THE ADVESTURES OP A YOUXG NATURALIST. 439 



jaws, more than usually dilated by the blows, I suppose, 

 which TEncuerado had given it. 



Suniichrast, with infinite precaution, showed to his pupil 

 the tubular fangs, by means of which serpents inoculate the 

 terrible venom with which some of them have been endow- 

 ed by nature. 



" When the reptile bites," said my friend, " its two fangs 

 press on a small bladder at their base, and the poison is 

 thus injected into the wound." 



Our naturalist rendered his explanation still clearer by 

 pressing on one of the fangs, from the end of which oozed 

 out an almost imperceptible drop of liquid. 



" How is it that the serpent does not poison itself?" ask- 

 ed Lueien. 



" In the first place, it does not chow its prey ; and, sec- 

 ondly, its venom is only dangerous when it penetrates di- 

 rect into the blood ; and a man, if there is no scratch in his 

 month or in the digestive tube, caij swallow the poison with 

 impunity, although a very small quantity introduced into 

 his veins would cause immediate death." 



After our meal, which consisted of turtle and some palm 

 cabbage, which in flavor resembles an artichoke, I set the 

 example of commencing work. In less than two hours the 

 materials for the raft had been carried to the edge of the 

 stream, and the frail bark which was to carry us down to 

 the plains was constructed and afloat, A little before sun- 

 set, 1'Encuerado, provided with a long pole for a boat-hook, 

 pushed it out on the water to ascertain its powers of buoy- 

 ancy ; and the trial having been judged satisfactory, the 

 raft was moored, and we all lay down in front of our 

 "Villa" to enjoy a siesta. 



At last, when every thing was arranged for the voyage, 

 FEncuerado, naked down to his waist, went behind as pilot. 

 We gave a farewell salute to the " Villa," by a loud hurrah, 



