^M 



SNAKES. 



403 



of a man's arm. The colour of the back is a 

 bright black, and the belly is of a pale yellow. 

 The lower ranks of people say that it is poison- 

 ous j but I have heard this contradicted. The 

 jararclca snake is from six to nine feet in length ; 

 the back is of a dusky yellow, and the belly is 

 white ; the point of the tail is black, the mouth 

 is red, and it has two black and white streaks 

 upon the throat. The curlicue d ^ake is of 

 nearly the same size as the jararclca ; it is black 

 and yellow. This reptile is attracted by fire, 

 and on this account would be more dangerous 

 to travellers than any other description of snake, 

 if its attention was not so totally directed to the 

 tire, as to give time and opportunity of killing 

 it. It has, as I was informed by many persons 

 of credibility, been known to spring off the 

 ground at a person carrying a flambeau. The 

 curacucu and the jararclca are known to be poi- 

 sonous. The cypo snake is so called from its 

 likeness to the thin and flexible shfoots of the 

 plants which bear this name. It is said to be 

 poisonous. 



Charms are often supposed to destroy the 

 venom of snakes, and to produce, consequently, 

 the recovery of the person who has been bitten 

 by one of these reptiles. Oil is sometimes used 

 as a remedy, being given in considerable quan- 

 tities, which are increased or diminished accord- 

 ing to the quality of the oil. Rum is likewise 

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