34 



maladies, peculiar to hot countries, such as the 

 Siam fever, the hlack vomit, and the leprosy, its 

 inhabitants are likewise equally strangers. No 

 instance of the hydrophobia has ever occurred, 

 and M. de la Condamine justly observes, that m 

 South America the dogs,* cats, and other animals 

 are never afflicted with madness. 



Chili produces none of those dangerous or ve- 

 nomous animals which are so much dreaded in hot 

 countries; and it has but one species of small 

 serpent, which is perfectlyharmless, as the French 

 Academicians ascertained when they went to Peru, 

 in 1736, to measure a degree of the meridian. f 

 The lions, which are sometimes riiet with in the 

 thickest and least frequented forests, are distin- 

 guished from the African lion, both by their 

 being without hair, and their timidity ; there h 



the Chilians no trace of so inhuman a practice has ever been 

 discovered, as numbers who liave lived with tiiem for )eai5 

 have positively assured nie. 



* This fact is certain. Does it nof follow that (his dread- 

 ful malady is never generated without infection, and therefore 

 that it is possible to annihilate it? E. E 



t This country is not infested by any kind of insect except 

 the chiguas or pricker, or aiiv poi-^onous reptile ; and although 

 in the woods and fields some sr.akes are to be found, their 

 bite is bv no means dangerous ; nor does any savage or fero- 

 cious beuil excite terror in its plains. Ulloas Foyage, part ii. 

 vol. 3. 



