C a p. XXI. The Ca-ribby-Iflands. 



There are abundance of thefe monftrous Crocodiles in thofe 

 Iflands, which from them are called the Iflands of Cajeman^ 

 and not frequented but only in the time of Tortoife-fifhing : 

 For having pick'd out the beft meat out of theTortoife, arid a 

 great deal call: away;, the Crocodiles come in great numbers in 

 the night time to feed on the entrails and carcafesleft on the 

 fand: So that thofe who are watching for the Tortoifes are 

 oblig'd to carry about them great wooden Leavers to keep off 

 thofe CayemanS) which they many times kill, having fir ft broken 

 their backs with thofe Leavers. 



Thefe creatures have a whitifh fat,which was heretofore ufed 

 by Phyficians in fluxions proceeding from a cold caufe 3 it being 

 hot, and confifting of fubtile parts: Upon the fame account 

 werefuch as had Fevers rubb'd therewith upon the approach of 

 their fits, to caufe fweating : Many other properties are attri- 

 buted to the Crocodile by Pliny , in order td the curing of difr 

 eafes .* Some are very defirous to get certain little ftones, like 

 little bones. Which are in his head, and having reduced tliem 

 to powder, they ufe them to clear the Reins of GraVel ; 

 Some alfo affirm, that trWflsarpeit teeth of this Animal, which 

 are on the fide of each jaw, cure the Tooth-aCh, and pVe- 

 fervethe teeth from corruption;, being only rubbed every day 

 therewith .- There are in like manner in the heads of Dragons, 

 and Toads, (tones good againft feveral difeafes : So the cruel 

 Requiems^ by us before deicribed, afford a remedy againft the 

 Stone and Gravel. Thus hath it pleas'd the wile Author of 

 Nature, that we ftiould have fome advantages from thofe 

 creatures which are otherwife moft pernicious. 



The Chinefes have a way to take and tame thefe Crocodiles, 

 as fome Hiftorians affirm: And when they have bred them a cer- 

 tain time, and made them fat enough, they kill them, and feed' 

 on them : But the Europeans who have tafted thereof, affirm, 

 their flefh, though white and delicate, is not pleafant to the 

 tafte, as being too luftiious, fweetifh, and retaining much' of 

 the mulk. 



; ' ^ 

 TORTOISES. 



T Here are taken in thefe Iflands feveral forts of tortoifes^ 

 for there are Land-Tortoifes^ Sea-Tortoifes , and Frefi- 

 water-Tortoifes, w hich are of different figures : The Caribbiatis 

 call them all by the name of CataUou^ but when they fpeak of 

 the Land-Tort'oifes, they adde the word Nonum^ which in their 

 Language fignifies the Earth, or that of Tona } that is to fay 5 

 of the River or Water. 



The Sea-Tortoifes are commonly divided by the Inlanders 

 into three kinds, that which the French call Tortue Fratrchr, 

 that called Caouanne^ and the Carets : They are all of them al- 



moft 



