Ch. V. SOUTH iUIERICA. 597 



as suddenly rushes into them. But what is most sur- 

 prizing here, is, that the creature thus killed, and 

 its coagulated blood, are eaten without any incon- 

 veniency. The most powerful antidote to this ve- 

 nom is, immediately to eat sugar: but this specific, 

 though often salutary, is not infallible, as several 

 melancholy instances have demonstrated. 



The borders and parts adjacent to this famous ri- 

 ver, as well as those contiguous to the others which 

 discharge their waters into it, abound with large and 

 lofty trees, the wood of which is of different colours ; 

 some white, others of a dark brown ; some red, or 

 veined with variety of colours. Some of another 

 species distil balsams of an exquisite fragrancy, or 

 rare and medicinal gums; others are noted for their 

 delicious and salubrious fruits. Among these the 

 wild cacoa, by the mere goodness of the soil, with- 

 out any culture, grows in the greatest plenty, and yields 

 fruit of a goodness equal to that iu the jurisdiction 

 of Jean and Quixos. Here also are gathered great 

 quantities of sarsaparilla, vanillas, anda bark called 

 declavo or cloves : for though It resembles cinnamon 

 in appearance, except its colour which is something 

 darker, its taste and smell are very different, being 

 nearly the same with that of the East-India clove. 



As to quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and insects, they 

 are nearly the same, and in as great numbers as those 

 already mentioned in the description of other hot 

 countries. One reptile of a very extraordinary na- 

 ture, and known only here and in the provinces of 

 New Spain, I shall, as a conclusion of my account of 

 the Maj'anon, add a description of. 



Ix the countries watered by that vast river, is bred 

 a serpent of a frightful magnitude, and most delete- 

 rious nature. Some, in order to give an idea of its 

 largeness, affirm that it will swallow any beast whole; 

 and that this has been the miserable end of many a 

 man. But what seems still a greater wonder, is the 



attractive 



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