Antidote against the Bite of the Cobra. 401 



phial containing an oily substance, which, according to the 

 Cingalese herbalists, is composed of 57 different roots and 

 as many flowers, and has already been wonderfully effica- 

 cious in cases of persons bitten by poisonous serpents. It 

 is called by the natives, Visanili-Katail (oil against poison) ; 

 and the priest of Makun remarked to us, he had himself had 

 an opportunity of satisfying himself as to the marvellous 

 curative qualities of this vegetable substance, in the case of 

 persons who had been bitten by the most venomous snake in 

 the whole island, the Cobra di Capello, who had entirely 

 recovered by the copious use of this antidote. The apphca- 

 tion is very simple. The mouth is rinsed out with it, and the 

 patient further takes from 15 to 20 drops of the oil in- 

 ternally. Unfortunately, we were not able to inquire more 

 particularly as to the ingredients from which the Visanili- 

 Katail is compounded, of which we eventually got a small 

 quantity to carry away with us, after much entreaty ; but by 

 way of compensation. Father Miliani was able to give us 

 much valuable information as to the manners, customs, and 

 traditions of his flock. He regretted, however, that they 

 were all of a highly impassioned strain, and that they con- 

 stantly passed from one extreme to the other. The following 

 trait, which was pointed out to us by the Father in the course 

 of conversation, may serve to indicate the modes of thought 

 and observation of the natives. When the Cingalese per- 

 ceived how eagerly and with w^hat warmth of friendship the 

 Father received us, they inquired of him whether he had 



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