NORTH AMERICA. I 93 
to gain their affections and friendfhip in matters of 
trade and commerce ; and if their love and efteem 
for each other is fmcere, and upon principles of re- 
ciprocity, there are but few inftances of their neg- 
lecting or betraying the interefts and views of their 
temporary hufbands ; they labour and watch con- 
jflantly to promote their private interefts, and de- 
tect and prevent any plots or evil defigns which may 
threaten their perfons, or operate againft their trade 
or bufinefs. 
In the cool of the evening I embraced the oppor- 
tunity of making a folitary excurfion round the ad= 
jacent lawns. Taking my fuzee with me, I won 
came up to a little clump of fhrubs, upon a [well- 
ing green knoll, where I obferved feveral large 
fnakes entwined together. I ftepped up near them ; 
they appeared to be innocent and peaceable, having 
no inclination to ftrike at any thing, though I en- 
deavoured to irritate them, in order to difcover 
their difpofition ; nor were they anxious to efcape 
from me. This fnake is about four feet in length, 
and as thick as a man's wrift ; the upper fide of a 
dirty afh colour ; the fquamse large, ridged, and 
pointed ; the belly or under fide of a reddifn dull 
flefh colour ; the tail part not long, but fiender, like 
mod other innocent fnakes. They prey on rats, 
land frogs, young rabbits, birds, &c. I left them, 
continuing my progrefs and researches, delighted 
with the ample prolpects around and over the fa- 
vanna. 
Stopping again at a natural fhrubbery, on turn- 
ing my eyes to fome flowering fhrubs, I obferved 
near my feet the furprifing glafs fnake (anguis 
fragilis). It feems as innocent and harmlefs as 
a worm. It is, when full grown, two feet and 
O an 
