OFSERPENTS. 129 



ilhle EtTeds of it, which however are immediately flopt by drink- 

 ing any acid Liquor, as Vinegar, Juice of Lemons. From Milk 

 J proceed to give an account of an odd Cuftom about Cheefe in 

 Antiquity, viz. Among the Romans^ one of their 1^abernc2 was 

 called Cqfearia, a Cafeo, i. e. from Cheefe j net becaufe Cheefe 

 was made or fold in it, but becaufe it was wont to be fmoaked 

 there: It being a Cuftom among the old Rotiians and other Ita^- 

 UanSy to make a great Smoke with Reeds and green Wood, on 

 purpofe to dry and colour their Cheefe ^ hence the Poet Martialy 



Non qiiefj2ainqtie focum^ nee fumum cafeus ojnnem, 

 ^ed 'velabrenj'em^ qui bibit illefapit,*'^ ■ ' ■ 



i. e. That Cheefe only is pleafant and grateful, which does not 

 fuck in every Fume, but which is fmoak'd only, velabro, in Tents 

 or Booths. 



CIL The King's-Snake^ is the longeil: of all others; but not 

 common. It is faid to be terrible to other Serpents, though not 

 very venemous and grofs : the Indians^ Men and Women, in Ca^ 

 rolina^ make Girdles and SaJJjes of their SkinSy as the Signs of Con- 

 queft, and wear them as Trophies of Honour. 



This puts me in mind of Hippocrates ^ the Prince of Phyfi- 

 cians, who tells us that in the Eaftern Parts of Europe, there is 

 a Scythian People, called Sauromatce, bordering on the Falus, 

 Mceotis, where the Women ride on horfeback, draw the Bow, 

 throw the Javelin as they ride, and fight in their Battles, fo long 

 as they remain Virgins j and were not allow'd to marry, till they 

 had killed three Enemies in the Wars *. Of my Author 'tis faid. 

 He neither knew how to deceive, nor be deceived -f". 



N,B. These were the Women called Amazons, defcended 

 from the Scythians, whofe Women were as warlike as the Men, 

 and joined with them in their Wars. 



cm. The Corn-Snake, is moft like the Rattle-Snake of all 

 others in Colour, but the Chequers are not fo regular ; neither 



S has 



* Hippocrates upon Air^ IPater, and Situation ; upon Epidemical Difeafes, 6vC. 

 tranflited into Enghff)^ by the learned Dr. Clifton. 



t Ql Hippocrates 'tis laid, — ^i tarn falkre <i»anf falH nefcit. 



Macrobii Opera, p. 27. 



4 



