n 



66 ANATURALHISTORY 



" liiCompofTibility, between thefe fubtile Effluvia and the Tem- 

 perament of the vital, fpiritual Subftance of the Serpent, or by 

 what other way, we are not told *". The Saffiifras-tree, a Na- 

 tive oi America J is calfd Conms alfo, whofe Wood is very odo- 

 rous and fragrant." Now, fay thefe Gentlemen, why fiioiild 

 it feem impoffiblc, that he who underftands this invincible En- 

 n:iity, and how to manage a Rod of the Cormis v/ith Cunning and 

 Dexterity (having firft intoxicated a Serpent by the Touch there- 

 of) flioLild during that Fit make it obferve, and readily conform 

 to all the various Motions of the V/and, io as that the unlearned 

 Speculators, perceiving the Serpent to approach the Enchanter^ as 

 he moves the Wand near to himfelf, or to retreat from him, as 

 he put the W^and from him, or turn round and dance as the Rod 

 is mov'd to and fro, or lie flill as in a Trance, as the Rod is held 

 ■ftill over it; and all this Time, the People knowing nothing of 

 the \^irtue m the Rod, are eafily deluded into a Belief, that the 

 Avhole Scene is fupernatural, and the main Energy radicated in 

 thofe Words or Charms, which the Impoilor with great Cere- 

 mony and Gravity of Afpeds mutters forth, the better to difguife 

 his Legerdemain, anddillemble Nature in the colour of a Miracle. 



The Rattle-makes in America are faid to fecure their Prey by 

 Incantation ; for they have the Power or Art, (I know not which 

 to call it, fays my Author) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Partridge?^ 

 or any fuch thing, in fuch a manner, that they run diredly into 

 their Mouths : This I have feen, adds he, by a Squirrel and one 

 of the Rattle-fnakes ; and other Snakes have in fome meafure the. 

 lame Power -f-. 



It is allowed indeed, that there are dumb Creatures\hi\.d.Q ex- 

 ceed Man in ^omo, Jhijibie Perceptioits, particularly in that of Smel- 

 ling^ as the Harriers^ and other Dogs. How flrange, that 

 Odours from the Plare's Body, fhould fo affect the Nofe of a 

 Hound, as to raife in him that Senfation or Scent, by which he 

 follows her all the Day (tho' he never had a Sight of her) thro' a 

 Cloud of Oppofition, from perplexing intricate Places, and Efflu- 

 viums proceeding from other Animals! 



These Emanations are exceeding fine Effluvia, or Particles 

 flying off odorous Bodies in all Directions ; and as they tioat in the 

 Air on the Surface of the Earth (within their Atmofphere) flrike 



againfl 

 * Qmrhon. t Natural Hiftory of Carolina^ A.D. ijii. page 129, 



