^S2 TRAVELS 
quadruped has horns like the antelope, v^Mck 
is certainly falfe. 
Though the horned^ or, more properly, 
crefted fnake, is not more than iifteen or 
eighteen inches long, and is confequently the 
leaft of the three I have mentioned, it is the 
moft dangerous, becaufe being almoft always 
concealed in the fand, its fmallnefs and grey co- 
lour prevent its being diftinguifhed, while the 
hooper- capd is obfervable at a diftance, in con- 
fequence of its fize and vivid colours ; and as 
to the pof-adder^ its flownefs renders it eafy to 
avoid the attack of this fpecies of fnake* 
We read in the work of a modern traveller, 
that, when favages wifh to extract the poifon 
of fnakes, they pound them whole. Now not 
only have I never feen any thing of the kind 
among the Hottentots, but I have been often a 
v^itnefs to the contrary. They are not igno- 
rant that the poifon is feated in the jaw : they 
know the veficles that contain it, and are w^elt 
* acquainted with the means of extrafting it.- 
Befides, many favages feed on the bodies of 
fnakes, after haying cut off the head. This 
cuftom is very common In many nations, 
though I never faw.it pra^lifed by the Hotten- 
tots; 
