OF SERPEN TS. 219 



appeared to them to be as big as a large Macedonian Buckler, a 

 Species of defenfive Armour *. 



The King of Calicut (in the Eajl-hdies, the moft powerful 

 of all the Malabar Princes) caufes little Cottages to be ereded 

 for facred Serpents, to guard them againfl: the Inclemency of the 

 Weather, and 'tis made Death to hurt them, being they are look'd 

 upon as heavenly Spirits ; and they believe them to be fuch for 

 this Reafon, becaufe they kill Men fo fuddenly by the Wound they 

 give, which is only a little PiinSture, and would not prove fatal if 

 given by other Creatures. 



It is obferved by fome, that Serpents at this day are highly 

 honour'd in the Kingdom of Calicut, on this fide the Ganges, 

 where the Inhabitants call their King Samori, or Zaniorin, that 

 is. Sovereign Emperor, and God upon Earth. The Dragon be- 

 ing a Serpent of the vigilant Tribe, was conftituted and made 

 Guardian of their Houfes, of their oracular Temples, and of all 

 their Treafures. 



These Protedors of Places and Poffeffions, they call'd Tute- 

 lary Gods, and were worfhipp'd by them under the Symbol of 

 Serpents, without whofe Sandlion no Methods of Protediion were 

 available. 



I T is remarkable, that where the Figure of two Serpents was 

 eredted in any place, it was look'd upon as a Sign of confecrated 

 Ground ; that is, that the Place was holy, being dedicated to fome 

 God 3 for which Superftition they are ridiculed by one of their own 

 Writers, viz. Perjius the Satirift, that lived under Nero, who 

 tells us, that Children were forbid to empty themfelves in thofe 

 Places, and not fo much as make-water, for the Place is holy, 

 as appears by the PiBure of the two Serpents j the Language of % 

 which is, Profane not holy Ground. 



Would you. Sir, have your Poem pafs for a facred Com- 

 pofure, then paint two Serpents in the Front of it. 



Behold here the Original of that Popifh Superftition, which 

 forbids Men to make-water in the Church-Yard -f. 



A T Alba, in a Wood not far from Juno's Temple, is a Dragon 

 worfhipp'd by the Inhabitants, and for their greater Honour, fed 

 by Virgins, thereby intimating, that Innocence was a proper At- 

 tendant on the Gods. 



Ff2 In 



* Conrad. Gefiter. p. 4^1., 45 , Gyllius. 



f Pinge duos angues, pueri, facer eft locuSj extra 

 Meiie I . ■ i . Satir. i. 



