j^,6 A NATURAL HISTORY 



Cheefe, extradl the Poifon ; and fome make ufe of the Rump of 

 a Cock ftript of its Feathers, which they apply to the Wound 

 with Succefs, according to the Hiflorian *. 



I N the Library at Manchefier^ is the Skin of a Serpent which 

 was five Yards long, as thick as the Calf of a Man's Leg j has a 

 forked Tongue, fcaly Skin, yellow Colour. 



CXXXin. MA R TINIUS in his Af/as relates, that in the 

 Province of ^angfi in Ch'tna^ there are Serpents thirty Foot 

 long. The Flora Sinenfa reports of the Serpent call'd GeutOy that 

 it devours whole Sta.gs, but is not very venemous. 'Tis of an afli 

 Colour, from eighteen to twenty-four Foot long ; will often feize 

 on a Man, by leaping from a Tree, and kill him, by its violent 

 windings about him. — The Chinefe preferve his Gall to cure the 

 Difeafes of the Eyes. — Marcus Paulus Venetus teftifies the fame 

 of the Serpents of Carrajam. — Some are in length ten Paces, in 

 thicknefs ten Palms, and able to fwallow a Man. Are taken thus: 

 The Serpent in the Day lies in Caves of Mountains ; in the Night 

 hunts for Prey,, and then returns to its Cave, with the weight of 

 its Body, plowing deep the Earth, being fandy in the Track it 

 goes along : Here the Huntfmen fix ftrong Stakes pointed with. 

 Iron, covered with Sand j and as the Serpent travels along, the 

 Spikes gore its Entrails, and are faften'd therein, by which 'tis 

 kill'd i and the Huntfmen fell the Gall at a great Price for Me- 

 dicine, and the Flejh for Meat. Thefe, continues he, may be 

 reckon'd among Dragons, but are without Poifon : Inftead of 

 Feet, they have Claws like thofe of a Lion or Falcon.— 'Th^re are 

 other Serpents in China full of rank Poifon, efpecially the hairy" 

 headed Serpent. So far Martin^ 



N. B. This Province of ^atnji or ^angji is able to raife a 

 Million of fighting Men. It is not fo much frequented as the 

 Province of ^antung or Canton, where they have two Harvefls a 

 year. One fays, there is a Mountain here with a Pool in it,, 

 which makes a Noife like Thunder,, if a Stone be cafl into it, 

 and caufes Showers from the Sky -j-. Their Winter is warm, and 

 their Fields always verdant, producing great Quantities of Goldj 

 Pearl, Silk, Copper, Steel, Iron, Salt, — and odoriferous Woods. — 



They 



* Martin's Def(rsftion of the l^e of Skie^ &C. p- 2^6. 

 + Fancirollus. 



-j- Fancirallus 



