OF SERPEN TS. 119 



pagate Truth, have always had Vengeance and Wrath breath'd 

 out againft them, and have been expofed to the fame Fate as the 

 Tentyrians. 



T H E Habitations of Crocodiles are generally in great Rivers, 

 as the Ganges in Afiay one of the greateft Rivers in the World, 

 and which is accounted facred : Its Water is clear and fweet, 

 weighs an Ounce in a Pint lighter than any other Water in the 

 Country : The Great Moguls Court drink none elfe with their 

 Wine. Thefe monftrous Animals are alfo found in the Nile and 

 Niger y two of the greateft Rivers in Africa ; and alfo in the great 

 Rivers oi America y efpecially thofe of the Amazons^ which abound 

 with Crocodiles of vail Bignefs, that very much annoy the In- 

 habitants. 



GEMELLl in the Atlas, fays the Crocodile is hatch'd of an 

 Egg no bigger than that of a Turky, but grows to thirty Foot 

 long, the Back arm'd with impenetrable Scales, the Mouth wide 

 enough to fwallow an Heifer, and only moves the upper Jaw ; 

 it fees better by Water than Land, is cowardly, and generally 

 flies from thofe that attack it, but daring enough otherwife ; for 

 which reafon the Egyptians made it the Hieroglyphick of Impu- 

 dence.— They have no Tongue, and eat nothing in all the autum- 

 nal Quarter *. 



This x^nimal has a great Dexterity in catching Wild -fowl, 

 which always abound in thofe great Rivers, and along Sea-lhores, 

 as Ducks, Teals, and other Water-fowls : When in want of 

 Food, he goes into the Sea, where he lies in fuch a manner, that 

 the upper- part of his Back appears above the Water, and looks 

 like a piece of Timber floating ; the Wild-fowls miftrufl:ing no- 

 thing, come fo near it, that he immediately devours them : They 

 lurk among Reeds and Buflies, on the Banks of Rivers and great 

 Pools, from whence they fuddenly leap out, and eat up their 

 Prey, which fometimes happens to be People that come to drink 

 or fetch Water. 



The Inhabitants of Madagafcar, an African Ifland, look upon 

 Crocodiles as Devils, and fwear by them : When Diiferences 

 happen among them, they go to a River, where he that is to 

 fwear throws himfelf into the Water, and conjures the Crocodiles 

 to be Arbitrators betwixt him and his Adverfary, and to let him 



live 



* For Africa, p. 47.. 



