272 REPTILES. [Chap. IX. 
A still larger species, the Kabaragoya l , is partial to 
marshy ground, and when disturbed upon land, will take 
refuge in the nearest water. From the somewhat 
eruptive appearance of the yellow blotches on its scales, 
a closely allied species, similarly spotted, formerly ob- 
tained amongst naturalists the name of Monitor exan- 
thematicus, and it is curious that the native appellation 
of this one, habara 2 , is suggestive of the same idea. The 
Singhalese, on a strictly homoeopathic principle, believe 
that its fat, externally applied, is a cure for cutaneous 
disorders, but that taken inwardly it is poisonous. The 
skilful ness of the Singhalese in their preparation of 
poisons, and their addiction to using them, are unfor- 
tunately notorious traits in the character of the rural 
population. Amongst these preparations, the one which 
above all others excites the utmost dread, from the 
number of murders attributed to its agency, is the 
potent kabara-tel — a term which Europeans some- 
times corrupt into cobra-tel, implying that the venom is 
obtained from the hooded-snake ; whereas it professes 
to be extracted from the " kabara-goya." Such is the 
bad renown of this formidable poison, that an indi- 
vidual suspected of having it in his possession, is 
cautiously shunned by his neighbours. Those especi- 
ally who are on doubtful terms with him, suspect their 
own servants lest they should be suborned to mix 
kabara-tel in the curry. So subtle is the virus sup- 
1 Bydrosaurus salvator, Laur. 2 In the Mahawanso the hero, 
Tail compressed ; fingers long ; Tissa, is said to have been 
nostrils near the extremity of the " afflicted with a cutaneous com- 
snout. A black band on each plaint which made his skin scaly 
temple ; round yellow spots dis- like that of the godho."— Ch. xxiv. 
posed in transverse series on the p. 148. " Godho " is the Pali 
tack. Teeth with the crown com- name for the Kabara-goya. 
pressed and notched. 
