(3iO 
MExtralf of a Letter, mittef^ to the PubUjber by Mr. ]. L. 
about foifonoui Fijh in one of the Bdhmi IJlands. 
I Do herewith fend you an account,! lately received from Ne\V' 
Frovidence^ one of the Bahama Iflands, ccncerning Fijb there, 
which is as followeth ; 
I have not mec with any rarities here worth that acceptance, 
though I have been diligent in inquiring after thein: Of thofe which 
I have heard of, this feems nioft remarkable to me. The Fifli , 
that are here, are many of them poy fonous , bringinga great pain 
on their ;oynts who eat them , which continues fo for feme fliort 
time, and at laft with two or three da yes itching the pain k rabb'd 
off. Thofe of the fame fpecies, fize, fliapes, colour and tafte, 
are one of thempoyfon, the other not in the leaft hurtful: And 
thofe that are , are fo only to feme of the company* The diftem- 
per to Men never, that we hear of, proves mortal. Doggs and Cats 
fometimes eat their'laftJn men that have once had that difeafe, up- 
on the firft eatingof filb, though it be thofe that are wholfom, the 
poifonous ferment in their body is revived thereby,and their pain 
increafed. 
Hhnsfar the ingemomprfonfromvphom I had this relation^ who 
having been but a very little while upon the Ifland when he writ 
. this, could not fend fo perfeft an account of this odd Obfervation, 
as one could wi(b,or as I expeft to hear from him in anfwer to fome 
^Hare's I lately fent him by a Ship bound thither. When his An- 
fwer comes to my hand, if there be any thing in ir, which may gra- 
tifie your curiofity, 1 iTiall be glad of that or any other occafion to 
afTure you, thati am,d"f. 
A 
