CHAP, iv.] WEST INDIES. 101 



sion;J and they are now become generally scarce, 

 except in the islands of the windward-passage, and 

 such other places between the tropics as are seldom 

 visited by man. I believe indeed the English, even 

 when they were more plentiful, did not often serve 

 them at elegant tables; but their French and Spanish 

 neighbours, less squeamish, still devour them with 

 exquisite relish : I imagine too they have good rea- 

 son; for I have been assured by a lady of great beauty 

 and elegance, who spoke from experience, that the 

 iguani is equal in flavour and wholesomeness to the 

 finest green turtle. 



J F. Col. c. xxv. 



P. Labat likewise speaks of a fricasseed guana with high approba- 

 tion. He compares it to chicken, for the whiteness of its flesh and the 

 delicacy of its flavour. Tom. iii. p. 315. In a subsequent page, he 

 gives a minute account of the manner of catching this animal, and if the 

 reader has no objection to accompany the good Father a la cbasse, he may 

 participate in the diversion as follows: " We were attended" (bays he) 

 " by a negro, who carried a long rod j at one end of which was a piece 

 " of whipcord with a running knot. After beating the bushes for some 

 *' time, the negro discovered our game basking in the sun on the dry 

 *' limb of a tree. Hereupon he began whistling with all his might, to 

 " which the guana was wonderfully attentive, stretching out his neck 

 " and turning his head, as if to enjoy it more fully. The negro now 

 *' approached, still whistling, and advancing his rod gently, began tick- 

 " ling with the end cf it the sides and throat of the guana, who seemed 

 " mightily pleased with the operation j for he turned on his back, and 

 " stretched himself out like a cat before a fire, and at length fairly fell 

 " asleep j which the negro perceiving, dexterously slipt the noose over his 

 *' head, and with a jerk brought him to the ground : and good sport it af- 

 " forded, to see the creature swell like a turkey cock, at rinding himself 

 " entrappeJ. We caught others in the same way, and kept one of them 

 " alive seven or eight days; but" (continues the reverend historian) " it 



