REPUTED EFFECTS OF ITS SALIVA. 
101 
depends on the more or less elevation of the little scaly 
bodies ] with which the skin is studded. A process 
similar to blushing takes place — the minute capillaries 
of the skin are distended — the animal, as if by a long 
inspiration, puffs the body out ; thereby separating the 
little scales, and modifying the light as it falls on the 
altered surface. The change is very gradual. 
The natives along the coast say, that when the animal 
is highly irritated, it spits out a fluid so acrid, that if it 
enter the eye, it will produce much inflammation, and con- 
sequent loss of sight ; but as we could never meet with 
a person who had suffered from it, we suppose it to be a 
popular error. We have often endeavoured to provoke 
the sensitive reptile to this act of rudeness ; but it never 
proceeded further than to open the mouth very wide, as 
if gasping. 
While we were lying here, a schooner, having all the 
appearance of a slaver, stood close in shore, evidently for 
the purpose of reconnoitring us. We learned, in fact, 
from the Krumen, that a cargo of human beings was 
collected at a short distance to the southward, and no 
doubt the slave-owner was waiting for our departure to 
embark them, as we found that he watched us until we 
were well out of his way. 
Wednesday, Jaly \Ath . — Having procured all the fuel 
we could stow, we weighed at four p.m., and proceeded 
along the coast, which was found to be very low, and 
covered with thick forest and underwood down to the 
beach : this was sandy, with a heavy and incessant 
