100 A NATURAL HISTORY 



In Seafons of Danger, they fhelter themfelves in Cavities un- 

 der Ground, and feed upon Pifmires, which are very large in that 

 Country, and in fuch prodigious Quantities, that the the Portu- 

 giiefe call them. Kings of Brafil. 



XXXII. I N Chiapa^ m Old-Mexico, now call'd New-Spain^ 

 is a noxious Animal call'd Teuthlacokaiiqui, or Fortrefs of the Ser- 

 pents, whofe Head is like an Adder, thick Belly, glittering Scales^ 

 the Ridge of the Body black, with an Interfperfion of white 

 Croffes ; the Teeth poifonous, and the biting kills in twenty-four 

 hours, unlefs the wounded part be held in the Earth fo long, 

 till the Pain be over. 



I T has a frightful Afpedt ; when it moves it makes a Noife 

 with its Tail, that founds an Alarm of Danger. The Ameri- 

 cans, who have the Art of taking it by the Tail, carry it home, 

 and by degrees make it tame: 'tis maintain'd at a cheap rate, for 

 it can fubfift a whole Year without any vifible Food. 



yONS'TONUS calls this Serpent the Bocininga, and defcribes it 

 from Marcgrawus and Pifo. The former fays, 'tis four Foot and 

 three Fingers long. Belly fmooth, fmallEyes, forked Tongue, rat- 

 tling Tail. The other obferves, the Spajiiards call it Cafcavel, and 

 'Tangedor, becaufe its Tail emits the found of a Ball ; in thicknefs, 

 as a Man's Arm ; in length, about five Foot ; a cloven Tongue, 

 long and fharp Teeth ; of a dark Colour, inclining to the 

 yellow *. 



According to Nierembergius,. this Serpent is called the 

 ^leen of Serpejits, which they fuppofe to be like the Viper, in it5 

 Poifon, and Shape of the Head -j-. By the Definitions of ieveral 

 Authors, this Serpent feems to be the Caudifonant ; and \htiyutch 

 in America call it, the Ratel-Stange, i. e. Rattle-Snake. 



Now we are in Mexico, excufe me in giving you two In- 

 flances of monftrous Cruelty ; one in the Natives, the other in 

 the Spaniards. 



When the Mexicans were difpofed to do fignal Honour to 

 their Idols, they fent out Armies to bring in Prifoners for a Sa- 

 crifice, whofe Flefli they did aftervs'ards eat j and Mojitezuma the 

 Emperor, commonly facrificed 20000 Men, one year with ano- 

 ther, 



* Jonfto-nus, Articuliis xvii. p. 23. 



\ Hifioria Hatura Maxime FeregrititS) p. z6Z,'='). 



