272 REPTILES. [Chap. IX. 



A still larger species, the Kabavagoya 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, kabara 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 Hydrosaurus 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 



back. Teeth with the crown com- name for the Kabara-goya. 

 pressed and notched. 



