WkU 



714 NiEUHOFF'S BRAZTt. 



the wound, afterwards the flefh turns blue, and the ulcer corrodes the adjacent parts 

 by degrees. 



The moft fovereign remedy ufed by the Brazilians againfl the poifon of this and 

 other ferpents, is the head of the fame ferpent that has given the wound, which they 

 bruife in a mortar, and in form of a plaifter apply it to the affected part. They mix 

 it commonly with failing fpittle, wherewith they alfo frequently moiften the wound. 

 If they find the poifon begins to feize the nobler parts, they ufe the Tiproka as a 

 cordial, and afterwards give ftrong fudorifics. They aljfo lay open the wound, and 

 apply cupping-glaflfes, to draw the venom from thence ; or elfe they burn it with a 

 red-hot iron. 



The ferpent Kukuruku is of an afh colour, with yellow fpots within and black 

 fpeckles without, and has juft fuch fcales as the rattle-ferpent. 

 f The ferpent Guaku, or Liboya, is queftionlefs the biggeft of all ferpents j fome 



being eighteen, twenty-four, nay thirty foot long, and of the thicknefs of a man in 

 the middle. The Portuguefe call it Kobre Dehado, or the roebuck ferpent, becaufe it 

 will fwallow a whole roebuck, or any other deer it meets with ; and this is performed 

 by fucking it through the throat, which is pretty narrow, but the belly vaftly big. 

 After they have fwallowed fuch a deer, they fall afleep, and fo are catched. Such a 

 one I faw near Paraiba, which was thirty foot long, and as big as 2 barrel. Some 

 negroes faw it accidentally fwallow a roebuck, whereupon thirteen mufqueteers were 

 fent out, who fhot it, and cut the roebuck out of its belly. It was of a greyifh colour, 

 though others are inclining more to the brown. It is not fo venomous as the other 

 ferpents. The negroes and Portuguefe, nay even fome of the Dutch, eat the flefh ; 

 neither are its flings looked upon as very infedlious, the wound healing often up with- 

 out any application of remedies ; fo that it ought not to be reckoned among the number 

 of poifonous ferpents, no more than the Kaninana, Mavina, and Vocia. This ferpent 

 being a very devouring creature, greedy of prey, leaps from amongll the hedges and 

 woods, and flanding upright upon its tail, wrellles both with men and wild beafls ; 

 fometiraes it leaps from the trees upon the traveller, whom it fallens upon, and beats 

 the breath out of his body with its tail. 



The ferpent Jararaka is fhort, feldom exceeding the length of an arm to the elbow. 

 It has certain protuberant veins on the head like the adder, and makes much fuch a 

 noife. The fkin is covered with red and black fpots, the refl being of an earth 

 colour. The flings of this creature are as dangerous, and attended with the fame 

 fymptoms, as thofe of other ferpents. Its body, the head, tail, and fkin, being before 

 taken away together with the entrails, boiled in the water of the root of Jurepeba, 

 with fait, dill, and fuch like, is looked upon as a very good remedy. 



The ferpent Boitrapo, called by the Portuguefe, Cobre de Cipo, is about feven foot 

 in length, of the thicknefs of a man's arm, feeds upon frogs, and is of an olive colour. 

 It is very venomous, and when it flings, occafions the fame fymptoms as the ferpent 

 Kukuruku ; nay, the wound is accounted pafl curing, unlefs you apply the hot iron. 



The adder Ibiara, by the Portuguefe called Cobra Vega, or Cobra de das Cabecas, 

 1. e. the double-headed ferpent, becaufe it appears to have two heads, which, however, 

 is not fo. They are found in great numbers, lurking in holes under ground. They 

 feed upon pifmires, are of the thicknefs of the length of a finger, and a foot and a 

 half long, of a filver colour ; nothing is more poifonous than the flings of thefe 

 creatures, though not beyond all hopes of cure, provided the before-mentioned reme-. 

 dies be applied in time. 



The 



