Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 125 



Thefe people, who, by being accuftomed to fee them, 

 forget the natural horror attending the fight of an al- 

 ligator, delight in this food, to which the Europeans 

 at firft can hardly reconcile themfelves. 



Here are two Angularities attributed to nature, and 

 firmly believed by the inhabitants ; one in the plant 

 called yerva del gallo ; the other the double headed 

 fnake called la cabega. 



It is conftantly afferted in this city, that its neigh- 

 bourhood produces a fnake having a head at each ex- 

 tremity ; and that from the bite of each a poifon is 

 conveyed equal in a61ivity to that of the coral, or 

 rattle-fnake : we could not have the facisfadiion of 

 feeing one of this Arrange fpecies, though we ufed all 

 the means in our power to gratify our curiofity ; but^ 

 according to report, its ufuai length is about half a 

 yard, in figure perfectly refembiing an earth worm. 

 Its diameter is about fix or eight lines, and its 

 head different from thofe of other fnakes ; being of 

 the fame dimenfions with ia body. It is however 

 very probable that the creature has only one head, and, 

 from its refembiing a tail, has been imagined to have 

 two *. The motion of it is very flow, and its colour 

 variegated with fpots of a paler tind. 



The herb called del gailo, or cocks-herb, is fo 

 highly valued here, that they affirm, if an incifion bcr 

 made round the neck of that fowl, provided the verte- 

 bra be not injured, on the application of this herb, the 

 wound immediately heals. Whatever conflrudtion we 

 put upon this pretended cure, it can only be con- 

 iidered as a mere vulgar notion and I mention it 

 here with no other intention, than to fatisfy the world 

 that we were not ignorant of it, 



fauce the natives eat with their Sfli, fiefh> and fowl. If the guana 

 .was to be had in England, I doabt not but it would be ranked 

 among the greatetl dainties. A. 

 ^ This conje^^ure is very right, H. 



During 



