9 



( 221 ) 



tiful, being ornamented with the mdft 

 elegant figures* delineated by the Pen- 

 cil of Nature, and the moft lively co- 

 lours, dilpofed in all the various pofitions 

 which the moft pregnant fancy could 

 imagine. 



To dilcovef the names and properties 

 of thefe Snakes, I have recurred to the 

 affiftance of the Indians ; tho' not with 

 all the advantage which I expected. 

 Many of the Snakes are wholly inno- 

 minal, and their effe&s are very inac- 

 curately known. Shew an Indian a 

 Snake, and afk him the confequence of 

 its bite, and if he is wholly ignorant of 

 the matter, he will neverthelefs anfwer, 

 Abwauga, which fignifies, that it is bad, 

 or dangerous ; if the word Manfaga is 

 joined thereto, which puts it in the fu- 

 perlative degree, I then judge he has 

 fome knowledge of it, and that it is re- 

 puted fatal. I am often, on thefe oc- 

 casions, 



