EXPEDITION TO SURINAM 



the body of which, by calculation, muft have meafured 

 above fixty feet in length. — Query, when,, or how, did 

 this animal come there f Y^t there with aftonifliment I 

 beheld it, in the poffeflion of a prieft, who fince fent it to 

 Paris as a very great curiofity. 



In Guiana- there are faid to be lizards of the fize of 

 five or fix feet but that fpecies which is here called the 

 iguana^ and by the Indians the wayamaca, is feldom 

 above three feet long. From the head to the extremity; 

 of the tail, it is covered over with fmall fcales, refle6ling 

 very brilliant colours in the fun ; the back and< legs are 

 of a dark blue, the fides and belly of a yellowifh kind of 

 green, as alio the bag or loofe fkin which hangs under 

 its throat. It is fpotted in many parts with brown 

 and black, and its eyes are a beautiful pale red, while the 

 claws are of a deep chefnut colour. 



This lizard, like the alligator, has its back and tail 

 indented, both which are formed into a lharp edge. It 

 lays its eggs in the fand, and is often feen among the 

 Ihrubs and plants, where the Indians fhoot it with their 

 bows and arrows. Thefe people efteem its flefli, which is 

 very white, as a great delicacy; it is fold dear at Para- 

 maribo, and bought as a dainty by many of the white 

 inhabitants. This creature's bite is extremely painful, 

 but feldom attended with bad confequences. 



But to return to my negro Garamaca, I acknow- 

 ledge his account at firft difcouraged me from the 



VoL,L .Us plan 



