The Hiftory of 



Book I 



Land-Tortoifes^ and Fre (Jj - water -To rto'i fes . 



THc Land-Tortoifes are found in fome Iflands neer the 

 freih-water Rivers, which are leaft fubjeft to inundati- 

 ons, or in the ponds and fenny places that are fartheft from the 

 Sea : They are cover'd all over with a hard and folid (hell, 

 which is not to be rais'd by feveral pieces or leaves, as thofe of 

 the Sea-Tortoifes, and it is fo thick in all parts, that it fecures 

 the Animal living within it from any hurt, and will not be 

 broken even though the wheels of a loaden Cart mould go 

 over it. But what is yet more ftrange, is, that the creature 

 never finds this moving lodging too narrow for him 5 for it 

 grows larger proportionably as the body of the poffeflbr 

 grows bigger : The upper covering is in fome of them about a 

 foot and a half in length : it is of an oval figure, fomewhat hol- 

 low like a Buckler, and on the outfide hath feveral ftreaks, 

 which as it were divide it into fo many compartiments, with a 

 certain obfervance of Symmetry : All thefe intermixtures are 

 laid on a black ground,which in feveral places is enamell'd with 

 white and yellow. 



This kind of Tortoife hath a very ugly head, like that of a 

 Serpent : It hath no teeth, but only jaws, which are ftrong 

 enough to break what it would fwallow down : It is fupported 

 by four feet, fomewhat weak to fuftain the weight of its body 5 

 Dor does it upon purfuit truft much to them : For if he be not 

 neer fome river or pond into which he may caft hinnlelf, he 

 places all refuge and fafety in the covering of his manfion, un- 

 der which like a Hedg-hog he immediately draws in his head, 

 feet and tail, upon the firft apprehenfion of any danger. 



The Female lays egges about the bignefs of thofe of Pige- 

 ons, but a little longer : Having cover'd them with fand, (he 

 leaves them to behatch'd by the Sun. Though there be fome 

 who hold that the meat of thefe Land-Tortoifes is of hard di- 

 geftion, yet thofe who have eaten thereof rank it among the 

 moft delicate dimes of America : The Phyficians of the Coun- 

 try advife thofe who are inclin'd to Dropfies to ufe it often for. 

 a preventive : They have alfo found by experience, that the 

 blood of thefe Tortoifes dried and reduc'd to powder takes 

 away the poyfon of Vipers and Scorpions, being apply'd to the 

 wound : It is alfo certain, that the afhes of their (hells mixt 

 with the white of anegge cures the chaps in Nurfing-womens 

 nipples ; and if the head be powder'd therewith, it prevents 

 the falling of the Hair. 



CHAP. 



