Cap. XXI T he Caribby-Illands. 



There is a third kind of Amber-greece, which is white, the 

 rareft, as Ferdinand Lopez affirms, but not the beft as he ac- 

 counts it. On the contrary, it is the moft inconfiderable of 

 any, and there being no account made of it, there is very lit- 

 tle tranfported : But this is indeed fome of the other kinds of 

 Amber-greece, which having been devoured and digefted by 

 Birds that have very hot ftomacks, turns white, as moft of the 

 excrements of Birds are .* That which hath been devour'd by 

 Fifties, as it happens many times, is not much alter'd either as 

 to colour or (ubftance : which proceeds hence, that their fto* 

 macks are not fo hot as thofe of the Birds, and perhaps rinding 

 the Amber-greece hotter then their ordinary fuftenance, and 

 burthen'd therewith , they foon caft it up again : But what 

 had been eaten by the Fox is in a manner corrupted, and of 

 little value, by reafon of the heat of his ftomack. This white 

 Amber-greece is like falted or pickled Suet, eafily melted, and 

 fmells like tallow ? whence fome conceive it is but fome kind 

 of fuet fo ordered. 



Having given the marks of the right Amber-greece, we (hall 

 omit the adulterations of it, becaufe they are almoft infinite : 

 Nor (hall we treat of its ufe inPhyfick, its excellent qualities, 

 and elpecially the fweet fcent it gives to liquid Conferves, and 

 all other things wherein it is ufed : Of thefe fome other Books 

 lately come forth, and experience may fatisfie the curious 

 Reader, 



CHAP. XXI. 



Of certain Creatures living parity on Land y partly in the 

 Waters , comwonly called Amphibia, which may be 

 found in the Caribby-Iflands. 



WE (hall begin with the Crocodile, by the Iflanders cal- 

 led Cayeman : It is a very dangerous Monfter, which 

 fometimes grows to an extraordinary bulk and 

 length .* The Skeletons of feveral of them being frequently 

 brought into thefe parts, we (hall not be fo large in our defcrip- 

 tion thereof, as otherwife we might. 



This Creature keeps in or neer the Sea, and in the Rivers of 

 the Iflands that are not inhabited, and fometimes on the Land 

 among the Reeds, very hideous to look on : It is conceiv'dtro 

 live a long time, and that its body encreafeth in all its dimenn> 

 onsto the very laft day : Whence it is not to be wondred, if 

 there have been feen of them fome which were eighteen foot 

 in length, and as big about as a Hoglhead : It hath four feet 



S 2 well 



