OF SERPENTS. 133 



to the afFefted part. It is about two Spans long, of a brown 

 Colour, and a large Head *. 



CXII. The Serpent Otus is one of the Plagues of America^ 

 and vefy poifonous, there being but few hours diftance between 

 the Wound it gives and Death. It is about an Inch thick, and 

 three Foot long, a little Head and whitifh Belly, and may be far- 

 ther diftinguifh'd from others, by white and black Spots, and 

 three red Lines running acrofs j flow in Motion, and fond of 

 Shade; found in Cz^^*?, a famous Ifland, where the antient Inha- : 

 bitants went naked, tho' they might have been cloath'd in Gold. 

 The Hiftorian fpeaking of Sprnttjlo Cruelty, obferves, that a cer- 

 tain Indian Prince having fled to Cuba for Shelter, was taken by 

 the Spaniards, and condemned by them to be burnt alive. When 

 they were tying him to the Stake, a Prieji told him if he would 

 embrace the SpaniJJ:) Religion, he fhould go to Heaven ; but if not, 

 he muft burn for ever in Hell, Upon this, the poor difl:refled 

 Prince aflc'd him, if there were any Spaniards in Heaven, and 

 the Priefl anfwering, Yes ; Hathuey the Prince replied, viz. 



THA T if it be Jo, I'll rather go to the Devils in Hell, than 

 go laith the Spaniards to Heaven ; for their Cruelty is fiich, that 

 none can be more miferable than where they are. N. B. This ac- 

 count is given by one of their own Bifliops -f-. 



CXIII. The Dopon is reckoned to be a moft dangerous Ser- 

 pent; 'tis about an Inch round, and four or five Foot long. The 

 vulgar Opinion is, that the whole Body is all over tinged with 

 Poifon, the Tail excepted. Its Head is very large, and of an 

 odangular form, fo far as the Eyes, from which it grows lefs 

 and lefs to tlie Mouth, which is oblong and flat, arm'd with fix 

 Teeth in the upper Jaws, and fix in the lower, befides leiler ones : 

 The Tongue is flender, and of a black Colour. 



Its Wounds are terrible, allowing the Patient only about 

 twenty-four hours to live. No fooner is the Wound given, but 

 all parts of the Body begin to fwell, and foon extend beyond 

 their due Proportion ; that they are foon difabled from perform- 

 ing their Operations ;]:. 



Thu s 



* Nafiitur in Vhllippicis. ibid. p. iji^. Nierembergius. 



f Barthol. ds las Cafas, Bifliop oi Chiafa. Hift. ot Antillfi. 



X Remed'w ejl Akxitixium iavga'iaujhi. Nieremb;rgii HiPioria, cap. xiii. p 2,74- 



