an 
THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 139 
reader’s perufal. What we have now only to note, is the 
fidelity of Jerome Lobo, fo ftrongly vouched in the words I 
have juft cited, in the article of bafilifks, or ferpents, which 
Dr Johnfon has chofen as one of the inftances of his au- 
thor’s adhering to fact, contrary to the cuftom of other wri- 
ters on fuch fubjetts. 
“In crofling a defert, which was two days journey over, 
“I was in great danger of my life; for, asl lay on the 
“ sround, I perceived myfelf feized with a pain which for- 
“ced me torife, and faw, about four yards from me, one of 
“thofe ferpents that dart their poifon from.a diftance. Although 
“‘1 rofe before he came very near me, [yet felt the effects of 
“his poifonous breath; and, if I had lain a little longer, 
“ had certainly died. Ihadrecourfe to bezoar, a fovereign 
“remedy againft thofe poifons, which I always carried 
“ about me. Thefe ferpents are not long, but have a body 
“ fhort and thick, their bellies fpeckled with brown, black, 
“ and yellow. They have a wide mouth, with which they 
* draw in a- great quantity of air, and, having retained it 
“ fome time, eject it with fuch force, that they kul at four 
“ yards diftance. I only efcaped by being fomiewhat farther 
oa from him.” (Chap. xi. p. 124.) j 
- Now, ‘as this is warranted, by one of fuch authority as 
Dr Johnfon, to be neither imagination nor falfehood, we 
muft think it a new fyftem of natural philofophy,-and con- 
fider it as fuch; and, in the firft place, I would with to know 
from the author, who feems perfeCly informed, what f{pe- 
cies of ferpent it is that he has quoted as darting their poi- 
fon at a diftance. Again, what fpecies it is that, at the 
diftance of 12 feet, kills a man by breathing on his back; 
v. iii S 2 alfo, 
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