struck," and bit him on the back of the 

 neck. The dog was now set loose, but did not at first appear to notice 

 the wound he had received. In two or three minutes, however, he 

 began to limp and howl most fearfully. In five minutes more he fell, 

 and struggled over the ground in violent convulsions, similar to those 

 occasioned by hydrophobia. Blood and A - iscous matter gushed from 

 his mouth and nostrils, and at the end of a quarter of an hour by the 

 watch he was dead. 



Witnessing all this, I became extremely desirous of possessing the 

 important secret which, by the way, was not so generally known. I 

 offered a good round sum ; and the negro, promising to meet my 

 wishes, took his departure. 



On the following day he returned, bringing with him a handful of 

 heart-shaped leaves, which I recognized as those of the bejucode guaco 

 or snake-plant. These he placed in a bowl, having first crushed them 

 between two stones. lie next poured a little water into the vessel. 

 In a few minutes maceration took place, and the " tea " was ready. I 

 was instructed to swallow two small spoonfuls of it, which I did. The 

 negro then made three incisions in each of my hands at the forking 

 of my fingers, and three similar ones on each foot between the toes. 

 Through these he inoculated me with the extract of the guaco. lie 

 next punctured my breast, both on the right and left side, and per- 

 formed a similar inoculation. I was now ready for the snakes, several 

 of which, both of the coral and cascabel species, the negro had brought 

 along with him. With all my wish to become a snake-charmer, I must 

 confess that at sight of the hideous reptiles I felt my courage oozing 

 through my nails. The negro, however, continued to assure, and as 

 I took great pains to convince him that my death would cost him his 

 life, and I saw that he still entreated me to go ahead, I came at length 

 to the determination to run the risk. With a somewhat shaky hand I 

 took up one of the corals, and passed it delicately through my fingers. 

 All right. The animal showed no disposition to bite, but twisted itself 

 through my hands, apparently cowering and frightened. I soon grew 

 bolder, and took up another and another, until I had three of the rep- 

 tiles in my grasp at one time. I then put them down and caught a 

 snake of the cascabel species the rattlesnake of the north. This 

 fellow behaved in a more lively manner, but did not show any symp- 

 toms of irritation. After I had handled the reptile for some minutes, 

 I was holding it near the middle, when, to my horror, I saw it sud- 

 denly elevate its head, and strike at my left arm ! I felt that I was 

 bitten, and, flinging the snake from me, I turned to my companion with 

 a shudder of despair. The negro, who with his arms folded had stood 

 all the while calmly looking on, now answered my quick and terrified 

 inquiries with repeated assurances that there was no danger whatever, 

 and that nothing serious would result from the bite. This he did with 

 as much coolness and composure as if it had been only the sting of a 

 mosquito. I was more comforted by the manner of my companion 



