The 'Ibeater oJTlants. Chap,i 42 , 1665 
CttAi, CXLII. 
tigxuM GMuhrintm, Snake wood. 
JHcre are clivers forts of Snake woods* Acofla hath let forth two or three, that he knewufed by the 
1 Indians againft thebitings of Vipers,Watcr Snakes,or the like Serpents, and yet as Clxfim faith none 
of thofe agrect'n with thele three that g*rciat maketh mention of, 'Banhin«, calleth them all Clematj, 
I Indie a. The lit ft of Cara.it is; athcr a roote then a wood, and growtth with foure or five fiender Garble frie 
branches, about two footc high, the leaves are like Peach leaves,but more ihining,tbc flowers grow mm * 
many together or, along (hike in clutters, ofa brave red colour, the berries are like thofe. of the Elder, duftering 
together, and red andhard. The roote, which is mod in ufe, is full of knots or heads, growing above ground* 
with many frnall firings unde, them,being ofawhitifli afh-colour, and ofa firme fubftance, with a little bitter- 
ndlein thetatte: ic iscalled by the Inhaoitants Lamctal, andby &KPonngalt tao dacobrj, thatisSnakewood: 
This roote being beaten into potither i- given in wine or fome cordiall water to thofe that are bitten by any Ser¬ 
pent, and likewife takethaway fpots and pulhes, orwheales, or other (retting fores in theskinne, and is held 
to be good aga'nil that crucll dileafe, which they call CMordexi, and fome take to be Plague, or other dangcrom 
infcdliousdilcafe, and lame call it the Cbollericke paflion, it is held alio to be good againft agues,an ounce there- 
ofbruifed and fteeped in water, purging much chollcr by vomit. Hisfecondlortas he faith when it ftandeth Stntimk 
alone,groweth to be a tree, and is like the Pomegarnet tree, fee with thicke,(hort,and hard thornes. with a whi- 
tifir thicke and finne barke,full of rifts, and a little bitter, blit not fo much as chc f ormer, the leaves are of a ycl- 
lowifh greenc colour,very plealant to behold : but ific grow by any other tree,it will clime thereon by the bran¬ 
ches unto r’ne toppe like a Gourd: they ule to give both the wood and the barkc hereof, butefpecially the root* 
in the lame manner aforefaid, and for the faid purpofes: it groweth in the Ule of Cm. Histhird fort was Taka. 
brought to the Vice Roy,m ccrtame frnall bundles of wood with their rootes to them, being flendcr.hard.blacke 
and (weece fmclling, which rootestheyof Ufan*ptta», being an Ifle nigh unto Ziilan, did wonderfully 
C'-mmend againft venome or poyfon. Ir groweth up with a few ilender branches,foure ot five cubits lons,which 
if they be not tycd ot held up will lye on the ground, having a few rhinne long leaves like unto thofe oftbe Mi- 
fticke tree for the forme, yet notgrecne but (potted, with whitifh blacke market uponthem. The firft ofthefe 
as q«rc,to faith, was found to be effcfliitll againlt the venome of thofe virulent Serpents, by this meanes. They 
have there bieedmg with them,a certainc frnall bealt, as great a- a Ferret.whith they call Q»i/,or Q-iV/o/c, be¬ 
ing a deadly enemy unto the Serpent Hegulu, with whom when fbever it fighceth, it cateth of the hcajs of one of 
thofe rootes, that is bare above ground, which having chewed, be caftcib his lpirtle upon his head, and over the 
reft of his body, and his fore feet alfo, and then fightech with that ferpent, and will not leave it untill hehav* 
Lignum Co’ubrinum primun Acofts. 
</*<#/?<» his 6rft Snake wood. 
lignum CulubrtMtm ft cutidumAcoQ*. 
Ac oft a h« Ucond Snake wood. 
f-Mi 
