BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 609 
bound on such an errand as mine, can frequently recount 
some adventurous tale, with which to season the otherwise, 
as in this case, insipid narration. I have nothing of the 
kind to produce, except, indeed, our encounter with one of 
those hideous snakes, known here by the name of Jarrakooka, 
which, having been roused from his dark abode, nearly 
killed one of our men; for there is no difference, in this case, 
between wounding and killing. The mere sight of this 
animal is sufficient to inspire dread, and to apprize the most 
careless wanderer of what he has to expect: a flat cordate 
head, fixed to a very slender neck, large protruded glittering 
eyes ; with still larger cavities below them, the body inflated, 
and terminating in a spine, and covered with carinated 
scales, horny to the touch; these form an aspect which can- 
not be contemplated without making one feel sick. Nothing 
can be compared to the virulence of the poison ejected from 
the fangs in the jaws of this monster, except it be the 
astonishing rapidity with which it takes effect. The soundest 
ame is immediately affected, excruciating pain ensuing as 
soon as the wound is inflicted, followed by an effusion of 
white blood from all the apertures of the body, the muscular 
parts above the injured spot are instantaneously destroyed 
by gangrene, and these awful symptoms suddenly terminate in 
death, the event being announced by putrefaction ; but though 
the offensive exhalations never fail to attract a number of 
vultures, even the most voracious kind of this bird (Cathartes 
Aura) refuses to touch the putrid corpse. The snake, whose 
bite occasions these truly awful effects, is generally six feet 
long, of a dirty yellowish colour, with black rhomboidal 
spots; its scientific name being Trigonocephalus rhombiatus. 
The afternoon of the 4th of April saw us arrived at the Ma- 
Towina, six hours’ distance from its mouth. We ascended, 
not without danger, our canoes being but small and a con- 
siderable swell was on the river, many times our barks dis- 
appearing behind the waves on which they had just been lifted. 
The departing sun gilded the shore of Cayenne, when we 
perceived, on the opposite side, an Indian settlement, which 
