force or vigour i and therefore in June or July much 
. worfe, and more Mortal , than in 31arch and April. 
This Snake is a very Majeftick fort of Creature, and 
will fcarce meddle with any thing unlefs provoked, 
but if any thing offend it, it makes direflly at them. 
I was told a pleafant Story of an Old Gentleman, Col. 
Cleylorn as I remember was his Name, the fame that 
fent the Rattle^Snakes to the Royal Society fome Years 
fince» ' He had an odd Fancy of keeping ftme of thefe 
Snakes always in Barrels in the Houfe, and one time an 
hdian pretending to Charm them fo as to take them 
by the Neck in his hand without biting of him 5 the 
Old Gentleman caufed a Rattle-Snake to be brought 
forth, the Indian began his Charm with a little Waad, 
whisking it round and round the Rattle-Snake's Head, 
bringing it by degrees nigher and nigher, and at length 
flung the Switch away, and whisked his Han about in 
like manner, bringing his Hand nigher ftill and nigher, 
by taking lefi Circles, when the Old Gentleman imme- 
diately hit the Snake with his Crutch, and the Snake 
fnap'd the Indian by the Hand,and bit him very fharply 
betwixt the Fingers, which put his Charm to an end , 
and he roared out ; but ftretch'd his Arm out as high as 
. he could, calling for a ftring, wherewith he bound his 
Arm as hard as poffibly he could, and clapt a hot burn- 
ing Coal thereon, and fmged it ftoutly , whereby he 
was cured, but looked pale a long while after. And I 
believe this truly one of the beft ways in the World of 
Caring the Bite either of Viper * or Mad Dog. J was 
with the Honourable Efquire Boyki when he made cer- 
tain Expsrim^.nts of Curing the Bite of Vipers, with 
certain Eafi-lndia Snake-ltones. that were fent him by 
King James the Second, the Queen, and fome of the 
Nobility, purpofely to have him try their Vertue and 
; Efficacy : For that end he got fome brisk Vipers, and 
made them, bite the Thighs of certain Pallets, and the 
Breafls 
