Ch.VíI. south AMERICA. 6í 



that of the others, without a fpccdy application of fome 

 fpecific, it proves mortal. Theie remedies are per- 

 fecSily known to the Negroes, Mulattos, and Indians 

 frequenting the woods, and called curanderos. But 

 the fafefl antidote is the habilla, already mentioned. 



It is not, however, often that thefe danserons ler- 

 pents bite any one, unlels, from inadvertence or defign, 

 he has been the aggreflbr. Befides, they arc fo far 

 from having any extraordinary agility, that they are 

 remarkably torpid, and, as it were, half dead ; lb that, 

 were it not for their motion in retiring to hide 

 themfelves among the leaves, it would be difficult to 

 determine whether ihey were dead or alive. 



There are few parts of Europe v.'hich do not pro- 

 duce the cientopies or Icolopcndra ; but at Carthagena 

 they not only fwarm, but are of a monilrous fize, and 

 the more dangerous, as breeding more commonly in 

 houfes than in the fields. They are general! v a yard- 

 in length, ibme a yard and a quarter, the breadth about 

 five inches, more or lefs, accordinii to the length. 

 Their figure is nearly circular, the back and fides co- 

 vered with hard leales, of a mufk colour, tinged with 

 red ; but thefe fcales are fo articulated, as not in the 

 Jeafi: to impede their motion, and at the lame time io 

 firong as to defend them againft any blow; lb that 

 the head is the only place wh.ere you can firike thcin 

 to any purpoie. They are alto very nimble, and their 

 bite, without timely application, proves niortal ; nor 

 is the patient tree from confiderable torture, till the 

 medicine has deilroyed the malignity of the poilbn. 



The alacranes, or frorpions, arc not lefs common, 

 and of different kinds, as black, red, muflv colour, and 

 fome yellow. The firil generally breed in dry rotten 

 wood, and others in the corners of houles, in clofets" 

 and cupboards. They are of different iizes, the largeft- 

 about three inches long, exclufive of the tail. The 

 fiing alio of fome is lefs dangerous than that of 

 others ; that of the black is reckoned the moit m.a-* 



lignant. 



