100 A NATURAL HISTORY 



In Scafons of Danger, they flielter themfelves in Cavities under 

 Ground, and feed upon Pifmires, whicli are very large in that 

 Country, and in fuch prodigious Quantities, that the Fortugiieje 

 call them, Kings of BrafiL 



XXX II. In Chlapa^ in Old-Mexico^ now called New-Spain^ 

 is a noxious Animal call'd 'Teuthlacokauquiy or Fortrefs of the Ser- 

 pcnfs, whofe Head is like an Adder, thick Belly, glittering Scales, 

 the Ridge of the Body black, with an Interfperfion of white 

 Croflesi the Teeth poifonous, and the biting kills in twenty-four 

 hours, unlefs the wounded part be held in the Earth fo long, 

 till the Pain be over. 



It has a frightful Afpedl ; when it moves it makes a Noifs 

 with its Tail, that founds an Alarm of Danger. The Americans, 

 who have the Art of taking it by the Tail, carry it home, and 

 by degrees make it tame : 'tis maintained at a cheap rate, for it 

 can fubfift a whole Year without any vifible Food. 



yONSTONUS calls this Serpent the Bocininga, and de- 

 fcribes it from Marcgraviiis and Pifo. The former fays, 'tis four 

 Foot and three Fingers long. Belly fmooth, fmall Eyes, forked 

 Tongue, rattling Tail. The other obferves, the Spaniards call it 

 Cafcavel, and T^angedor, becaufe its Tail emits the found of a Bell; 

 in thicknefs, as a Man's Arm ; in length, about five Foot ; a clo- 

 ven Tongue, long and fharp Teeth ; of a dark Colour, inclining 

 to the yellow *. 



According to Nierembergius, this Serpent is called the 

 ^een of Serpents^ which they fuppofe to be like the Viper, in its 

 Poifon, and Shape of the Head \. By the Definitions of feveral 

 Authors, this Serpent feems to be the Caudfonant 5 and the Dutch 

 in America call it the Ratel-Stange^ i, e. Rattle-Snake. 



Now we are in Mexico, excufe me in giving you two In- 

 ftances of monftrous Cruelty; one in the Natives, the other in 

 the Spaniards. 



When the Mexicans v/ere difpofed to do fignal Honour to 

 their Idols, they fent out Armies to bring in Prifoners. for a Sa- 

 crifice, whofe Flefh they did afterwards eat ; and Montezuma the 

 Emperor, commonly facrificed 20000 Men, one year with ano- 

 ther^ 



•* Jonfionusy Articulus xvii. p. 23. 



■f- Hijhria Nafura Maxims Pereirina, p. 268— j). 



