404 The Natural History 



must take it to Bed with him, at which the Patient was in 

 the greatest consternation in the World, and told the Indian 

 that he might as well dje of the Distemper he had, as to be 

 kill'd with the Bite of the Rattle-Snake. To which the 

 Indian reply'd he cou'd not bite him nor do him any harm, 

 for he had already taken our his Poyson and Teeth, and 

 shewed him by opening and putting his Tinger into the 

 Snakes Mouth, that they all were gone. At last by many 

 perswasions and Intreaties of all that were present, he ad- 

 mitted of the Snakes company, which the Indian put about 

 the Patients middle and order'd no Body to take it away, or 

 even to meddle with it upon any account, which was strictly 

 observed, altho' the Snake girded him as hard for a great 

 while as if he had been drawn in by a Belt. At last he 

 found the pressure grow weaker and weaker, till by degrees 

 he felt it not; and opening the Bed the Snake was found 

 dead, and the Patient thought himself grown much better. 

 The Indian returned the next Morning to visit his Patient, 

 and finding the Snake dead, was very much transported, and 

 told the Sick-man the distemper was dead along with the 

 Snake, which proved as he said, for the Man very speed- 

 ily afterwards recovered his Health, and became perfect well, 

 and lived for many years after this strange and wonderful 

 Cure. 



And what is remarkable in many parts of this Province 

 as you travel up towards the Mountains and through the 

 Woods, when ever you come to any places where the Indians 

 formerly dwelt and had To^vns, you shall find abundance of 

 Flowers with variety of beautiful Colours, of several sori;s, 

 and divers Qualities, and Use ; some being Physical others 

 Poysonous, others for Ornament and sweet Odor, which at a 

 distance have a fine prospect, and look like a beautiful 

 Flower Garden, the uses whereof the Indians are well ac- 

 quainted 



