nieuhoff's brazil. 71^ 



The ferpent by the Brazilians called Ibiboboka, the Portuguefe call Cobra de Corais. 

 It is very beautiful, and of a fnow-white colour, fpeckled with black and red fpots, 

 and about two foot long : its fling is mortal, but kills by degrees. 



The ferpent Biobi, called by the Portuguefe Cabro Verde, or the green ferpent, 

 about three quarters of a yard long, and th€ thicknefs of a thumb ; of a fl^iining green 

 colour. It lives among houfes, and hurts nobody, unlefs when provoked. Its fling 

 is, however, full of poifon, and fcarce curable. A certain foldier being wounded by 

 one of thefe creatures, which lay hidden in a hedge, in his thigh, did, for want of 

 proper remedies, die in a few hours after : his body fwelled, and turned pale blue. 



The ferpent Kaninana is yellow on the belly, and green on the back ; its length is 

 about eight hands, and is looked upon as the leafl venomous of all. It feeds upon 

 eggs and birds, and the negroes and Brazilians eat the body, after they have cut off 

 the head and tail. 



The ferpent called by the Brazilians Ibirakoa, is of feveral colours, with white, 

 black, and red fpots. The fling of this creature is very poifonous, attended with the 

 fame fymptoms as that of Kukuruku ; for it kills infallibly, unlefs proper remedies be 

 applied immediately. If the poifon has not feized the heart, they boil the flefh of the 

 fame ferpent with certain roots, and give it the patient in wine. 



The ferpent Tarciboya and Kakaboya are amphibious creatures. The firfl is of a 

 blackifh colour, very large, and flings when provoked, but is not very difficult to be 

 cured. The Kakaboya is of a yellowifh colour, fix hands long, and feeds upon 

 tame fowl. 



Of the Setie?nbi or the Leguan. 



NOT only in the captainfhip of Parnambuko, but alfo all over Brazil and America, 

 as likewife in the ille of Java in the Eafl Indies, are a certain kind of land crocodile, 

 called by the Brazilians Senembi, by our people Leguan : fome are larger than others, «/i^a*>irt 

 fome being three, others four foot long, but feldom exceed five : they are all over 

 covered with fcales, which are fomewhat bigger on the back, legs, and beginning of 

 the tail, than on the other parts : the neck is about a finger and a half long, the eyes 

 are black and bright, and the noflrils in the hindermofl part of the head. Each jaw- 

 bone is full of fmall, black, and ihort teeth ; the tongue is very thick : all along the 

 back, from the neck to the tail, are fmall fharp teeth, of a greenifh colour ; they 

 are biggefl on the neck, and grow fmaller and fmaller towards the tail : under the 

 throat are likewife many of the fame kind. The whole fkin is of a delicate green, 

 with black and white fpots. It has four legs and feet, with five claws armed with very 

 fharp nails : it can live two or three months without food. Its flefh is as white as that 

 of a rabbit, and of as good a tafle as that of fowls or rabbits, if it be boiled or well 

 fried with butter. In the head of this creature are certain flones, which are an infal- 

 lible remedy to break and drive the gravel out of the kidneys, given to the quantity of 

 tv/o drams at a time, or carried on fome part of the body. 



There are in Brazil lizards both great and fmall ; fome are green, others greyifh, 

 and fome four foot long, with fparkling eyes. The negroes feed upon fome of 

 them, whom they kill with blunt arrows ; they broil them, after they have fkinned -<^« 

 them, and eat them without the leafl harm. Among all thofe that are found among 

 -the thorns and briars, or the ruins of houfes, there is but one kind venomous, 

 which is called Bibora. They are like the others, but lefTer, not exceeding the bignefs 



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