LOUISIANA. 365 



rate, and therefore the Indians call him ho-huy^ 

 that is, zvhiftler. During my voyage to Tomhck- 

 be^ a whiftier hidden under the leaves, bit a fol- 

 dier of my detachment, who trod upon its tail •, 

 the foldier was barefoot, and the fnake was fo 

 angry that it got hold of his big toe and would 

 not let go its hold. I was very uneafy and forry 

 to fee this foldier expofed to perifh he being my 

 interpreter ; I applied to an Indian dodor who 

 accidentally went by the place, where we were. 

 He took a powder out of a little fack, and blew 

 it through a tube upon the fnake's head, which 

 died inftantly •, he put another powder upon the 

 wound, which prevented the poifon from taking 

 its effed ^ he likewife gave fome of it in water 

 to the patient, who was quite well after. I re- 

 compenfed this juggler very handfomely ; I wifh- 

 ed likewife to know his fecret, but he would not 

 teach it me, and adled like a quack telling me 

 haughtily that the mailer of life had communi- 

 cated it to him alone.* 



The 



-^- It is highly probable that this powder, was of the root 

 or whole plant of the arijiolochia angutcida a Mexican plant, 

 which probably grows likewife in Louijiana, and accordinef 

 to Dr. Jacquin is an infallible remedy againll the fnakes, for 

 thefe animals are actually fafcinated and even killed by it. In 



Car-. 



