PART II.
Which gives a View of most Serpents that are known in the several Parts of the World, describ’d by their various Names, different Countries, Qualities, &c.
The Serpents are a numerous Tribe, and their Dominions of large Extent, lying both in Sea and Land: No part of the World but what is replenish’d with them, more or less, in some form or other. In describing them, I shall begin with,
I. The Viper, or Adder, a subtle and poisonous Creature, slender in Body, about a Foot and half long, with fiery and flaming Eyes, a long and cloven Tongue, which when irritated, it darts forth with Violence, and looks like a glowing Firebrand; has a big Head, and flattest of the serpentine kind.
It is slow in its motion, and does not leap like other Serpents, but is very nimble to bite when provok’d. The Scales under the Body resemble that of well-polish’d Steel. They appear in divers Colours, yellow, ash, green; and others of Libya, like the Inhabitants, of a blackish Hue; its Front not unlike that of a Hog.
VIPERS of other Nations, are supposed to be larger than the European, especially the Troglodite-Viper[[99]], which is said to be above fifteen Cubits long: and the Historian adds, viz. That there are no domestick Vipers. I presume, he means they are not brought up among the Children of the Family, as some Serpents are said to have been; this little venemous Reptile being of a more mischievous Nature[[100]].
[99]. Ælian de Nat. Animal.
[100]. Conrad. Gesner. Hist. p. 75.
The Viper differs from the Snake in bulk, being not so large, and their Scales more sharp, and Head more large: They also differ in this, viz. Snakes lay their Eggs, twenty, thirty, sixty, and a hundred sometimes, in one Nest, not quite so large as that of a Magpye (which are inclosed with a whitish Skin, but not with Scales) in Dunghills and other warm Situations, where they are hatch’d by adventitious Heat, commonly call’d Adders in this Country; whereas Vipers make use of their own Matrix, and bring forth live Vipers: Their young ones come forth wrapt up in thin Skins, which break on the third day, and set the little venemous Creatures at liberty, therefore rank’d among the viviparous Animals.
Their Births are much like young Snigs for Bulk; they generally bring forth about twenty young ones, but only one each day. It is observ’d of the Viper, that its Internals are not fetid, like those of some other Serpents, that are intolerable. The Eggs of Lizard-Serpents, which are so much esteem’d in the French-Islands of America, are of the same Size and Figure as those of Pigeons, and are generally used in all sorts of Sauces: When the Females lay their Eggs, they make a Hole in the Sand, and cover them with it, and the Heat of the Sun is sufficient to hatch them[[101]].
[101]. Fevillee’s Journal of the Phil. Math. and Bot. Obs.
ALBERTUS is quoted for a Battle between a Viper and a Magpye, occasioned by her creeping up into a Magpye’s Nest, and devouring her Brood in the Mother’s absence, who upon her Return made a hideous clattering, which soon brought in its Mate; whereupon both, with united Beaks, fell upon the Plunderer, and after a sharp Engagement demolish’d the Enemy.
Father Fevillee in the Woods of the Island Martinique, “being frighted by a large Serpent, which he could not well avoid, his Dog immediately fell on, and took the Serpent by the Head: The Serpent surrounded him and press’d him so violently, that the Blood came out of his Mouth; and yet the Dog never ceased till he had entirely tore it to pieces. The Dog was not sensible of his Wounds during the Fight, but soon after, his Head prick’d by the Serpent swell’d prodigiously, and he lay on the ground as dead; but his Master having found hard by a Bananier, which is a very watry Tree, he cured him with the Juice of it, and some Treacle[[102]].”
[102]. Fevillee’s Journal of the Phil. Math. and Bot. Obser.
The Viper is common in some parts of France, especially in Dauphiny and in Poictou, from whence all the Vipers come that are sold in Paris. They are usually taken with wooden Tongs, or by the end of the Tail, which may be done without danger; for while held in that Position, they can’t wind themselves up to hurt their Enemy. The Viper-Catchers have their Specificks, in which they can safely confide, as not to be afraid of being bitten; which they say is the Fat of a Viper, immediately rubb’d into the Wound, which is one of the most venemous in the animal World.
These Vipers are usually put and kept in a Box with Bran or Moss; not that these Ingredients serve to feed upon, as some may fancy; because ’tis said, they never eat after they are taken and confin’d, but live on the Air, and will live so, many Months: But more hereafter. The Destruction of Vipers by human Spittle, the Coition of the Marine with Lampreys, the pregnant Viper biting off her Companion’s Head, and the Revenge of it by the Younglings——I place among vulgar Errors.
II. The Amodytes is a Serpent very venemous and fierce, of a sandy Colour, black Spots, and of about a Cubit long. The Wound given by the Female, the weaker Vessel, is said to be most dangerous: Its Jaws are larger than the common Vipers, and from some Eminencies upon the Head, like a Tuft of Flesh, is called Cornutus. Its Wounds prove fatal without a speedy Cure. It is found in Lybia, a Limb of Africa, and also in Illyricum, and in some parts of Italy[[103]].
[103]. Comitatu imprimis Goritiensi invenitur.—Ray.
This Serpent is called Cornutus, a horned Beast[[104]]. Of this Form, is a numerous Herd; we read, that in the Roman Army was a Band of Foot Soldiers called Cornuti.
[104]. Lucan. Pharsal. lib. ix.
Upon the Continent of America are Bulls and Cows, that have no Horns, says Dr. Ch. Leigh——who adds,
“The Defect of Horns in these Beasts, brings into my mind a remarkable Phenomenon of one Alice Green, whose Picture I have seen in Whalley-Abby, in Lancashire. This Woman had two Horns which grew out of the back-part of her Head; they grew backwards like those of Rams, and were about three Inches long; these she cast once in three Years, and had always intolerable Pains, before the Horns broke out[[105]].”
[105]. His Natural History of Lancashire, Book ii. p.3.
He might have mentioned another innocent Creature, on whose Head a treacherous Companion inoculates a Scion, which intitles him to the Title of Cuckold, a word derived from Cuckows, who having no Beds of their own, invade their Neighbour’s. Of the Cuckow ’tis said, that having no Nest, she takes possession of some other Bird’s Nest, destroys the Eggs, and lays in it an Egg of her own, which the innocent Bird brings forth and nurses for its own[[106]].
[106]. Dr. Willoughby, who writ the History of Birds, affirms this Account of the Cuckow to be true upon his own Knowledge, according to Mr. Ray.
III. The Cerastes is a Serpent of the viperine Kind; its Head resembles the Cornigerous; it belongs to the Libyan and Nubian Family: Its Teeth are like those of the Viper, and it brings its Successors into the World after the same manner.
Its Constitution is very dry, which refines and exalts its Poison, and makes it more dangerous; the Wound is generally attended with Distraction, and continual pricking as with Needles. Some say, ’tis of a whitish Colour, others arenaceous; it loves sandy Habitations, where it often surprises the unwary Traveller: And all agree ’tis of a most cruel Nature; and therefore in some Places ’twas made the Executioner of Malefactors[[107]], as the Juice of the Cicuta, (an Herb like our Hemlock) was among the Athenians.
[107]. Nunc potes actutum insidiatoremque Cerasten—Non is corpus habet, sed quatuor aut duo profert Cornua. Nicander in Ther.
Plate 1st
Some say ’tis of the aspick kind, as the Arabians; in length a Cubit or more, with two Horns on the Head, resembling Snail-Shells: It lies perdue near travelling Paths, and is very crafty in decoying little Birds into the Snare.
Its Wounds soon kill, if one of the Psyllian People be not immediately called in. N. B. These Psylli are a noted People of Syrenaica in Africa, endued with a natural Faculty of destroying Serpents upon sight, and curing their Wounds by a Touch of the Hand of whom we have this Account, viz. ... Crates of Pergamus says, that about Parium in the Hellespont, there were Men, named Ophiogenes, who cured those wounded by Serpents with a Touch. Varro testifies there were some of them in his time.
AGATHERCIDES writes, that in Africa the Psyllians (a People so called from King Psyllus, from whom they were descended, and whose Sepulchre is to be seen at this day in the greater Syrtes) did in the same manner heal People wounded by Serpents. ’Tis said they had some extraordinary Quality in their Nature, that would suddenly kill all Serpents.
It was by these they tried the Chastity of their Wives, thus, viz. When a Child was born, and its Legitimacy questionable, they laid it in a great Vessel full of these cerastick Serpents, that immediately breathed Destruction; but when they came near the Child, their Rage soften’d, and they immediately fled from it; which proved the Legitimacy of the Child, that he was a true Psyllian, born in lawful Wedlock, because Serpents could not poison it, nor endure its Presence[[108]].
[108]. In dolium cerastarum plenum infantem conjicere, Ælian. lib. i. cap. 57. Gyllii Accessio, cap. 37. N. B. If the Child was begotten by a Stranger, ’twas killed by Poison; if lawfully begotten, the Privilege of his Father’s Blood protected him against the Venom.
However this romantic Account may appear, it may doubtless be philosophically accounted for by Effluviums emitted from their Bodies, that proved fatal to Serpents.
The English Annotator upon Lucan, who was Nephew to Seneca, observes much to the same purpose, when he says, These Psylli (a People inhabiting those parts of Africa called Marmarica, bordering on the Nile) are fortify’d by Nature with an incredible Privilege against the Strength of Poison, and sustain no Harm by the biting of Serpents.
The Serpents, says Pliny, are afraid of them, and when others are bitten by them, these Psyllians by sucking the Wounds, cure them.
The Marsians in Italy, ’tis said, are still in possession of this natural Power against Serpents, and are supposed to descend from the Son of Circe, the famous Enchantress.
The Trial of Childrens Legitimacy by Serpents, puts me in mind of Hereditary Right; whose Title was try’d by the Fatal-Stone, on which the Irish Monarchs used to be inaugurated on the Hill of Tarah; and which being inclosed in a Wooden-Chair, was made to emit a Sound under the rightful Candidate, when he sat in it; but was quite silent under one who had no Title, or not a good one; that is, one who was not for the Druidick Priest’s Turn.
“This Stone was sent to confirm the Irish Colony in Scotland, where it continued to be the Coronation-Chair till in the Year 1300, Edward I. of England brought it from Scoon, and placed it under the Coronation-Chair at Westminster[[109]]; and there it still remains, is used in the Coronation, the antientest respected Monument in the World[[110]]. The Vulgar call it Jacob’s Stone, as if this had been his Pillow at Bethel.”
Note, Antique Appearances often give birth to popular Superstitions.
Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum
Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.
[110]. Island’s Colect. A. D. 1726.
Such natural Power against Diseases did in our Days appear in the celebrated Mr. Greatrix, before whose Hand they fled. In the Philosophical Transactions we have the following Account of it, received from Eye-Witnesses,—e. g.
“... My own Brother, John D——n, was seized with a violent Pain in his Head and Back: Mr. Greatrix (coming by accident to our House) gave present Ease to his Head, by only stroaking it with his Hands. He then rubb’d his Back, which he most complain’d of, and the Pain immediately fled from his Hand to his right Thigh; then he pursued it with his Hand to his Knee, from thence to his Leg, Ancle and Foot; and at last to his great Toe. As it fell lower, it grew more violent; and when in his Toe, it made him roar out, but upon rubbing it there, it vanish’d.
“A young Woman being seiz’d with a great Pain and Weakness in her Knees when a Girl, used divers Means to no effect: After six or seven years time, Mr. Greatrix coming to Dublin, he stroak’d both her Knees, and gave her present Ease, the Pain flying downward from his Hand, till he drove it out of her Toes; the Swelling that always attended it, did in a short time wear away, and never troubled her after.
“... A certain Gentlewoman being much troubled with a Pain in her Ears, and very deaf, Mr. Greatrix put some of his Spittle into her Ears; which, after chafing them, soon cured her, both of the Pain and Deafness.... Her Uncle was cured by him of the same Malady, and in the same manner.
“... A Child, being extremely troubled with the King’s-Evil, was touch’d by King Charles II. and was nothing better; but was soon and perfectly cured by Mr. Greatrix.[[111]]”
[111]. Lowthorp’s Philosoph. Transactions abridged, vol. iii. p. 10, 12. Edit. 2. Communicated by Mr. Thoresby, N. 256. p. 332. 1699. In Page 10. an account is given of the wonderful Effects of Touch and Friction.
IV. The Hemorrhous Serpent is an Egyptian of the viperine kind; of sandy and bright Colour, enamel’d with black and white Rays on the Back; flaming Eyes, corniculated Brows, and is defended by an Armature of rough and sharp Scales; which by one is given as the Reason of making some Noise as it goes, which another denies, because it wants the Sonalia[[112]].
[112]. Caret Sonalibus. Nierembergius, p. 269.
This Creature is little in Body, but great and terrible in its Executions; for when it wounds any Persons, all the Blood in the Body flows out, at all the Apertures of it, which is immediately follow’d with Convulsions and Death[[113]].
[113]. Gyllius, p. 261. Raii Synopsis Meth. 8vo. A. D. 1693. Invenitur in Ægypto & aliis locis quibus Thonis imperavit. ibid. & in agris Jucatensibus.
At non stare suum miseris passura cruore
Squamiferos ingens Hæmorhois.
The Atlas from Ribeyro mentions an Indian Serpent of the same malignant Nature, whose Poison operates with such Violence, that the Person wounded by it bleeds at the Eyes, Nostrils, Ears, and all the Pores of the Body, and the miserable Patient is irrecoverable.
The Poet laments the Death of the brave and noble Tullus[[114]], by this bloody Serpent; which is also found in India (according to Diodorus Siculus) in that part where Alexander the Great conquer’d Porus, the Great King of the Indies. The Conqueror bid Porus ask of him whatever he desired; who answered, That he only desired to be treated as a Prince: with which Alexander was so charm’d, that he not only gave him his Kingdom again, but some of the Provinces he had conquered in that Vicinity.
N. B. On the Bank of the River Hydaspis, Alexander built a Town, which he call’d Bucephala, in remembrance of Bucephalus his great Horse, which died and was buried there.
[114]. Lucan, lib. ix. p. 269. Impressit dentes Hemorhois aspera Tullo magnanimo Juveni.
V. The Serpent Seps, which by some is said to be the same with Sepedon, is about two Cubits long, the Head broad, and of divers Colours. Both these are of the smaller Species, but most venemous, and therefore are rank’d in the second Class of Serpents. The Virulency of the Poison is not in proportion to their diminutive Stature.
When any are wounded by these venemous Animals, the Hair of the Head immediately falls off, the whole Body turns scurfy, leprous and putrid; yea, the very Bones, as well as the Flesh, putrify and corrupt; therefore some call it the putrid Serpent[[115]]. The Poet accounts for the Symptoms of its Poison[[116]].
[115]. Nonnulli ex Scoligero, non male putriam vocare. Jonstonus, p. 14.
[116]. Mors est ante oculos Seps stetit exiguus—Parva modo Serpens, sed qua nonnulla cruentæ. Fugit rupta cutis. Lucan Pharsal. lib. ix. p. 271.
These Serpents are Asiaticks, Inhabitants of the Rocks in Syria; Syria, the supposed western Porch of Paradise. These resemble the Hemorrhous in Colour and external Figure: According to Ælian, they change into the Similitude of the Things they light upon. He might, I think, as well have said, they chang’d their Notes on different Trees, since there is a kind of relation between Musick and Colour, as the Learned Newton observes.
VI. KOKOB Serpent, is between three and four Foot long, of a dusky Colour, and made beautiful by Spots of red and light Blue. Its Wounds are terrible, and the Effects not very dissimilar to those of the Hemorrhous. Nierembergius observes, that it resides among Stones; and when it rambles out, and hears any Noise, makes towards it like a mighty Hero. Thus the Gallic Monarch, upon Debates among Princes, marches out as sovereign Umpire of Europe, and never returns home but by way of Lorrain, Corsica, Palatine, or Spanish Flanders.
VII. The Asp, so called from the Asperity of its Skin, as Arnoldus, or from aspiciendo, because of the Acuteness of its Eyes. A Serpent well known, but not accurately describ’d, says the Learned Mr. Ray: Some make it a small Serpent, others say ’tis several Feet long; and both may judge right, for according to Ælian, there are various Species of Asps; some a Foot and half long, and others six.
Among these different Proportions, the least of them is said to be most hurtful, and kills the soonest. Its Poison is so dangerous and quick in its Operation, that it kills almost in the very Instant that it bites, without a Possibility of applying any Remedy: They die within three Hours, says my learned Author[[117]]; and the manner of their dying by Sleep and Lethargy, without Pain, made Cleopatra chuse it as the easiest way of dispatching herself. (More of this further on.)
[117]. Calmet in Verbum, p. 213.
These Aspick Serpents, are the Growth of several Climates: Olaus observed some of them in the northern Parts, of rugged and rough Skins, ash Colour, sparkling Eyes, three or four Cubits long[[118]]; tho’ Lovers of warm Situations, yet delight in shady Retirements[[119]]. Many of them are found in the Spanish Islands[[TN]]; but Egypt, Libya, and other Places in Africa claim the greatest Right to them, for there they are most numerous and venemous.
[118]. Jonstonus Hist. de Serp. p. 15.
[119]. Ideo Seneca, ad umbram exsurgere dixit.
When provok’d, the Neck of this Creature swells, and the Wound then given, is most dangerous. Its Teeth are of considerable length, growing out of the Mouth like the Tusks of a Boar. The Historian says, that two of the longest Teeth have little Cavities in them, covered with a thin Skin, that slides up when it bites, by which means the poisonous Liquid runs out, and drops into the Puncture; after which, it recovers its Station.
In America, says a celebrated Historian, are found Asps with Stings in the Tail, wherewith they strike and kill[[120]].
[120]. Jonstonus Hist. Nat. de Serpentibus. p. 15.
The Banks of Nilus abound with Asps, who have Sagacity enough to remove their Habitations to a place of Safety, several days before that River overflows the Rising-Grounds about it: ’Tis also said the Crocodile and Tortoise recede with their Eggs, to a Situation not accessible by that mighty Flood; a Flood that makes the Land of Egypt, a Region of Fertility, a Flood dreaded by these Animals, and ador’d by the Egyptians, those Sons of Contradiction, who consecrated their Animals to the Gods, and then worshipped them, and upon Occasions kill’d them. (Can we behold such Instincts in the Crocodile, &c. without acknowledging the Divine Wisdom that ordain’d ’em!) No Nation more knowing, and more sottish, e. g. Upon the Statue of Minerva, or the Goddess Isis, was this Inscription, viz. I was she that was, that am, and shall be, and that am every thing. Which being an exact Interpretation of the Word Jehovah, and the same Definition the Almighty appropriates to himself, I can’t, says the Learned Jurieu, conceive, how a Nation that was arrived to such a high Degree of Knowledge, should have worship’d Bullocks—as Gods.
PLUTARCH gives a strange relation of them, viz. that in case of any extraordinary Calamity, as War, Plague, Famine, the Egyptian Priests used to threaten the sacred Beasts most horribly: If they failed to help them, they whipt them till the Blood follow’d; and if the Calamity did still continue, they kill’d those sacred Beasts by way of Punishment[[121]]. The Reverse of this is given us in a Clan of Tartars, who, when exposed to any imminent Calamity, sacrifice their Priests, in order to intercede for them with the Gods in the other World.
[121]. Jurieu from Plut. de Is. & Osir.
It has been said, that the Asp, when exasperated, did, with an erected Head, cast out of its Mouth liquid Poison; but it now appears, it darts it only by its Bite, or by Poison taken from it by Force, and poured into a Wound made by another; and both the Wounds so made, soon terminate in an easy pleasant Exit; which is supposed to be the reason why Queen Cleopatra chose this kind of Death, that is, to poison herself by an Aspick Dose. This reminds me of a certain Herb I have read of, in Arabia, which (according to the Tradition) if a Man slept upon, he died in his Sleep without any Pain.
A certain learned Pen, makes this Remark upon Cleopatra’s Case, viz. that she was not bit by an Asp, as some have asserted, but did that which was more secret and sure; that is, after she had bit her own Arm, infused Poison into the Wound, expressed before-hand from an Asp by Irritation, and preserved in a Phial for that purpose: Or, as Dio says, she wounded her Arm with a Needle, or Dressing-pin, and then poured the Poison into the bleeding Wound. This seems probable, because no Serpent was found in her Chamber or near it.
The Queen, in order to find the most easy Passage out of this Life, made an Experiment upon Criminals by various kinds of Poison, and Application of diverse sorts of Serpents, and found nothing came up to Aspick Poison, which throws Persons into a pleasant Sleep, in which they die[[122]].
[122]. Plutarch’s Lives of Marc Anton. and Cleopatra, and Fr. Redi Nobilis Aretini Experiment. p. 170, -1, -2, -3.
Obj. If it be said, that in the Triumphs of Augustus, Queen Cleopatra is drawn with an Asp in her Hand:
I answer, That I apprehend that Device might only be Pictorial-Licence, or a Flourish of the Painter to affect the People, by displaying the Heroism of a Woman, who to prevent the Disgrace of Captivity, embraced Death at the hands of a Serpent, a terrible Creature, to which none has so great an Aversion as the female Sex. Excuse a poetick Digression.
On the ASP and its POISON.
——Welcome thou kind Deceiver,
Thou best of Thieves! who with an easy Key
Dost open Life, and unperceiv’d by us,
Even steal us from our selves; discharging so,
Death’s dreadful Office, better than himself.
Touching our Limbs so gently into Slumber,
That Death stands by, deceiv’d by its own Image,
And thinks himself asleep[[123]].——
[123]. Dryden, All for Love.
Some are of Opinion, that the Asp is David’s deaf Adder, Psal. lviii. 45. They are like the deaf Adder that stops her Ear, which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers, charming never so wisely. They are like the deaf Asp, says the Hebrew and the Septuagint. The word in the Original is [[124]] Pethen, q. d. Unpersuadedness; hence, wicked Men are called Απειθεις in the New Test. unpersuadable, which the English Translation renders Disobedient, Tit. i. 16.
[124]. פתן . ωσουι ασπιδος κωφης.
The common Tradition is, that when Men by Inchantments and Charms have attempted to take these Serpents, they stopt one Ear with the Tail, and the other was either deaf, or made so by laying it close to the Ground. Some are of Opinion, that there is a sort of Asp that really is deaf, which of all others is the most dangerous, and is meant by the Royal Prophet here.
That there was a Practice of charming Serpents by some Art or other, so that they could neither bite nor sting, seems evident from the sacred Writings, e. g. Eccl. x. 11. Surely the Serpent will bite without Inchantment. Jer. viii. 17. I’ll send Serpents, Cockatrices, among you, that will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the Lord.
Among other Things the word Charmer, some say, signifies one that conjoins and consociates; that is, that by Sorcery gather’d Serpents together, and made them tame and familiar; or the Person may be so call’d, because by Magick Art, he associated with Demons, the Lords of Serpents.
We are inform’d by History, of some, who have summoned together a hundred Serpents at once; but by what method, I leave the Reader to judge. Montanus, a famous Physician, and Professor at Padua in Italy, says he saw this Coadunation of Serpents.
The learned Doctor Casaubon tells us, he had seen a Man, who from the Country around him, wou’d draw Serpents into the Fire, which was inclos’d in a magical Circle: When one of them, bigger than the rest, would not be brought in, upon repeating the aforesaid Charms, it submitted to the Flames.
We read of a famous Charmer at Saltsburgh in the Circle of Bavaria; that, when (in sight of the People) he had charm’d a great Number of Serpents into a Ditch, where he kill’d them; there came a Serpent of great Bulk, supposed to be the Devil, that leapt upon the Charmer, and immediately slew him[[125]].
[125]. Doctor More’s Antidote.
Answer me, says Paracelsus, (the celebrated Swiss Physician, who did wonderful Cures by Liquids extracted from Vegetables) from whence is it, that a Serpent of Helvetia, Algovia, or Suevia, does understand the Greek Idiom, Osy, Osya, Osy; that they should, at the first Sound of these Words, stop their Ears, remain immoveable, and do us no hurt with their Poison? From whence he infers, there was a Power in Words to operate upon the Ear, without Superstition. The Antients seem to have entertain’d some favourable Thoughts of the Power of Spells upon Serpents: Their Poets speak often of these Charms and Incantations.
Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis. Virgil.
Vipereas rumpo verbis, & carmine fauces. Ovid.
Ingue pruinoso coluber distenditur arvo
Viperes coëunt abrupto corpore nodi
Humanoque cadit serpens afflata veneno. Lucan.
PHILOSTRATUS describes particularly how the Indians charm Serpents—they take a Scarlet-Coat embroider’d with golden Letters, and spread it before the Serpent’s Hole; and these golden Letters have a fascinating Power over it, and therewith its Eyes are overcome and laid asleep[[126]].
[126]. His Life of Apollonius Tyanæus, writ at the Desire of the Empress Julia, lib. 3. cap 2.
If we consider the strange Things done by Force of Words, so much extoll’d in Antiquity, it will be no wonder to see Letters, out of which Words are form’d, made the Rudiment and first Study of human Life: But as to the Mode of Operation by Words, the Learned are not agreed.
Some say, there is a natural Virtue and Efficacy in Words, and appeal to the notable Feats done by Force of Eloquence. This was the favourite Study and View of Orators; in this they triumph’d, and never wanted Acclamations and loud Applauses.
In Plutarch, we have, among others, one remarkable Instance, viz. Cæsar, upon the Accusations brought in by Tubero against Quintus Ligarius (Pompey’s Friend) he was resolved to sacrifice that Rebel, till he was charm’d by the Words of the Orator that pleaded in his favour—No sooner did Cicero begin his Oration in his defence, but Cæsar’s Countenance chang’d, and his Indignation begun to soften ... but when the Orator touch’d upon the Battle of Pharsalia (where Cæsar was Conqueror) Cæsar’s Heart tender’d, his Body trembled with Joy, and certain Papers in his Hands dropt to the ground.—And when Cicero had finish’d his Oration, Cæsar’s Wrath against his Enemy was intirely extinguish’d; and Ligarius was set at liberty[[127]]. The same Orator, by the Dint of Eloquence, overthrew the Constitution of the Decemviri.
[127]. Plutarch’s Life of Cicero.
Others say, there is a mighty Force in Words in such a Tone, and Talismanical Characters, rightly-adapted Figures, and Images under certain Constellations[[128]].
[128]. Paracelsus, C. Agrippa, Life of Mr. Duncan Campbell, A. D. 1720, page 256. Gaffarel.
Some affirm that Magick consists in the Spirit of Faith, for Faith is the Magnet of Magicians, by which they draw Spirits to them, and by which Spirits they do wonderful Things, that to vulgar Eyes appear like Miracles. No doubt but several extraordinary Effects have been ascrib’d to the Devil, that in reality were natural, and artfully disguised: The Story of Sieur Brioche, a famous Puppet-player, is well known, who in a Town in Switzerland, where that Show had never been seen before, he was apprehended as a Warlock or Magician, and ran the hazard of being punish’d as such[[129]].
[129]. De Saint Andre’s Letters.
Others affirm, that Charms by Words are but means to heighten the Imagination; and the strange Effects produced by ’em, flow’d only from the Activity of an exalted Thought, or Fancy of heated Brains. In proof of this ’tis said, that if a Woman at a certain Season, strongly fix her Imagination upon any particular Object, the Child will bear the Image thereof.
I think ’tis pretty obvious, that those extraordinary Impressions made by Pagan Sophists upon the Minds of their Audience by the Charms of Rhetorick, past for a divine Afflatus or Inspiration; and therefore in such Cases, we shall find this Formula (Aliquis nescio quis Deus) frequently used by Enthusiastical Orators, as well as their Poets: Thus Cicero, speaks of himself, that he was mov’d by a certain Impetus or Ardour[[130]]: Apollonius Tyanæus, who was looked upon by the Christians as a notorious Magician, being ask’d by the Governor of Rome under Nero, what was his Profession? he answer’d, θειασμος, an Enthusiast, q. d. Fanatic, Conjurer.
[130]. Nulla ingenti, sed magna vis animi inflamantis ut me ipse non teneam.
’Tis true, that wonderful Things have been done by Words, but how verbal Charms operated upon Serpents, wants Explication: Of some Inchanters ’tis said, that by vocal and instrumental Sounds, they have charm’d Rats, Mice and Serpents, some into a stupid State, and others into a flexible submissive State.
A remarkable Instance in Rats we have in the publick Records of Hamelen, (an antient City on the River Weser in Germany, about 28 Miles S. E. of Hanover) where the following strange Account is register’d, viz.
That in June 26. 1284, a certain Stranger undertook to destroy an Army of Rats with which the Town had been long pester’d, on promise of such a Reward; and immediately playing on his Pipe and Tabret, the Rats march’d out, and follow’d the Musick to the River, where they were all drown’d: But being denied the Reward, he threaten’d Revenge; and next day he went about with the same Musick, and most Children in the Town follow’d the Piper to the Mouth of a great Cave on a neighbouring Hill call’d Koppelberg, where he and they entered, and were never heard of after.
In remembrance of this sad Catastrophe, the Citizens for many Years after, dated all their publick Writings from the Day they lost their Children, as appears by their old Deeds and Records: They still call the Street thro’ which the Children went out, Tabret-street; and at the Mouth of the Cave there is a Monument of Stone, with a Latin Inscription, giving the Particulars of this tragical Story.
As to the other Instance, viz. Serpents charm’d into a ductile manageable State, ’tis thus accounted for; viz. Serpents, they say, are strangely influenced by the Smell of those Emanations, proceeding from the Cornus, or Dog-tree (why not the Cornelian-Cherry, antiently dedicated to Apollo?) and that by a Wand or Rod taken from it, they are thrown into an obsequious Temper—
“When touch’d by a Rod from that Tree, they are immediately intoxicated, but so as to be able to follow the Motion of the Rod; but whether by reason of some great Disproportion or Incompossibility, between these subtile Effluvia and the Temperament of the vital, spiritual Substance of the Serpent, or by what other way, we are not told[[131]]. The Sassafras-tree, a Native of America, is call’d Cornus also, whose Wood is very odorous and fragrant.”
Now, say these Gentlemen why should it seem impossible, that he who understands this invincible Enmity, and how to manage a Rod of the Cornus with Cunning and Dexterity (having first intoxicated a Serpent by the Touch thereof) should during that Fit make it observe, and readily conform to all the various Motions of the Wand, so as that the unlearned Spectators, perceiving the Serpent to approach the Inchanter, as he moves the Wand near to himself, or to retreat from him, as he put the Wand from him, or turn round and dance as the Rod is mov’d to and fro, or lie still as in a Trance, as the Rod is held still over it; and all this Time, the People knowing nothing of the Virtue in the Rod, are easily deluded into a Belief, that the whole Scene is supernatural, and the main Energy radiated in those Words or Charms, which the Impostor with great Ceremony and Gravity of Aspect mutters forth, the better to disguise his Legerdemain, and dissemble Nature in the colour of a Miracle.
[131]. Charlton.
The Rattle-snakes in America are said to secure their Prey by Incantation; for they have the Power or Art, (I know not which to call it, says my Author) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Partridges, or any such Thing, in such a manner, that they run directly into their Mouths: This I have seen, adds he, by a Squirrel and one of the Rattle-snakes; and other Snakes have in some measure the same Power[[132]].
[132]. Natural History of Carolina, A. D. 1711. page 129.
It is allowed indeed, that there are dumb Creatures that do exceed Man in some sensible Perceptions, particularly in that of Smelling, as the Harriers, and other Dogs. How strange, that Odours from the Hare’s Body, Should so affect the Nose of a Hound, as to raise in him that Sensation or Scent, by which he follows her all the Day (tho’ he never had a Sight of her) thro’ a Cloud of Opposition, from perplexing intricate Places, and Effluviums proceeding from other Animals!
These Emanations are exceeding fine Effluvia, or Particles flying off odorous Bodies in all Directions; and as they float in the Air on the Surface of the Earth (within their Atmosphere) strike against the Dog’s Nose, and produce that Sensation of Smell.—N. B. The Intensity of Smell in all Creatures, is in proportion to the Density or Thickness where we are: This Density is always diminish’d in proportion to the Squares of the Distances from the odorous Body.
Yea, a little Cur, by the Power of Smelling, can find out his Master among Thousands, will trace his Steps thro’ Crouds in Fairs and Markets; yea, throughout a whole Country. Our Histories inform us of Dogs in some parts of this Island, that being put upon the Scent, would pursue a Thief and a Murderer; and if he cross’d a River, would smell where he entered, and swim after him; and when arrived at t’other side, would hunt about till they found where he landed, and then run on, till they overtook the Criminal.
In Animals is a sulphurous or oily Matter, so attenuated and subtiliz’d as to become volatile, which is denominated a Spirit: Now that there is such a Spirit in Man, and a peculiar one too in every Man, is evident from these Dogs, which will pursue the Game by their Nose, and follow their Master’s Track, and distinguish it precisely; yea, tho’ a thousand other Persons had past the same way.
It must be by meer Force of Smelling, that the Dog is able to do this, that is, to distinguish his Master from all Men by the Instrumentality of his Nose.
Therefore there must be some specifick Matter exhaled from the Master’s Body, which the Dog can perfectly distinguish from the various Effluvia flowing from all other Persons.
The Dog must exceed us, in that he can thus exactly discern his Master, by these subtile, oily, or sulphurous Effluvia, which no human Nose was ever able to do.
We find the like Spirit in the Hound, who when put in the Track which a Deer has lately been in, will follow the Steps of that Deer thro’ all cross Paths of a thousand others, and at last single out that individual Deer among a whole Herd of those Animals.
In Scotland are a sort of Dogs (in Colour generally red and spotted with black, or black with red) of extraordinary Sagacity, being, as ’tis said, put upon the Scent, will pursue Thieves with Success; and the Use of them has been authorised by the Magistrate——Nullus perturbet aut impediat canem trasantem, aut homines transentes cum ipso ad sequendum latrones aut ad capiendum malefactores.
N. B. Trasantem is a Word latiniz’d from the old French Tracer or Trasser, signifying to follow by the Track.
If any shou’d suggest, That this derogates from the Wisdom and Goodness of the Creator, who has given to some Beasts stronger Perceptions, Nerves more exquisitely fine and delicate than he has bestow’d upon Man:
I answer, this is so far from derogating from divine Wisdom and Goodness, that it is an admirable Instance and Illustration of both; for were our olfactory Nerves susceptible of such quick Sensations as Dogs and some other Animals, we shou’d be continually annoy’d with pestiferous Fumes and Exhalations, so as not only to render most Situations troublesome, but even Life it self miserable and wretched.
Such quick Sensations may be very useful to carnivorous Animals, so as to direct them to their Prey, but to human Beings it wou’d be very vexatious, if not pestiferous and deadly. I shall only add to this Digression, a short Hint about the Magic Art, the most surprising of all Arts, and in its first Appearance most innocent and useful.
Among the antient Chaldeans, Babylonians, and Persians, where the Art-magic was first and principally cultivated, it signified no more than Wisdom and hence the Sophi, or Wisemen of the Greeks were by them call’d μαγοι that is, Magicians; who being acquainted with many of the hidden Powers of Nature, directed them in such manner, as to produce Effects, whose Causes being unknown to the Vulgar, were attributed to Dæmons.
Hence the Art in process of Time came into Disrepute, and Magicians have been censur’d, as working by Compact with the Devil: But this is invidious; for in the Gospel we find, the Magi or Magicians, are said to come from the East to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we—are come to worship him. No body can imagine this to be understood of those that have been called Sorcerers, Wizards, Conjurers, Witches or Magicians, in the modern Sense of that Word[[133]]; for those who were familiar with the Devil, would scarce come to enquire after him, who came to destroy his Works.
[133]. Matt. ii. 1, 2.
The Notion of Witches in the Days of Ignorance and Superstition, was very prevailing in this Island, but of late Years has undergone a parliamentary Excommunication; though the Lancashire Witches, who are constituted of the fairer Part of the fairer Sex, triumph even over our Senators, and will maintain their fascinating Charms, while their rival Beauties, the Sun and Stars endure.
We read of a certain King of Egypt, who having assembled his Magical Priests without the City Memphis, caus’d them to enter where the People were gather’d, by Beat of Drum: All of them made some miraculous Discovery of their Magic and Wisdom. One had his Face surrounded with a Light, like that of the Sun, so bright that none could look earnestly upon him.
Another seem’d as if enrob’d with precious Stones of diverse Colours, red, green, yellow, or wrought with Gold.
A third came mounted on a Lion, compass’d with Serpents, like Girdles.
The next came in with a Pavilion, or Canopy of Light, distended over his Head.
Another entered surrounded with Flames of Fire, turning about him; so that none durst come near him.
After him appeared one with dreadful Birds, perching about his Head, and shaking their Wings like Vulturs and black Eagles.
The last made his Appearance with an Army in the Air, marching before him, of winged Serpents and terrible Personages.——In fine, every one did what was taught him by the Star he served; and, after all, the whole Scene was but an Apparition and Illusion, according to their own Confession to the King, when the Farce was over[[134]].——Something analogous to this are the Magick Lanthorns in our days.
[134]. This Passage is taken out of the Egyptian History of the Pyramids—by Murtadi the Arabian, printed at Tibe, a City in Arabia, 14th of Regebe, 992; which corresponds to July 22d, 1584; about 156 Years ago; translated into French, and into English, 1672.
In antient times, the Word Magician generally signified Men of Wisdom and Learning, i. e. of superior Knowledge in Things natural and divine, and more especially in that sort of Learning relative to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as we learn from Porphyry, Apuleius, and others. And seeing the inspired Apostle gives them that Name (Magicians) not as a Mark of Infamy, but a Title of Honour, therefore does the English Translation stile them Wisemen, such as the old Greeks called σοφοι, Sages of their Time[[135]]. How, and how far this Art is degenerated, I refer to the Judgment of the Learned: We see there are Revolutions in Words, as well as in Families and Kingdoms; a Magician being formerly a Wise-man, as well as a Knave an honest one. Sed tempora mutantur.
[135]. Boerhaave’s New Theory, p. 211.
I shall only add to the Aspick Subject, the Tribute of Veneration paid to this poisonous Animal in the Land of Egypt. The Historian speaks of a certain Person, who, in digging, happened unawares to cut an Asp with his Spade, and went mad upon it,—was taken into the House of Serapis, an Egyptian Idol,—the Relatives of the Patient praying the Spectrum of that Serpent might be destroyed,——which being accordingly done by Magick Art, the Man was cured.——By this we see, how highly Asps were venerated among the Egyptians, who not only suffer’d them to live, but to live in their Houses, where they were carefully fed, as Favourites of the Family[[136]]. And Queen Cleopatra’s Case was not singular, for the Persian Kings kept an exquisite Poison by them, made of the Dung of an Indian Bird, which would kill without putting them to pain, that they might use it themselves in case of any Disaster[[137]].
[136]. Circurantur cibo, cum infantibus vivunt, & crepitum digitorum vocata ex cavi prodeunt. Jonstonus, p. 16.
[137]. Atlas, Asia.
DEMOSTHENES, who slew his Soldier, when he was asleep, was a merciful Executioner; a kind of Punishment the Mildness of no Law has yet invented. It is strange that Lucan and Seneca made no discovery of it.
Sleep is a kind of Death, by which we may literally be said to die daily; and in this Sense, Adam may be said to die before his final Exit.
VIII. I now proceed to the Serpent Scytale; the Name is borrowed from the Greek Word σκυταλη, a Staff, or any thing like a Cylinder, of a long smooth round Form; the Body of this Serpent being in shape equally round, like a Rolling-Stone, with very little Variation in the Extremities of it.
Plate 2d.
It forms a beautiful Prospect, being an Aggregate of most charming Colours, (therefore call’d the Painted Serpent by Mantuanus.) It may be view’d without danger, because slow in its Motion. ’Tis an Error in Lucan to attribute its Slowness to a Design of enticing Spectators, if it be not Poetica Licentia.
When released from its Winter-Confinement, the first thing she does, says the Historian, is to refresh her languid Body with Fennel-Leaves; but does not tell us what is done, in case that Herb can’t be readily found. It must indeed be allowed, that wild Fennel is a common Herb of the Field, and well known and of Use in Physick[[138]]. The Poet observes, that no Snake casts her Coat in Winter, but the Scytale[[139]].
[138]. Ælian, Gyllii Accessio.
[139]. Et Scytale sparsis etiam nunc sola pruinis Exuvias positura suas.—Lucan’s Phars.
This Serpent being adorned with beautiful Colours, excuse a short Digression upon the Doctrine of Colours in Natural Bodies. Know then, Colours are the Children of Fire and Light.
I. Where there is Light, there is Fire; and Fire shews itself to be present by Light. The Sensation of Light is produced when the Particles of Fire, directed by the Action of the Sun, reach the Eye in right Lines. Now, Fire thus entering the Eye, gives a Motion to the optic Fibres at the bottom of the Eye, and thus excites the Idea of Light.
II. FIRE discovers itself by Colour; for all Colours depend upon Light, and Light depends upon Fire; and different Colours appear in Natural Bodies, as their Surfaces are disposed to reflect this or that sort of coloured Rays more than others. Colour is a Property inherent in Light.
Colours therefore are not connate with Natural Bodies, which are all of the same Hue in the dark. To this the Poet alludes, when he makes Darkness the Destruction of Colours[[140]].—Colours are only in the Rays of the Sun: In Natural Bodies is a Quality or Power to reflect the Light falling upon them, which striking the Eye, produces in the Spectator the Sensation of Colour.
[140]. Rebus nox abstulit atra colores.—Virgil.
Clouds often appear very beautifully coloured; they consist of aqueous Particles, between which Air is interspersed; therefore, according to the various Thickness of those aqueous Particles, the Cloud will be of a different Colour[[141]].
[141]. Boerhaave, Gravesand.
IX. AMPHISBÆNA Serpent, so called from αμφι & βαινω Biceps, a Monster with two Heads. This is a small and weak Creature, equal in Bulk to a little Finger, and about a Foot long, of a whitish or terraceous Colour; of the oviparous Family, of small Eyes, no otherways visible than the Prick of a little Needle; lives much under ground, and is often found by digging; feeds upon Ants. Under this Head, the Historian mentions three Serpents, viz.
The Brasilian, that has two Heads, and moves as a Crab[[142]].
[142]. Acosta.
The Taprobanensian, with four Heads; and he who believes it must have a four-headed Faith.
The Hungarian; of which elsewhere.
The same Historian adds, that the marine Amphisbæna, taken in the English Sea, has two Heads. Ibid. Pliny, Ælian, Lucan, Mantuan,—affirm it has two Heads; Matthiolus denies it, Hesychius is doubtful. Mention is made of a Serpent found near Chipping-Norton, not far from Oxford, having two Heads, and Faces like Women; one being shaped after the new Tyre of that Time; the other was habited after the old Fashion, and had great Wings resembling those of the Flinder-Mouse or Bat[[143]]. This happened in the Reign of Edward III.
[143]. Stow’s Annals, London, printed, 1631.
A Spanish Author says, that in Chiapa he found a two-headed Serpent, 18 Inches long, in the Form of a Roman T, and very venemous; it does not only kill, adds he, by its Bite, but if any tread upon that part of the Ground over which ’twas just gone, it proves fatal[[144]]. The Poet also subscribes to two Heads[[145]].——If this two-headed Serpent has slain its Thousands, there is a certain metaphorical three-headed Serpent on the Banks of Tyber, that has slain its Ten Thousands.
[144]. Antonio de Herrera’s History of America.
[145]. Et gravis ingenium surgens caput Amphisbæna.—Lucan, p. 270.
Perhaps the Reason of ascribing two Heads to this Serpent, might be, because it is said to poison by the Tail and Teeth. Others say, both Ends are so like in Figure and Bulk, that they are not easily distinguished.
It seems probable to me, that this Serpent, like some Insects or Worms, has a double Motion, antrorsum & retrorsum, which made some of the Antients conclude it had two Heads; one in the usual Situation, the other in the Extremity of the Cauda. Its Body is of equal Thickness, and recommended to the View by various and delightful Spots[[146]].
[146]. Conrad. Gesner. Ælian. Columella, lib. vi.
We read of this Serpent in Gothland, where it comes forth in the Spring before all other Serpents, being more able to encounter the cold Air[[147]]. Some Authors tell us, that its Skin wrapt about a Stick, drives away all Serpents; which I place among the Tales of Antiquity.
[147]. Olaus Magnus Hist. B. xxi.
This Serpent is found in the Lybian Deserts, and also in the Island of Lemnos, in the Ægean Sea. The Puncture made by its Wounds is so small, that it can scarcely be discerned, yet terminates in a dreadful Inflammation and a lingering Death.
ERASMUS was puzzled about the Sense of that Greek Proverb ὑδρος εν φιθω, hydrus in dolio, a Serpent in the Hogshead: The Meaning of it, said an Interpreter of Dreams, is this: A certain Person had a Vessel of Wine, that was constantly diminishing, tho’ carefully lock’d up; the Reason of which he could not account for, till he empty’d the Vessel, at the bottom of which he found a Serpent rioting in Wine[[148]].
[148]. Conradus Gesner.
Perhaps as good an Interpretation may be this, that there was Venom in the Cask (of which the Serpent was an Emblem) to all those who rioted in the Bowls of Excess. Not so, says a Son of Bacchus; for
The thirsty Earth soaks up the Rain,
And drinks, and gapes for Drink again.
The Sea itself, which one would think,
Should have but little need of Drink,
Drinks Ten thousand Rivers up.——
The busy Sun, and one would guess
By’s drunken fiery Face no less,
Drinks up the Sea.——
Fill up the Bowl then, fill it high,
Fill all the Glasses there, for why,
Should every Creature drink, but I?
Why, Man of Morals, tell me why?[[149]]
[149]. Cowley’s Anacreon.
Some of the Poets have thought this Amphisbæna to be the Hydra Lernæa, the many-headed Serpent, that was very terrible to the adjacent Country, and slain by Hercules: When one Head was cut off, many others sprung up; so that there was no way to destroy the Monster, but by cutting off all the Heads with one Stroke.
Tho’ there be no Amphisbænick Animals, there is some Resemblance of it in Plants, whose Cotyledon is always double, and in the common Centre of the two, is a Point or Speck, which is the Plantule, or the Tree in Embryo; which Plantule being acted on by the Earth, warmed by the Sun, begins to expand, and shoots its Root both upward and downward. Thus, in a Bean committed to the Ground, we soon see it to cleave into two Parts, and in the Fissure appears a little Speck, which sends out a Root downwards, and a Bud upwards.—A remarkable Phænomenon, says the Note on Boerhaave’s Theory.
X. Among Serpents, Authors place Dragons; Creatures terrible and fierce in Aspect and Nature. They are divided into Apodes and Pedates, some with Feet, and some without them; some are privileged with Wings, and others are destitute of Wings and Feet: Some are covered with sharp Scales, which make a bright Appearance in some Position. Some have observed, that about the Ganges, are Dragons whose Eyes sparkle like precious Stones.
They differ in external Form: The Draconopades are represented by a human Face, and sightly Countenance; the rest of the Body in a tortuous winding Shape. In one of Dr. Johnson’s Figures, a Dragon is made to appear like a Man’s Face, with a Grenadier’s Cap on the Head. Some differ in Colour, some are black in the upper Part of the Body, according to Philostratus; red, according to Homer; yellow, according to Pausanias; and Lucan makes it a golden Colour[[150]].
[150]. Philostratus de Vita Apol. lib. iii. cap. 2. Homer. Iliad, lib. 12. Lucan. Pharsal. in Jonstoni Historia Serpentum, p. 33, 34.
The same Historian observes, that in the Atlantick Mountains, they kill where they touch, and those that are in the Kingdom of Narsinga, and dwell in the Woods, kill all they meet. Ibid.[[151]]
[151]. Unde quidam in arbores & chamo dracones distinxere.
I presume, the Author means Narsinga, a potent Kingdom, bounded on the East with the Bay of Bengal, that noble Part of India, says Herbert[[152]]; where the Monarch is always attended with 1000 for his Guards, has 5 or 6000 Jesters, and reckons it one of his chief Titles to be the Husband of a Thousand Wives.
[152]. His Travels into Africa and Asia, the famous Empires of Persia and Indostan,—Oriental Islands.
Dragons are Inhabitants of Africa and Asia; those of India exceed most in Largeness and Longitude: In the Tower of London, is the Skin of one, which is of vast Bulk. In Æthiopia, they have no Name for Dragons, but Killers of Elephants, which is supposed to be the largest of Land-Animals.
Over the Water-gate in the City of Rhodes, there is set up the Head of a Dragon, which was 33 Foot long, that wasted all the Country, till it was slain by Deodate de Gozon, one of the Knights of St. John Baptist[[153]]. The Knights of that Order had frequently attack’d it, but in vain; for its Scales being proof against all their Arms, it destroyed so many of them, that the Grand-Master forbad them to engage the Monster any more.
[153]. Atlas Geog. Anatolia, p. 43, -4. From Tavernier and Du Mont.
GOZON, who, after several dangerous Onsets escaped with his Life, resolved to make another Trial by Stratagem; perceiving it was no where vulnerable but in the Eyes and Belly, contrived the Resemblance of a Dragon by a Machine of Pastboard, of equal Bulk with the Dragon, and by certain Springs made it leap like a true Dragon: Having trained up a Couple of fierce Dogs to attack it at the Belly, he went out privately one Morning, well-armed on a managed Horse with his Dogs, and rode up to the Den, from whence the Dragon leaped furiously at him: In the Encounter, the Dogs laid hold on his Belly, and forced him to lie down; upon which the valiant Knight alighted, thrust his great Sword several times into his Throat, and soon killed him: Upon which the Spectators drew near, and with great difficulty sever’d the Head from the Body, and lugged it into the Town in Triumph.
The Conqueror was degraded for the sake of Form, because he had violated the Grand-Master’s Order; but was immediately restored, and soon after was elected Grand-Master himself; he died in the Year 1335, and on his Tomb were engraven these Words, Draconis Extinctor; The Destroyer of the Dragon.
In the Life of Attilius Regulus (the Roman General in the War against the Carthaginians) is described a Dragon of prodigious Bulk near the River Bagrada, that annoyed all the Country round, without Remedy. Several Devices were formed to destroy it, but without effect, till the Military Possé was called in, who discharged the Engines of War against it with Success: And so great was this Deliverance, that an Ovation, or a small Triumph, was publickly made at Rome for the Victory.
XI. The Pythian Dragon, so called from its being the Guardian of the Delphick Oracle: Its Eyes are large and sharp, and the Body painted with Variety of Colours, as red, yellow, green and blue, and furnished with Scales that are resplendent, well compacted and hard. It has been called Deucalionæus, because in the Language of Ignorance, it was produced from the Mud left by the Deucalionian Deluge: a Serpent of prodigious Bulk.[[154]]
[154]. Jonstonus.
PYTHON is also taken for a prophetick Demon, by St. Luke[[155]].—As we went to Prayer, a certain Damsel possest with a Spirit of Divination, (having the Spirit of Pytho, according to the Greek) which brought her Masters much Gain by Sooth-saying, that is, by Predictions, telling of Fortunes. Python of the Greeks is supposed the Typhon of the Phenicians, and the Phœnician Typhon to be Ogg King of Bashan, and Apollo that slew it, to be Joshua. Apollo is called Pythius from this Serpent, or from some notorious Tyrant of that Name, slain by him, as the antient Geographer observes. So Gesner from Pausanias. The Priestess of Apollo, that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called Pythia and Pythonissa. This Pythonick Spirit among the Gentiles, was esteemed as a God, and by Juvenal is styled Vates, a Prophet.
[155]. Act. xvi. 16.—Πνευμα Πυθωνος.
The Priestess that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called Pythia, from Apollo Pythius, and must be a pure Virgin. Most of the Fathers of the Church were of opinion, that it was the Devil gave the Answers, which were generally dubious, a Sign of his Ignorance about Futurity.
One Œnomaus, a certain Pagan Philosopher, highly resenting it, that he had been so often befooled by the Oracles, speaks to Apollo thus—
“When we come to consult thee, either thou knowest Things to come or not. If thou knowest them, why dost not thou speak so as to be understood? If thou knowest not, why dost thou pretend to it? If Things necessarily come to pass, why dost thou amuse us with Ambiguities?[[156]]”
[156]. Eusebius.
F. BALTHUS, a learned Jesuit, and F. Bouchet, say there were real Oracles, and such that can never be attributed to Priests and Priestesses; and that the Devil still gives Oracles in the Indies, and that not by Idols, which would be liable to Imposture, but by the Mouths of Priests, and By-Standers; and that the Devil becomes mute, in proportion as the Gospel prevails.——
“It is generally believed among the more Learned, that the Pagan Oracles were mere Frauds and Impostures, and calculated to serve the political Views of Princes, and covetous Ends of Pagan Priests.”
According to the learned Bayle, they were meer human Artifices; and he is seconded by Vandale and Fontenelle. But to return to the Oracle at Delphos, which was very antient and much in vogue before the Trojan War: The Situation of the Place, where People were made to believe God spoke, was at the Mouth of a certain Cavern, whence they received their Intelligence. The Prophetess sat upon a Tripodium, a three-footed Stool, assisted in her Function by divers Priests.
Under her Seat, ’tis said, that some time there appeared a Dragon, through whose Throat Responses were audibly deliver’d, with a loud and strong Voice: According to Eusebius, a Serpent rolled itself about the Tripod, on which the Priest sat.
Of all Oracles, that of Apollo Pythius at Delphos, in the Ægean Sea, was the most celebrated, and consulted as the dernier Resort by the Princes of those Times; yea, all the Greeks resorted thither for Counsel in Matters of Importance. At the first opening of that Oracular Office, Answers were given to the Querist in Verse; but upon People’s ridiculing the Poorness of the Verification, the Oracle fell to Prose. ’Tis strange, that what they made a God, could not make a good Verse, but not strange to see the old Serpent adhering to its first Scheme of Politicks, by making the weaker Vessel the Vehicle to convey his strong Delusions to the World.
Some of these Draconick Serpents excel in the Sensations of Hearing and Seeing, as well as in the Art of Killing; and therefore a Dragon was made the Conservator of their Treasures and Curiosities; e. g. Mauritania in Africa, was famous for the Gardens of the Hesperides (so called from three Sisters and Daughters of King Hesperius) that produced Golden Apples, and were guarded by a Dragon, which Hercules having killed or charm’d into a profound Sleep, he robbed the Golden Orchard.
The Rod of Moses, ’tis said, was turned into a Serpent. The Syriack, Arabick, and Septuagint Translations, say, twas turned into a Dragon; and so the Rods of the Magicians became Dragons.
XII. The Basilisk or Cockatrice, is a Serpent of the Draconick Line, the Property of Africa, says Ælian, and denied by others: In shape, resembles a Cock, the Tail excepted. Authors differ about its Extraction; the Egyptians say, it springs from the Egg of the Bird Ibis; and others, from the Eggs of a Cock: Other Conjectures about its Descent, being as ridiculous, I forbear to mention them. Nor are they agreed whether it more inclines to the black or yellow Colour; nor are their Sentiments less various about its Stature.
It is gross in Body, of fiery Eyes, and sharp Head, on which it wears a Crest, like a Cock’s Comb; and has the Honour to be stiled Regulus by the Latins, the Little King of Serpents; and ’tis generally supposed to be terrible to them. The Sight of this Animal, and Sound of his Voice, puts them to flight, and even to over-run their Prey[[157]]: Yea, Tradition adds, that his Eyes and Breath are killing; that is, I presume, when he grasps the Spoil. Several dreadful things are attributed to his venemous Qualities, so sing the Poets[[158]].
[157]. Sibilo ejus reliquos terreri & prædam derelinquere.
Plate 3d.
Tam teter vacuas odor hinc exhalat in auras,
Atque propinquantes penetrant non segniter artus.
Nican.
Ante venena nocens, late sibi submovet omne
Vulgus, & in vacua regnat Basiliscus arena.
Lucan. 270.
According to Pliny and other antient Historians, this Serpent in its Motion, inclines to the Erect; it goes half upright, the middle and posterior parts of the Body only touching the Ground. The Venom of the Basilisk is said to be so exalted, that if it bites a Staff, ’twill kill the Person that makes use of it; but this is Tradition without a Voucher[[159]].
[159]. Ælian. Gyllii Accessio, cap. xviii. p. 247. Jonstoni Historia Natural. Serp. p. 34, 35.
The reason why this Serpent is dubb’d King, is not because ’tis larger in bulk than others of the Fraternity, or because it wears a Crown, or because that Title seems to be recognized by a divine Prophet, who speaking of Ahaz and his Son Hezekiah, says, Out of the Serpent’s Root shall come forth a Cockatrice, and his Fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent. The Hebrew expresses it by a word, that Signifies a Prince or King, but not with a View to Empire over the serpentine Race.
But ’tis most probable, that the royal Stile is given to this Serpent, because of its majestic Pace, which seems to be attended with an Air of Grandeur and Authority. It does not, like other Serpents, creep on the Earth; which if it did, the sight of it would not be frightful, but moving about, in a sort of an erect Posture, it looks like a Creature of another Species, therefore they conclude ’tis an Enemy. Serpents are for Uniformity, therefore can’t endure those that differ from them in the Mode of Motion.
’Tis said of this Creature, that its Poison infects the Air to that Degree, that no other Animal can live near it, according to the Tradition of the Elders famous for magnificent Tales. These little Furioso’s are bred in the Solitudes of Africa, and are also found in some other Places, and every where are terrible Neighbours.
The crown’d Basilisk leads me to Ovid, who, speaking of Man’s erect Posture, says ’tis a Mark of Distinction due to the Excellencies of the human Mind:
A Creature of a more exalted kind
Was wanting yet; and then was Man design’d,
Conscious of Thought, of more capacious Breast.——
2. And partly as an Ensign of Royalty, some Characters whereof Naturalists have observed in some other petty Principalities; such as the Crown on the Dolphin, Diadem on the Basilisk, the Lion’s stately Mane, which serves as a Collar of Honour.——
But Man, being vested with an universal Monarchy, walks upon the Earth, like a Master in his own House.
XIII. The Cæcilia or Typhlinus, the blind Worm, as the Greek word imports; not that it wants Eyes, but because they are so little, that he must be furnish’d with good Optics that can discern them: And the Ear also is as remarkably dull, therefore call’d by the Greeks κωφιας[[160]]; of a brown Colour, full of Spots, variegated: The Belly is blackish, the Neck sky-colour’d, garnish’d with certain black Spots: Head like a Lamprey, and is as free from Poison: Little Teeth, a forked Tongue, and may be handled without hurt[[161]].
[160]. Quasi surdaster, quod hebetis sit auditus.
[161]. Nicander calls it απημαντον, quod nullam noxam inferat. Jonstonus, p. 19.
This Serpent seems to resemble those People which we call Myops, i. e. Mouse-eyed, or purblind, which happens when the Eye is so convex, that the Rays of Light unite, before they come to the Retina, which makes the Eye also look small, whence the Name[[162]].
[162]. From τυφλοω excæco, κωφοω, exsurdo.
The Cæcilian Serpent is about a Foot long, and distinguishable from our common Serpents by the Form of its Body, which is almost of the same Crassitude, excepting two or three Inches at the extremity of the Tail. Conradus Gesner tells us, his Wife struck one of these Serpents on the Head, when ’twas pregnant, and it immediately cast forth its young[[163]].
[163]. Gesner, p. 36. Ælian.
XIV. The Cencris, or Cencrina is a spotted Serpent, and very venemous; denominated from Milium, a small Grain call’d Millet-feed; to which Historians compare the Spots wherewith this Serpent is adorn’d: For the same reason, a certain Species of the Herpes, that is, a cutaneous Distemper, which is a kind of spreading Inflammation, (and is like Millet-feed on the Skin) is called Miliary: And by some, this is called the Miliary Serpent[[164]].
[164]. Ab aliquibus Miliaris appellatur. Jonstonus, p. 20.
This Serpent is compared by Nicander to a Lion; either for Cruelty in thirsting after Blood, or for its Courage, which appears in all its Attacks. How furious in all its Wars, offensive and defensive! always fighting, Lion-like, with an erected Tail: Which leads me to a Digression about the Turkish Standard, which is a Horse-Tail erected: The Original of that Custom was this, viz. One of the Turkish Generals having his Standard taken in a Battle with the Christians, and perceiving his Men discouraged by the loss of it, he cut off a Horse-Tail, and fastening it to the top of a Half-pike, advanced it on high, crying out, This is the great Standard, let those that love me follow it: Upon which his Men rallied, fought like Lions, and obtained the Victory[[165]].
[165]. Tavernier.
But to return to the Serpent, which moving in a direct Line, goes fast, but being of great Bulk, can’t suddenly wind about[[166]]: Circumvolution is the way to avoid its Menaces. ’Tis commonly found in the Island of Lemnos (the old Dipolis, and now the Stalimene of the Turks) and also in Samothracia, an Island in the Archipelago, a Province anciently famous for the Dii Cabiri, that is, certain Gods worshipped by the Samothracians and Phenicians, and had in such high Veneration, that it was a Crime to mention Names so sacred among the People[[167]]. Some say they were God’s Ministers, others think they were Devils.
[166]. Et semper recto lapsurus limite cencris. Lucan. Pharsal. p. 269.
[167]. Bochart Geogr. Sacra, lib. i. cap. 12.
XV. The Acontia[[168]], called by the Latins, Serpens Jacularis, and by some, the Flying Serpent, because of the Celerity of its Motion. In Lemnos ’tis call’d Sagittarius, the Bowman or Archer. By the modern Greeks, Saeta, a Dart; for it flies like an Arrow at its Prey[[169]]. A certain Person in Cato’s Army call’d Paulus, was slain, not by the Poison, but the Violence of its Blow[[170]]: Probably on the lateral part of the Scull.
[168]. Απο του ακοντος, quod, jaculi instar, se vibret.
Rumpat & Serpens iter institutum
Si per obliquum similis sagittæ
Terruit mannos.
——immisit (jaculum vocat Africa,) serpens
Perque caput Pauli transacta tempora fugit
Nil ibi virus egit: rapuit cum vulnere fatum.
Lucani Pharsalia, lib. ix. p. 273.
Authors are not agreed about its Dimensions. Ambrosinus speaking of one he had seen in the Bononian Musæum, says, ’tis about the thickness of a Staff, and about three Foot long: It is found in Egypt, its Wounds are dreadful, being attended with Putrefaction and Defluxion of the Flesh.
That which Bellonius saw, was three Palms long, or sixteen Inches and a Finger’s Breadth. N. B. Palmus stands for two different Measures; Palmus major contains twelve Fingers; Palmus minor, four Inches.
It lies in wait under Bushes, from whence it rushes out unawares, and flies like an Arrow at Passengers: Before it leaps at the Prey, it lies on the Ground, and turns itself round, to give the greater spring to the Motion, by which she’ll do execution at twenty Cubits distance[[171]].
[171]. Jonstonus, p. 20, 21.
These nimble Leapers are found among the West-Indians, especially in Hispaniola, where there are little Serpents in green Apparel, that hang by the Tail on the Branches, from whence they suddenly leap upon their Prey. Among the Sabæans are some cloathed in red, four Inches long, that thus leap upon Men unawares; and hurt, not only by striking, but touching.
This Serpent resembles the Ash in Colour, inclining to the white. It traverses the Lybian Provinces, where it makes travelling dangerous: It is also found in the Island of Rhodes; an Island on which, the Poets tell us, Golden Showers are rain’d, and where the Air is never so clouded, as to hinder the Light of the Sun. It appears also in Norway, according to Olaus Magnus.
One tells us, that he was inform’d by one John Vitus, a learned Hungarian, that there were in that Country little Serpents about six Inches long, and without a Tail, therefore called by the Vulgar, the curtail’d Serpent, the whole Body is much of an equal Thickness; and these, upon View of their Prey, leap upon it with the Swiftness of an Arrow[[172]].
[172]. Conrad. Gesner. in Verbum.
XVI. The Druina Serpent from δρυς, an Oak, by Scaliger called Querculus; it takes its Name from the Oak, in whose hollow places it seems to reside; and to which, it retires for Refuge, when assaulted by Hornets.——Some credulous Authors have said, that these Serpents take up their hybernal Lodgings about the Roots of the Beach-trees, and by Virtue of the Warmth, which those Roots derive from them, that Tree, so enhappy’d, flourishes all Winter.
This Serpent is of the amphibious kind, and a most venemous Creature, therefore rang’d with the first Order of the serpentine Race. ’Tis of monstrous bulk[[173]], guarded by a rough squammatick Armour, in the Cavities of which, ’tis said, little Flies build their Nests. Whether it appears in white or blue Habit, is not material, nor do I see what Honour it gets by wearing a Coronet on its Head.
[173]. It is a Load for a Porter.
In the Language of Tradition, to tread upon it, will cause an Excoriation in the Foot, (tho’ no Wound be given) and a Tumor in the Leg; yea, adds the Traditionist, the Hands that attend the Patient, will be in danger of losing their Skin: But he who believes all the Fables of Antiquity, is in more danger of losing his Reason.
The Druinical Serpent goes under various Denominations. ’Tis said to follow the Acontia in Authors, because its Figure exactly quadrates with Bellonius’s dart Serpent; and Scaliger was in the same Sentiment[[174]].
[174]. Jonstonus, Articul. xiii. p. 21.
But I shall only mention that of Chersydrus, from Nicander in Jonstonus, p. 28. or Chelydrus, called by some a Sea-Snail; which the learned Sir Hans Sloane describes thus——
“That it is more flat than most of the cochlean Marines, consisting only of Circumvolutions, round the Axis of the Shell; of a fine purple Colour.”
He calls it Cochlea Marina[[175]], and not without reason, because of their difference in Magnitude.
[175]. His Voyage to Jamaica, vol. i. p. 34.
The terrestrial Druina lives upon Frogs, and other Insects; many of them are found in Africa-Interior, and the Hellespont by Constantinople. It is a fetid Animal, and sends forth an ill Scent, especially when its Body is wounded[[176]].
[176]. Ælian. Gyllius. Gesner.
This Serpent exceeds most in bulk, and loudness in hissing, which resembles the Cry of Sheep and Goats, ibid. Gyllius makes the Druina to be the Chelydrus, described by the Poet, who makes it a Calabrian[[177]]: Of which, more in another place.
——Nidore chelydros
Est etiam ille malus colubris in saltibus anguis
Postquam exhausta palus.—Virg. Georg. l. iii. This is applied also to the Hydrus.
XVII. The Elops or Elaphis of the Antients, which some confound with the Cæcilia, as Jonstonus observes: It is of the amphibious Sort, and known at Lemnos, where ’tis call’d Laphiati by the Natives. In Aldrovandus’s Study, Ambrosinus saw the Picture of this Serpent, which was about three Foot long; the Belly is of a yellow Colour, the Back is brown, and distinguishable by three black Lines[[178]].
[178]. Ray.
There is a marine Elope, an Animal counted sacred by the Poets, a Set of merry Mortals, famous for turning every thing into a God, or Ridicule. The Historian mentions a certain Fish so called, that upon any loud Noise made on Land near the Shore, would immediately hasten towards the Place, as if it would see who durst rival Triton in Sound; Triton, Herald of Neptune, Sovereign of the Sea.
XVIII. The Pareas or Parvas, is a Serpent of a fiery Colour, sharp Eyes, wide Mouth, two Feet situated near the Tail, by which its Motion is guided[[179]]: It is called the Serpent of Esculapius, being of a gentle, innocent, friendly Nature. In Italy they frequent Houses, and are no more dangerous than common Eels; and if provoked to exercise their Teeth, there is nothing venemous in the Bite. This is supposed by some to be the Italian Baron: One of its commendable Properties is, that it devours poisonous Serpents; and therefore is sacred to the Mysteries, and highly esteem’d in the Temple of Dionysius.
[179]. Et contentus, iter cauda sulcare Pareas. Lucan. Phars. 270.
Gesner[[180]], from Albertus says, it goes as it were upright, on its Tail, not perpendicularly upon the sharp End, but on that Part of the Body joined to the Tail: It is bred in Syria, Alexandria, and in the East, &c. These Serpents are known also in Spain and other temperate Regions, and every where esteemed Enemies to hurtful Serpents, and Friends to Mankind; therefore were consecrated to the divine Esculapius, that great and glorious Exemplar of Humanity.
[180]. Quasi totus erectus graditur super caudam. l. v. p. 65.
XIX. The Dipsas or Dipsacus is a little venemous Reptile of the Aspick kind[[181]], less than a Viper, but kills sooner; and is most remarkable in this, that when it bites, the Poison brings an unquenchable Thirst on the Person affected, who finding no Relief, runs to the Water, and drinks till he bursts asunder[[182]].
[181]. Some make it of the viperine Sort. One calls it, Vipera siticulosa. Vipera sitem facientes. Avicenna. Conrad. Gesner, p. 42. Inter aspidem & viperam, says another. Ibid.
[182]. Accessio Gyllii, cap. 47.
The Poetick Historian observes, how Aulus, an Ensign-bearer in the Roman Army in Africa, was slain by this Serpent; at first he felt little or no Pain from the Bite, but as soon as it began to operate, he was immediately scorch’d to death[[183]]. Galen calls this Serpent Diabetes, and Ægineta Dipsacus, from the incurable Thirst that accompanies its Bite: By others ’tis called Situla, because of the burning Heat caused by the Wound.
——Sanguinis Aulam.
Torta caput retro Dipsas calcata momordit.
Vix dolor—— p. 270.
It is about a Cubit in Length, lives in salt Marshes and shallow Waters; it dwells in Arabia, Rhodes, Africa, especially in Lybia, where some Branches of the venemous Family live on Camel’s Flesh, and Locusts dried in the Sun. The more hot the Climate, the more terrible the Wound, as it is in that hot Country, where they have no Springs, but a few salt Wells, which increase the animal Appetite of Thirst. The learned Venetian makes the Serpent Dipsas an Hieroglyphick of illicit Love, the Poison of which will, without timely Repentance, excite the Thirst of Dives, who wanted a Drop of Water to cool his scorched Tongue[[184]].
[184]. Joannis Pierii Valeriani Bellunensis Hieroglyphica, inter Collectanea, p. 34. Titulus, Amoris ignes.
XX. Common Snake. These Serpents in their Summer-rambles haunt among Bushes, mossy Grounds, uliginous and unfrequented Situations. In a sultry Day they may be seen basking themselves in the Sun, near their Apartments: The Sight of a Person puts them to flight; and upon a close Pursuit of them, they make a Stand, raise up their Heads to a considerable Height, and oppose the Enemy with a loud and angry Hiss. No Danger is apprehended from their Bite, and they are handled with Impunity.
This Species of Serpents resembles the Esculapian, that has been fed in some Families; and when provoked to use the Teeth, the Danger is no more than that from a Bee, whose Weapons are defensive, and not employed without Provocation: In Winter they retire into subterraneous Spaces, where they lie dormant, till the vernal Sun invites them out.
Though they propagate as Vipers, it does not appear that they sit on their Eggs, as most oviparous Animals do; for we often find a Brood of young Serpents in old Hedges and Dunghills, and no visible Sign of a common Passage to and from the Nest.
XXI. The Elephantia Serpents are those whose Wounds cast People into a Leprosy or Roughness of Skin, like that of an Elephant: Hence Leprosy proceeding from inward Disorders, is call’d Elephantia or Elephantiasis, which is a cutaneous Disease, makes the Skin scurfy and rough, in Colour resembling that of an Animal, that in Bulk and Intelligence is superior to all four-footed Beasts.
Elephants in India are said to be about 12 Foot high, and of a Mouse-colour, the Skin not only rough, but hard, so hard, that it is not penetrable by a Sword; their Eyes like those of Swine; two Teeth hang out beyond the rest, which are Ivory.
A memorable Instance of this gigantick Creature’s Understanding, we had a few Years ago at Newcastle in Staffordshire, where a Man travelling with an Elephant for a Show, one Morning conducting that Creature to water, happened to pass by a Taylor’s Shop, that was working at an open Window, and so near it, that the Taylor had the Courage to prick him with his Needle: The Beast did not then seem to resent the Affront, but when he returned from the Water, which he having artfully muddled, took into his Trunk; as he came back by the Taylor’s Window, spouted it in his Face, which very much disobliged a Piece of Scarlet-cloth on his Table.
Plate 4th.
That Elephants are subject to Wrath and Revenge, is evident from other Instances: e. g. We read of an Elephant, that when he was brought into a certain Theatre, saw, as he pass’d along, a Keeper of wild Beasts, sitting in the Market-place, whom he suddenly killed: And that the occasion of this Revenge was, because the said Keeper about ten Years before had struck him with a Sword in that same Place[[185]].
[185]. Michael Glycas’s Annal. par. 1. in the Memoirs of the Royal Society, vol. v, vi. p. 280, 281. ibid. p. 281.
And Acosta writes, that a Soldier in the Town of Cochine, had thrown the Kernel of a Nut at an Elephant, which the Animal took up and carefully hid: Some Days after, the Elephant seeing the said Soldier pass by, threw it in his Face, and went away leaping and dancing. Ibid.
In that same Town, another Soldier, meeting an Elephant and his Keeper, would not give way to them: Whereupon the Keeper complained to the Elephant of the Affront, who some days after, standing on the River Mangata, which runs through the Town, and seeing that sturdy Soldier stand idle, ran hastily towards him, lifted him upon his Trunk, and plunged him several Times in the River; after which, he drew him out, and left him where he found him. Ibid.
XXII. The Scorpion is one of the Inhabitants of the World in Miniature; though a little Insect, yet is reckoned to be one of the chiefest among stinging Animals, whose Poison in different Regions is less or more dangerous, as it is exalted by various Degrees of Heat. It has eight Legs, and two large Claws, resembling those of a Lobster, and a Body like a Crab or Craw-fish: They are of various Colours, as red, white, yellow, black: They differ also in their Size and Kinds, as the marine, terrestrial, reptile, winged, hurtful and innocent.
Some are of the Bigness and Length of a Man’s Finger, not much longer than a Beetle or a black Fly: Those known to us are of a brown Colour, the Back composed of Joints resembling those of a Crab, but more crustaceous.
Authors differ about the Tail, whether it be knotty or not; but all agree, that it is furnished with a terrible Sting, worse than the knotted Whip. Many Places produce Scorpions of the minute Sort, not much exceeding the Length of a large Bean.
Others are more bulky, as those at Jerusalem, and all about Syria, not unlike our little fluvial Crabs for Bigness, which they call Gambari.
In the East-Indies are large Scorpions of the winged Kind; so in Egypt, where it is reported they are armed with two Stings[[186]].
[186]. Conradus Gesner in Verbum, p. 4.
It is observable, these large Scorpions taking their Flight against the Wind, sometimes drop down, and so are taken by the Country People, and perhaps sent to scorpionize other Kingdoms.
The Sea-scorpion is a flying Animal, and of a red Colour, whose Flesh is good, and much better than what they call Scorpœna, that affects muddy Water and moorish Habitations.
There is a vast Spread of these venemous Animals over the World, both of the winged and creeping Kind, in the Eastern and Southern Climates. Some of them move with Tails somewhat erected, others trailing on the ground; and are thought to be more dangerous than the former: The Coal-black Scorpion is accounted the most hurtful; ’tis said, that in many Places in Persia, the Inhabitants dare not sleep in Ground-rooms, for fear of these little plaguy Creatures, the most terrible of all Night-walkers: Of which more elsewhere.
A certain Historian informs us of stimulating Scorpions that infest Cashan in Parthia: They are of small Size, not strong in Body, but very terrible in their Wounds, there being the greatest Malignity in their Stings; upon which is grafted this proverbial Curse in that Nation, May a Scorpion of Cashan sting thee[[187]]: But Chardin, Tavernier, and others, place Cashan in Persia,
“where they are very much infested with Scorpions at all Seasons, but especially when the Sun is in that Sign, which is one of the twelve Signs in the Zodiack; so that ’tis become, says another Historian, a Curse, May the Scorpions of Cashan sting thy Gulls.”
This occasions every one to be provided with sovereign Remedies against them, which is a Piece of Copper-money they put upon the Wound, take it off 24 Hours after, and apply a Plaister of Honey and Vinegar. The Holstein Ambassadors say they are very black, of the Length and Thickness of a Man’s Finger, and run faster than Crab-fishes, with their Tails always erected[[188]].
[187]. Herbert’s Travels, Book ii. p. 13.
[188]. Duke of Holstein’s Ambassadors Travels into Persia, sparsim.
We read of a certain Emperor of Persia, who designing to make a Tour into Media, durst not undertake the Journey, for the vast Quantity of Scorpions lying in the Road: So that he was obliged to detach a great Number of stout Fellows to destroy those pestiferous Animals, promising a superior Reward to them that kill’d most: Till this Execution was over, he durst not venture his dignified Carcass abroad. The Scythian Scorpions are of the large Size, and terrible when they shoot their Stings.
In Madagascar, a large African Island, are several Sorts of Scorpions, particularly Water-Scorpions, that lie in the Marshes and standing Waters, which are very mischievous, killing Dogs and Beasts, and then sucking their Blood. There is another Sort of Scorpions with a great round black Belly, that are very dangerous; for those whom they strike immediately swoon, and some for two Days are weak, and cold as Ice. The only Remedy they have, is that used against Serpent’s Wounds, viz. to set the Patient by a great Fire, and giving him Antidotes to expel the Poison, which proves a Cure[[189]].
[189]. Atlas Geograph. Asia, from La Croix.
In Italy, Land-Scorpions are call’d Scurtificio, because they have their Poison nel-pizzo, in the Extremity of their Tail. Among the Germans, pizzo is sharp, as spits als een naalde, pointed as a Needle: The Country people bring them in Sack-fuls to Florence, and take them out with naked Hands, as if they were so many Eels, which supposes them to be of the innocent Kind, like those white Scorpions in Pharos, a little Island in the Mouth of Nilus, where there is plenty of these pacifick Animals, who offer no Violence to their Neighbours. Mention is made of other Provinces where they live and hurt no body[[190]].
[190]. Fran. Redi opusculorum, pars prior.
By the Spaniards the Scorpion is call’d Alaicran, from an Island in America, called the Island of Scorpions, for the numerous Multitude that ravage the Place. In Brasil is a vast Number of Scorpions, and some four or five Foot long, in Shape like those of Europe; but not so venemous: Some of them chuse to kill themselves rather than die by the Hands of an Enemy. A certain Gentleman who made the Trial observes, that a Scorpion being surrounded with a Circle of burning Coals, chose to sting itself to Death rather than be burnt.
In Ceylon in the East-Indies, they have many Species of Serpents; as,
XXIII. The Pimbera Serpent, whose Body is said to be as big as a Man’s Middle, and in Length proportionable. The Creatures of this Kind secure their Prey, even horned Beasts (which sometimes are pretty large) by a sort of a Peg, or pointed Hook, that grows upon the Extremity of the Tail: They are slow in Motion, and therefore skulk in hollow Places; and when they have taken the Spoil, tho’ horned, they swallow it alive, and whole; which often proves fatal, because the Horns may gore the Belly. More, further on.
XXIV. The Noya Serpent is another ill-natur’d Indian, about four Foot long, will stand with its Body half upright two or three Hours together, thereby displaying an Air of Majesty: The Inhabitants call it the King’s Snake.
Their Poison in that Part of the Country operates variously: Some after they are bitten, fall into a profound Sleep, and without speedy Help die in about six Hours time: Others grow distracted, and if neglected die in twenty-four Hours, and bleed at all the Pores of the Body, and are irrecoverable: Of which before[[191]].
[191]. Atlas Geogr. Asia.
XXV. The Polonga Serpent is five or six Foot long, and a most venemous Creature, destroying all manner of Animals that fall within its Circuit, as well as Men, Women and Children. When the Noya and Polonga Serpents happen to meet, a bloody Battle ensues; they fight till one be kill’d, and then the Conqueror eats up the slain.
XXV. The Cobres Capellos, Sea-serpents from eight to ten Yards long, are most dangerous Beasts and frequently kill People in that Country[[192]].
[192]. Ibid. from Baldeus.
When Alexander was in the East-Indies, he and his Macedonians were strangely alarm’d by an Army of Serpents that sallied upon ’em from the Woods, which would soon have destroy’d them, but for the Humanity of a Native, who directed them to a certain Herb that cured their Wounds, and saved them from Ruin[[193]]. The same Historian adds, that in those great Deserts, frequent and terrible Scuffles happened between Elephants and Serpents about Water, when they met at a Spring, and it so fell out some time, that both perish’d; for the Serpent roll’d it self about the Elephant’s Leg by several Folds, who finding himself wounded, falls down, and in falling often crushes his Enemy to death. Ibid.
[193]. Diodor. Siculus.
In America is a vast variety of Serpents, and some of prodigious Dimensions; in particular, they are very numerous and large in Cordillera, i. e. Andes, or high Mountains of Chile, which Mountains, Antonio de Herrera calls a Prodigy of Nature, not to be match’d in the kind: They are two Chains of high Mountains, about 1500 Leagues in length: In that spacious Region are Adders red as blood, seven or eight Foot long, which in the Night appear like burning Coals, but not so dangerous as other Serpents, that are Imps of Darkness. Acosta and other Writers tell us, that the Devil appear’d among the Americans in the shape of a Serpent.
There are so many Sorts, says Nieuhoff, that the Brasilians reckon up no less than thirty-two, most of which are here accounted for.
XXVII. The Caudisonant, or Rattle-snake, is a large Species of the Viper, and in its exterior Form every way similar, the rustling Tail excepted; it moves with as much Agility as if supply’d with Wings, called therefore the Flying-snake: It has small Eyes, and four Teeth longer than the rest, of white Colour, and sharp, like Thorns; the Head is guarded with small Scales, the Back with larger and thicker Armour; the Tail is composed of several loose bony Articulaments that make a roaring Sound, loud enough to be heard at a distance; and therefore called the Bell-Snake.
It is common in Virginia, where it appears to be from three to four Foot long, and reckoned to be very poisonous; but scarcely hurts any, unless provoked; and when offended, like the God of War, makes directly at the Enemy, without dread of Consequences.
In the History of Peru, an Account is given of a young Woman who was wounded by a Rattle-snake, and died on the Spot, before any Relief could be had; and when they came to take up the Corpse, the Flesh came off her Bones; so speedily did the violence of the Poison dissolve the structure of the Body.
The method of killing this Snake, is thus given by Captain Silas Taylor, viz. Of the Leaves of Dittany of Virginia (i. e. wild Penny-royal) bruis’d, we took, says he, and having fasten’d them at the end of a cloven Stick, we held it to the Nose of the Rattle-snake, who by turning and wriggling, labour’d hard to avoid it; but was kill’d with it in less than half an Hour’s time, and as is supposed by the meer Scent of that Vegetable[[194]]. This was done A. D. 1657, in July, at which Season those Creatures are reputed to be in the greatest Vigour for their Poison: It is also remarkable, that in those Places where this wild Penny-royal grows, none of these Snakes are observed to come[[195]].
[194]. Regnault, vol. ii. from Journ. des Scav. 1666. p. 113. Lowthorp’s Abridg. of Philos. Transact. vol. ii. p. 811.
[195]. Ibid.
The bruised Leaves of the Virginian Dittany are very hot, and biting upon the Tongue: Probably the strong Smell of it might stop the Passages of Respiration in those Animals, or ferment with the Blood, so as to suffocate them. In Gresham College at London may be seen fifteen Skins of Rattle-snakes checker’d——Some appear in ash colour: Several Rattles of those Snakes, most of them composed of above ten Joints.
XXVIII. The Salamander is an amphibious Serpent, very much spotted; superior in Bulk to common Lizards. The Land-Salamander is a little poisonous Reptile, that resembles the green Lizard, but more gross in Body; and is found in Germany and other Places.
CONRADUS Gesner, says he saw one of ’em on the Alps perfectly black, with a short Tail: When wounded, a kind of milky Liquid runs out. In Germany, are several great Woods, where black Salamanders have been seen; Teste Matthiolo[[196]].
[196]. Jonstonus de Quadrupedibus, p. 137.
This little strange Animal affects moist, cold and solitary Habitations. In some parts of Germany great numbers of them have been found in a Body piled up, one upon another: They are of the oviparous kind, and propagate their Species by Eggs, the common Semen of Fowls and Insects.
They are Enemies to Frogs and the Tortoise, and feed on little small Insects; and when they have Access to Honey and Milk, they never want a Feast.
It is of a poisonous Nature, and many have suffer’d by its Biting; so says Pliny, with whom agree Nicander, Aëtius, and Abensinæ.
GESNER is in a contrary Sentiment, and says he had domestick Salamanders, that offered no violence with their Teeth without Provocation. Jonstonus adds, that in Germany there appeared no ill Effects of its Bite; but in France its Wounds were of a most deadly Nature, as appears by a Saying in that Kingdom. viz. That a Man bit by a Salamander, should have as many Physicians to cure him, as the Salamander has Spots, which are numerous[[197]].
[197]. ——tot medicis indigere quot maculas bestia habet, proverbio jactant. Jonstonus de Quadrupedibus, p. 137.
The Aquatic Salamander is not very unlike the former, unless it be in Colour and Figure; some with a Tail turn’d up, others with a flat Tail, prominent in the middle: There are various sorts of them; one of which appears in the form of a Turbot, whose Eggs are as large as Garden-pears.
When upon Land their Mouth will not open, unless it be by Force, or they be cast into a Vessel of Water: When put upon Salt, they move the Tail and die; their Skin is close compacted, and not penetrable by a Sword; and ’tis said that Swine’s Flesh is Poison to them[[198]].
[198]. Jonstonus de Quadruped. p. 138.
The common Report is, that the Salamander is able to live in the Fire, which is a vulgar Error: The Hieroglyphick Historian observes, that upon Trial made, it was so far from quenching it, that it consum’d immediately[[199]]. It is true, that Newts (or Water-lizards) Frogs, Snails, and such icy Animals, will endure the Fire for a longer time than others will, by reason of an extraordinary degree of Coldness, which dissipates and scatters the Flame for a little time.
[199]. Joannis Pierii Hierogl. cap. 21-26. p. 195-6, 7.
I have read an Experiment made upon a Salamander, that was thrown into the Fire, and there came from it a sort of gelid, moist, viscous Humour, which resisted the Power of Fire for a little time; but those Exhalations being dried up, was soon consum’d. In the Philosophical Transactions, we have another Instance, which seems to carry the matter further.
M. STENO writes from Rome, that a Knight called Corvini, had assured him, that having cast a Salamander (brought to him out of the Indies) into the Fire, the Animal thereupon swelled presently, and then vomited store of thick slimy Matter, which did put out the neighbouring Coals, to which the Salamander retired immediately, putting them out also in the same manner as they rekindled; and by this means saved his Life about two Hours, and afterwards lived nine Months; that he had kept it eleven Months, without any other Food but what it took by licking the Earth, on which it moved, and on which it had been brought out of the Indies, which at first was cover’d with a thick Moisture, but being dried afterwards, the Urine of the Animal served to moisten the same: Being put upon Italian Earth, it died within three days after[[200]].
[200]. Lowthorp’s Abridgement, v. ii. p. 816.
As to the Possibility of the thing; I make no doubt but he, who made Water the Habitation of Fish, can make Fire to be the Residence of another sort of Beings. The Sun, which is the Centre of our planetary System, for aught we know, may be the Seat of glorious Inhabitants; or, as others conjecture, the Place of future Misery.
Upon the whole, the Salamander being of a mucous, slimy, and cold Body, will, like Ice, soon extinguish a little Fire, but will be as soon consum’d by a great Fire; therefore it was no Absurdity in Galen, when, as a sceptical Medicine, he recommended the Ashes of a Salamander.
The like Humidity is observable in Water-Lizards, especially if their Skins be prick’d: Yea, Frogs, Snails, White of Eggs, will soon quench a lesser Coal. We read of incombustible Cloth, (Linnen Paper,) made from a Flaxen-Mineral, call’d Ασβεστος by the Greeks, and Linum vivum by the Latins.
Plate 5th
This Asbestos, or Matter out of which this wonderful Cloth ... is made, is a Fossil, a mineral stony Substance, of a whitish Colour, and woolly Texture (call’d Salamander’s-Wool) the downy Fibres, separable into short Filaments of Threads, capable of being spun, and made into a sort of Cloth, which will endure the Fire without consuming. When foul, instead of washing, they throw it into the Fire, which cleanses without burning it. Whole Webs and Coats, Napkins, Handkerchiefs, Towels, have been made of it; which were so far from being consumed by Fire, that they were only cleansed from their Dross, and came out purified into a greater Lustre than if wash’d with Water.
Its principal use, according to Pliny[[201]], was for making of Shrouds, in which the Corps of their Kings were usually burnt, lest their royal Ashes should be blended with common Dust. The Princes of Tartary use it to this day in burning the Dead[[202]]. Nero had a Napkin or Towel made of it. The Brachmans among the Indians, are said to make Clothes of it. The Wicks for their perpetual Candles were made of it[[203]]; and some to this day use it for Lamp-Wicks.
[201]. Book xix. cap 1.
[202]. Philos. Transact.
[203]. Dr. Lister.
The Emperor Constantine ordered an incombustible sort of Linnen to be made of Lapis Amianthus, the growth of Cyprus, that might burn in his Lamps, which were in his Baths at Rome. The Commentator on St. Augustin says, that he saw several Lamps at Paris, which would never be consumed: and at a Feast at Louvain, there was a Napkin thrown into the Fire, which was restored to the Owner clearer and brighter than if it had been rinsed in Water[[204]].
[204]. Ludovicus Vives, in his Scholia—de Civitate Dei. Pancirol. Historia rerum deperdit.
The incombustible Paper is made of this lanuginous Mineral, viz. Asbestine-Stone, which will bear burning without being injured. Whoever would be further informed about this wonderful incombustible Stone, may peruse Dr. Bruckman, Professor at Brunswick, who has publish’d a natural History of the Asbestos, or incombustible Paper; and what is most remarkable, has printed four Copies of his Book on this Paper, which are deposited in the Library of Wolfembuttle. The manner of making this extraordinary Paper is described by Mr. Lloyd, in Philosoph. Transactions, No. 166.
N. B. The Salamander is said to live in the Fire, and has power to extinguish it: “From which Conjuncture was taken the Device of Great King Francis, the first of the Name, (Father of Arts and Sciences) Nutrisco & Extinguo, I Feed and Extinguish[[205]].”
[205]. Pedro Mexia and M. Francesco Sansovinio, the famous Italian.
XXIX. The Cameleon belongs to the Class of Quadrupedes, and is a little Animal resembling a Lizard, but of a larger and longer Head: Its Eyes stand out of its Head above one half of their Globe, which he turns so obliquely, that he sees every thing behind him: Nature perhaps has given it this Advantage, because its Legs (by the slowness of its motion) are of no use to avoid his Enemy, by running away. There is yet something more extraordinary, in the motion of his Eyes, for when one of them moves, the other has no motion at all; one looks upward, the other downwards[[206]].
[206]. A Journal of the Philosoph. Mathematical and Botanic Observ. by Lewis Feuillée, A. D. 1725.
The length of these Creatures does not exceed twelve Inches, and they have a proportionable bigness. The Skin is plaited and very fine, transparent, jagged like a Saw, and thin; and must be very compact and hard, since, according to the Historian[[207]], ’tis not penetrable by the Teeth of Serpents. It has four Feet, and on each Foot three Claws; its Tail is long and flat, with which, as well as with its Feet, it fastens itself to the Branches of Trees: its Nose long, and ends in an obtuse point: In other respects it is made like a Fish; that is to say, it has no Neck[[208]]: Reckoned by Moses, among the unclean—Numb. xi. 30.
[207]. Ælian, iv. 33.
[208]. Calmet, p. 351.
The Cameleon is said to transform itself into variety of Colours; perhaps this change may arise from the different reflections of the Rays of Light: Thus they may put on a brown or whitish Habit, from Trees of that Colour, on which they sit. Others observe, that its Colour is changeable, according to the various Passions that agitate the Creature; e. g. When affected with Joy, ’tis of an emerald Green, mixt with Orange, etch’d with little grey and black Strokes: Anger gives it a livid and dusky Colour: Fear makes it pale, and like faded yellow[[209]]. All these Colours compose such a pretty Medley of Shadow and Light, that Nature does not afford a finer Variety of Shadowing, nor our finest Pictures more lively, sweet, and proportionable Drawing.
[209]. Le Compte’s Memoirs, p. 502.
For the further Illustration of this Subject, I shall add something from the Philosophical Transactions about a female Cameleon, the Skin of which appear’d mixt of several Colours, like a Medley-cloth. The Colours discernable are green, a sandy yellow: And indeed one may discern, or at least fancy, some mixture of all, or most Colours in the Skin, whereof some are more predominant, at different times: There are some permanent black Spots on the Head, and Ridge of the Back. But our modern Naturalists assure us, that its common Colour, when it is at rest, and in the Shade, is a bluish grey; when ’tis exposed to the Sun, this grey changes into a darker grey, inclining to a dun Colour: If ’tis put on a black Hat, it appears to be of a violet Colour.
... Upon Excitation or warming, she becomes suddenly full of little black Spots, equally dispersed on the sides, with small black Streaks on the Eyelids; all which afterward do vanish. The Skin is grain’d with globular Inequalities, like the Leather call’d Shagreen. The grossest Grain is about the Back and Head, then on the Legs; on the Sides and Belly, finest; which, perhaps, in several Postures, may shew several Colours; and when this Animal is in full Vigour, may also have in some sort, Rationem Speculi, and reflect the Colours of Bodies adjacent; which, together with the mixture of Colours in the Skin, may have given occasion to the old Tradition, of changing into all Colours[[210]].
[210]. Lowthorp’s Abridg. vol. ii, p. 816.
A certain curious Gentleman, made the following Experiment, when he lived at Smyrna, in Asia-minor: He bought some Cameleons, to try how long they could be preserved alive under Confinement; he kept them in a large Cage, and allowed them the Liberty to take the fresh Air, which they suck’d in with Pleasure, and made them brisker than ordinary. He never saw them either eat or drink, but seem’d to live on the Fluid in which we breathe.
The Antients were persuaded that Cameleons fed upon the Air, for which reason one of the Fathers calls it a living Skin[[211]]; but now it appears by Experience, that they feed upon different Insects, as Palmer-worms, Locusts, Beetles, Flies, and also Leaves of Vegetables. Father Feuillée[[212]], in a Journey into Asia-minor, opened one of these Animals, and found in its Belly Peach-Leaves, which were not then digested.——N. B. Digestion is very slow in Cameleons, which is the reason why they take so little Nourishment.
[211]. Pellicula vivit. Tertull. de Pallio, cap. 3.
[212]. Feuillée’s Journal. Franckf. 1597. p. 3.
The same Father mentions a small Lizard, which he saw in Peru, that was not above an Inch thick, which he calls Chameleontides, because he changed his Colour, like the Cameleons; being in a certain Situation, he saw it of a dun Colour; in another, ’twas green.... This little Creature, he says, had the same Figure and Proportion as the Great Lizard; nam’d by the Spaniards, Iquanna; and Senembi, by Marcgravius; and he makes that Lizard a fourth kind of Cameleon, and to be added to the two kinds of Bellonius, one of which is to be found in Arabia, and the other in Egypt, and to that mention’d by Faber, Lynceus, which may be seen in Mexico.
Their Tongue is somewhat peculiar, it being as long as their Body, with which they catch Flies, and other Insects, which settle on their Tongues, to suck the viscous slimy Matter, adherent to them. The Cameleon puts out his Tongue to draw them upon it, and when ’tis full of these Insects, he pulls it in with wonderful Agility. Others think, it encloses its Prey with the tip of its Tongue, which is made in a form proper for that purpose.
The Cameleon is an oviparous Animal. J. Jonstonus says, it has above a hundred Eggs, from Piereskius, who nursed a Female on purpose to make Observations upon the Subject[[213]]. After all the Gentleman’s Care about ’em at Smyrna, all of them died within five Months; and having opened the Female, found thirty Eggs in her, fasten’d one to another in the form of a Chain. Ibid. supra.
[213]. Jonstonus de Animalib. inter Quadrupedes, p. 141.
The Atlas[[214]] calls the Cameleon, the Indian Salamander[[215]]; that goes there by the Name of Gekho, from the Noise it makes after hissing, and is thus describ’d, viz. ’tis about a Foot long and spotted, has large Eyes starting out, the Tail has several white Rings round it, and its Teeth sharp, and strong enough to penetrate an Armour of Steel: it has a slow Motion, but where it fastens, ’tis not easily disengaged. This Creature is found in Arabia, Egypt, Madagascar, Java, and other parts of India. Bellonius saw several of them among the Shrubs of Attica[[216]]: He says it frequents Cairo, and other Places, is found among Hedges and Bushes; mutes like a Hawk; swallows every thing whole. It moves the Feet of each side alternately, but runs up Trees very fast, and lays hold on the Boughs with its Tail. Leo and Sandys say, the Neck is inflexible, and it can’t turn without moving its whole Body: the Back is crooked, the Skin is spotted with little Tumours: the Tail long and slender, like that of a Rat, when it sucks in the Air, its Belly swells, whence some think that the Air is part of its Food. One Author says, it subsists only upon Air; another says, ’tis a vulgar Error.——
[214]. Africa.
[215]. For America.
[216]. Jonstonus de Quadrupedibus.
’Tis said, that if a Serpent lurks near the Tree, where it sits, it throws a Thread out of its Mouth, with a little shining Drop at the end, which falls upon the Serpent’s Head, and kills it[[217]].
[217]. Atl. Afric. p. 49, 50.
In America are Serpents, some of whom are so poisonous, that if touch’d but with a little Stick, the Venom runs up the Hand; and such as are touch’d with the Blood of dead Serpents, die a lingering Death: This is Tradition: I shall begin with the first of them, viz.
XXX. KUKURUKI, a Serpent of Brasil in South-America, which is under the torrid Zone, where their Winter begins in March and ends in August; and is like our Summer. This Serpent is of an ash Colour, and in its Scales resembles the Bocinga, or Rattle-Snake, but is more gross; on the Back, variegated with yellow, and large black Spots. ’Tis represented as a very venemous Animal, eight or nine Foot long[[218]]; and when prepared, the Inhabitants feed upon it.
[218]. 9 & interdum 12 pedes longus est. Ray.
XXXI. The Ibiara is a Brasilian Adder, about a Foot and half long; an Inch and half in thickness. Serpents of this kind are very numerous in that Country, and nothing more poisonous than their Wounds, tho’ not incurable, if proper Remedies be applied in time.
In Seasons of Danger, they shelter themselves in Cavities under Ground, and feed upon Pismires, which are very large in that Country, and in such prodigious Quantities, that the Portuguese call them, Kings of Brasil.
XXXII. In Chiapa, in Old-Mexico, now call’d New-Spain, is a noxious Animal call’d Teuthlacokauqui, or Fortress of the Serpents, whose Head is like an Adder, thick Belly, glittering Scales, the Ridge of the Body black, with an Interspersion of white Crosses; the Teeth poisonous, and the biting kills in twenty-four hours, unless the wounded part be held in the Earth so long, till the Pain be over.
It has a frightful Aspect; when it moves it makes a Noise with its Tail, that sounds an Alarm of Danger. The Americans, who have the Art of taking it by the Tail, carry it home, and by degrees make it tame: ’tis maintain’d at a cheap rate, for it can subsist a whole Year without any visible Food.
JOHNSTONUS calls this Serpent the Bocininga, and describes it from Marcgravius and Piso. The former says, ’tis four Foot and three Fingers long, Belly smooth, small Eyes, forked Tongue, rattling Tail. The other observes, the Spaniards call it Cascavel, and Tangedor, because its Tail emits the sound of a Ball; in thickness, as a Man’s Arm; in length, about five Foot; a cloven Tongue, long and sharp Teeth; of a dark Colour, inclining to the yellow[[219]].
[219]. Jonstonus, Articulus xvii. p. 23.
According to Nierembergius, this Serpent is called the Queen of Serpents, which they suppose to be like the Viper, in its Poison, and Shape of the Head[[220]]. By the Definitions of several Authors, this Serpent seems to be the Caudisonant; and the Dutch in America call it, the Ratel-Stange, i. e. Rattle-Snake.
[220]. Historia Naturæ Maximè Peregrinæ, p. 268-9.
Now we are in Mexico, excuse me in giving you two Instances of monstrous Cruelty; one in the Natives, the other in the Spaniards.
When the Mexicans were disposed to do signal Honour to their Idols, they sent out Armies to bring in Prisoners for a Sacrifice, whose Flesh they did afterwards eat; and Montezuma the Emperor, commonly sacrificed 20000 Men, one year with another, and no less than 50000 some years. The Priests thought it dishonourable to sacrifice less than 40 or 50 Captives at a time to one Idol. At a certain Festival, they ript up the Breast of a manumitted Slave, pull’d out his Heart, which they offer’d to the Sun, and then eat up his Body.
Their Priests were bloody Men, a Brood of Vipers, and had such an Ascendant over their Princes, that they made them believe their Gods were angry, and not to be appeased without 4000 or 5000 Men to sacrifice in a day; so that, right or wrong, they must make War on their Neighbours, to procure those Victims to keep their Priests in Humour.
The next, is an Instance of Spanish Cruelty, in this Country, that could have no Original but Hell, the Seat of the old Serpent. It runs thus, viz. Barthol. de las Casas Bishop of Chiapa, in a Letter to the Emperor Charles V. gives this account of the Barbarity of the Spaniards towards the poor Inhabitants, Natives of the Land.
... “Their Kings and Princes, says the Bishop, the Spaniards scorch’d to death, or tore in pieces with Dogs: The poor People they burnt in their Houses, and dash’d out the Brains of their Children: Those that were spared, they forced to carry greater Burdens than they were able to bear, by which thousands of them were destroy’d: Others who escap’d, died of Famine in the Woods, after they had kill’d their own Wives and Children, and eat them for hunger. In this one Province they murder’d above two Millions of Men, not sparing those of Quality, who had civilly entertain’d them. They tortured the Natives with the most hellish Inventions, to make them discover their Gold. Diego de Valesco, in particular, spared none that fell into his hands, so that in a Month’s time he murder’d ten thousand: He hang’d thirteen Noblemen.
“Some they starved to death, by thrusting their Heads betwixt Pieces of cloven Timber: Others they buried alive, leaving their Heads above Ground, at which they bowl’d with large Iron-Bullets: They also forced them to eat one another.——
Besides other hellish Cruelties too dreadful to be related[[221]].” N. B. This Barth. de las Casas had been a Friar, and afterwards made Bishop of Chiapa, was a Man of more Piety and Justice than is commonly found among Friars. It was he, who procur’d the Indians their Liberty from being Slaves to the Spaniards, which they enjoy to this day, so that they are paid for what they do, about half a Crown a Week.
[221]. Acosta, Gage—The Civil and Moral History of the Spanish West-Indies, in Atlas Geogr. America.
XXXIII. The Ibitobaca is a Serpent of Chiapa, near four Foot long, and of a crimson Colour, adorn’d with a pleasing Diversity of black and white Specks; wearing its Bones as a Necklace, or the Ruff in Queen Elizabeth’s Reign, who destroy’d the Invincible Armada, and made good old England a Terror to Spaniards.
XXXIV. The Iquanna is the Birth of Mexico, a Serpent like the Pope’s Anathema, of a terrible Front, but harmless; a glittering Comb on the Head, with a Bag under the Chin; a long Tail, and sharp Bones on its Back, standing up in the form of a Saw.
This Iquannatick Serpent is of the amphibious kind, equally fitted to live by Land or Water; a Privilege which no Son of Adam can boast of. It is of the oviparous Tribe, and a great Breeder, laying about fifty Eggs at the Season as big as Acorns, which are of a very good Taste, and good Food when boiled, and so is the Serpent itself; but the Land-Iquanna is a more pleasant Food, and preferable to Spanish Ragous[[222]].
[222]. Nierembergii Historia Naturalis, p. 271.
XXXV. The Ibiboboca is a Serpent beautiful to the Eye, but of a venemous Nature; ’tis about three Foot long. The Icon of it in Gresham-College is above three Yards[[223]], white as Snow, decorated with Particles of various Colours, especially black and red. The Wound it gives operates gradually, and if neglected, proves fatal.
[223]. Curzon’s Catalogue of Rarities, p. 445.
XXXVI. The Guaku or Lyboya Serpent, is one of the largest of all the serpentine Brood, some of which being from eighteen to thirty Foot long, call’d by the Portuguese, Hobre de Hado, or the Roebuck Serpent, because it can swallow a whole Buck at once. After swallowing it down, it generally falls asleep, and in that Posture is frequently taken, while digesting its Supper. My Author says, he saw one of this kind, which was 30 Foot long, of a greyish Colour, but others incline more to the brown[[224]]. A ravenous Animal, and so voracious, that it leaps out of the Woods to seize its Prey; and, if disturb’d, will fight, or wrestle, with Man or Beast, standing upright upon the Butt-end of his Tail.
[224]. Nieuhoff in Atl. America, p. 263.
XXXVII. The Jararaka Serpent, is another Brasilian, no longer than a Man’s Arm to the Elbow; it has swelling Veins on its Head; the Skin is covered with red and black Spots; the rest is of an Earth Colour: Its Wounds are dangerous, and attended with the usual Symptoms. There are three Sorts of these venemous Snakes besides this, viz. One sort is about ten Spans long, with two terrible Tusks, or great Teeth, which they stretch out to a great length, and strike them into their Prey. The venemous Liquid, which is very yellow, works with a Violence, that kills in a few Hours. The second sort resembles the Spanish Viper in Colour and Form, and is equally dangerous. The third and worst sort very much resembles the first.
XXXVIII. The Biobi, called Gabro Verde by the Portuguese in Brasil, i. e. the Green Serpent, because its Colour is porraceous, a shining Green like the Leek; it is between three and four Foot long, and about the Thickness of a Man’s Thumb; a large Mouth, and black Tongue, and has this good Property, that it hurts nobody unless irritated; but when provoked, no Poison more dangerous. We read of a Soldier, who accidentally treading on this Serpent, was wounded by it in the Thigh, and died a few Hours after, tho’ the Remedies that proved successful on the like occasions, had been diligently applied[[225]].
[225]. Raii Synopsis, p. 328.
XXXIX. The Caninana Serpent, is another Inhabitant of Brasil, green on the back, and yellow on the Belly, about two Foot long, and reckoned not to be so venemous, as the rest of that mischievous Tribe. It feeds upon Eggs and Birds, at last becomes the common Entertainment of the American and African Tables[[226]]. We read of other green Serpents in the Indies, that are indulged with little Cottages made of Straw, where they spend their solitary Hours, till the time of eating invites them out, then they repair to the House, where they fawn upon their Masters, and eat what is set before them, and then retire to the Huts of Indulgence.
[226]. Raii Synopsis, p. 328.
XL. The Tetzawhcoatl, is another Production of Brasil, a Serpent of about three Foot long, and slender Body, whose Strokes are pestilent: The Head is black, nether Part of the Tail reddish, and the Belly dash’d with black Spots. The Cure is by Suction.
Now we are travelling among the Inhabitants of Brasil, we may be allowed to take notice of Prince Maurice’s Rational Parrot, mentioned by Sir William Temple and Mr. Locke, which the former had from the Prince’s own Mouth. His Words were,
... “That he had heard of such an old Parrot, when he came to Brasil, and tho’ he believed nothing of it, and it was a good way off; yet he had so much Curiosity as to send for it: that it was a very great and a very old one; and when it came first into the Room, where the Prince was with a great many Dutchmen about him, it said presently, What a Company of White-men are here! They ask’d it, what he thought that Man was, pointing at the Prince? it answered, Some General or other. The Prince asked it, Whence come ye[[227]]? The Parrot answered, From Marinnan. To whom do you belong, said the Prince? it answered, To a Portuguese Prince. The Prince ask’d, What do you there? Parrot answered, I look after the Chickens. The Prince laugh’d, and said, You look after the Chickens! The Parrot answered, Yes, I; and I know well enough how to do it, and made the Chuck four or five times, that People use to make to Chickens, when they call them....”
[227]. D’où venes vous? De Marinnan. A qui estes vous? A un Portugais. Que fais tu-la? Je garde les poulles. Vous gardez les poulles? Ouy moy, & je sçai bien faire.—Sir William Temple’s Memoirs, and Mr. Locke’s Essay, Book II. chap. 27.
... “I could not but tell this odd Story, because it is so much out of the way, and from the first hand, and what may pass for a good one; for I dare say, this Prince at least believed himself in all he told me, having ever past for a very honest and pious Man. I leave it to Naturalists to reason, and to other Men to believe as they please upon it; however, it is not perhaps amiss to relieve or enliven a busy Scene sometimes with such Digressions, whether to the purpose or no.” So far Sir William Temple.
Wonder not then, if you meet in this History with some romantick Sentiments entertained by learned Men concerning Serpents, when two such illustrious Pillars of the Commonwealth of Letters, give way to a Relation that has so much of the Marvellous in it.
XLI. These Historians inform us of many more Serpents, and some of great bulk, that infest those American Regions; whose Looks are ruddy, of blood-red Colour, that shine in the Night, like so many glittering Stars.
A modern Author writes, that in America are some Snakes that were eight Foot long, and as red as Blood, which in the Night look’d like Fire[[228]].
[228]. Anton. Herrera’s History of America, Vol. II. in his Account of Darien, p. 72.
The former black, and these shining Serpents, remind me of the Obsidian Stones, that are very black and transparent; they have their Names from one Obsidius, who first found them in Æthiopia.
There is a sort of natural Obsidian Glass, which is rather to be ranked among Stones than Metals; ’tis as passive as the former, enduring the Graving-Tool, is diaphanous and pellucid, receiving Images, and, like artificial Glass, transmitting all Forms and Shapes.
This is found in Æthiopia, where the Sepulchres of the Nobles are usually made of it, and after this manner; viz. They take a large Stone, and make it hollow, and in the Cavity include the Corps, where it is not only preserved, but, as if entomb’d in Glass, is apparently visible to Spectators, and sends forth no ungrateful Scent.
Out of these Obsidian Stones, Looking-Glasses are wont to be made, and are also found on the Coasts of Arabia. These shining Stones were inserted into Rings, and in one of them was cut the entire Image of Augustus, who being much taken with these Stones of Glass, caused four Elephants to be made of them,—See the Commentary upon Pancirollus, B. i. of Jet; and Pliny, B. xxxvi. c. 26.
XLII. Boiguacu, another venemous Production of Brazil, thick in the middle, and declining towards the Extremities of the Body; ’tis covered with large Scales on the Back, and lesser ones on the Belly, which is common in all Serpents.
The whole is adorned with elegant Variegations.... The Back and Sides set off with black Spots, inclining to the round; about three Inches distant from each other, and in the Centre a round white Spot. These beautiful Appearances, says Jonstonus, have a Grandeur in them more than rivals Imperial Majesty.
He saw several Serpents of this kind: On August 7th, 1638, one that was eight Foot long. Another, August 13th, 1638, above five Foot long, its Flesh fat, and very white; the Heart being taken out, lived about 15 Minutes. October 16th, 1638, he saw another, that was near nine Foot long, and he was a Witness to its swallowing a She-Goat whole[[229]]. By the Description, this Serpent must be the Lyboia, so famous for the Knack of Deglutition of Animals.
[229]. Jonstoni Historia Naturalis, p. 25, 26.
XLIII. The Brasilian Serpent, called the Ibiracoan, makes its Appearance in a Habit of various Colours, trimmed with red, black and white Spots. Under this fine Dress, is a poisonous Spring; the Wound it gives, infallibly kills without immediate Assistance.
Before the Poison reaches the Heart, the common Practice is, to secure that Serpent, and boil the Flesh of it with certain Roots, and give it the Patient in Wine, or any other proper Liquid, and it will answer the Intention.
XLIV. The Tarciboya, and Kakaboya, are two Serpents much of the same Nature, and therefore I put them together: They are occasional Inhabitants of the Water and Land; in Colour black, and about six Hands in Length. If they hurt any Creature, it is only in Defence of themselves, and the Wound is easily cured by Remedies well known in those Countries. They are great Devourers of Birds.
Here the Learned Ray, from Piso, mentions ten other Serpents, whose particular Characters he considers in his Description of Fishes; then refers his Reader to those described by Joan. de Laet.[[230]]
[230]. Raii Synopsis Animal. p. 329. Londini 1693.
XLV. The Bibera is a venemous Lizard of Brazil. If you ask, What are these Brasilian Lizards? I answer, They are creeping Serpents, of various Colours, and different Sizes: Some are the length of a Finger, others many Feet; have sparkling Eyes. There is only one sort of them that is venemous, among which is this Bibera: they are like the others, but lesser, and are most mischievous. They are of an ash Colour, inclining to the white; the Body and Limbs seem thick, but the Tail is short and broad.
The Wounds given by these Serpents, are full of a thin stinking Matter, attended with blue Swellings, and Pain in the Heart and Bowels. N. B. Great Things have been frequently done by little Things.
XLVI. The Ambua, so the Natives of Brazil call the Millepedes and the Centipedes Serpents. Those Reptiles of thousand Legs bend as they craul along, and are reckoned very poisonous. Those Lizards of hundred Legs are commonly found in the Woods, where they destroy the Fruit, and also do mischief both to Men and Cattle.
In these Multipedes, the Mechanism of the Body is very curious; in their going, it is observable, that on each side of their Bodies, every Leg has its Motion, one regularly after another; so that their Legs, being numerous, form a kind of Undulation, and thereby communicate to the Body a swifter Progression than one could imagine, where so many short Feet are to take so many short Steps, that follow one another, rolling on, like the Waves of the Sea.
The Palmer-Worm is also called Millepes, because of its many Feet, which are as Bristles under its Body: It is about six Inches long, and moves with incredible Swiftness. The upper part of the Body is cover’d with hard swarthy Scales, and it has a sort of Claws both in its Head and Tail, of rank Poison, as the Historian says.
XLVII. The Jebeya is another Brazilian, and a Serpent very ravenous and destructive: It has four Legs, and a long Tail like a Crocodile; it lies flat and close on the Ground, artfully concealing itself, ’till the Prey comes within reach, and then darts out a couple of sharp Fins from its Fore-quarters, and kills whatever it strikes.
XLVIII. The Giraupiagara is an American Serpent, so call’d, because of its being a great Devourer of Eggs. ’Tis of a Negro-Colour, but a yellow Breast, and of great Length and Agility. It glides (as if swimming) on the tops of Trees, faster than any Man can run on the Ground.[[231]]
[231]. Nieuhoff in Atlas, America.
It lives upon Birds, whose Nests it constantly plunders. ’Tis observable, that the Cuckow feeds very much upon Eggs, which accounts for the vulgar Notion, that it always has one or more little Birds, as Menials to attend it, these being some of those, whose Houses it plundered. There is another Charge preferred against the Cuckow, viz. The Contempt it puts upon our Vegetables, by spitting upon them; whereas in those Dobs of frothy Dew, we find little Green Insects, that are Grashoppers in the Embryo.
XLIX. The Caminana is another Brazilian Serpent, of a great length. The Body is all over green, and very beautiful in prospect. This also runs up the Trees, not so much because of the green Leaves, as in pursuit of Birds of all Colours; and having devoured the Contents of the Nest, seizes the Dam, and drinks her Blood.
The pleasing Appearance made by this Serpent in Green, puts me in mind of the Turks, who have so great a Superstition for the green Colour (because it was consecrated to Mahomet) that they forbid Christians to wear it on pain of Death; but the Persians (who are Mahometans as well as the Turks) allow it to every body, and laugh at this Superstition; so that when Sultan Amurath sent an Ambassador to Sha-Abbas of Persia, to complain that he suffer’d that venerable Colour to be prophaned by Christians, he scoffingly said, that he would forbid the green Colour to be prophaned by Christians, as soon as Amurath would hinder the green Meadows to be prophaned by his Turkish Cattle[[232]]. The Eastern Turks abhor the blue Colour, because the Jews, they say, threw Indigo into Jordan to hinder the Baptism of Christ, but the Angels brought Water from Jordan to baptize him, before it was polluted. Atlas.
[232]. Holstein Ambassadors.—Herbert.—Atl. Asia.
L. BOYTIAPUA, is a Serpent so called by the Brazilians for its long Snout, though I don’t find it exceeds others in smelling, by the extension of its Nose; it is of a long slender Body, and feeds upon Frogs, amphibious Animals and Insects.
This Serpent is in high Esteem among the Natives of Brazil, who practise the Art of Conjuration by it; and if any of them have a barren Wife, and are desirous of Children, they lash this Serpent over her Hips, pretending that such Exercise will make her fruitful: And if this Device should take effect, must not we conclude the Offspring to be a Generation of Vipers?
LI. The Gaytiepua is a large Snake, smells rank like a Fox, and, according to a learned Author, the Smell is intolerable[[233]], as is that of the Serpent Boyana, which is very long and slender, and of black Colour; of which one of the Latin Poets takes notice[[234]].
[233]. Fætor illius nullatenus—possit tolerari. Raii Synopsis.
Quod vulpis fuga, vipere cabile
Mallem quam quod oles, olere, Bassa.
Martial.
If the loathsome Smell of these Creatures offend the Nose, it serves as a friendly Alarm of Danger, to those who have the use of a Nose, that they may avoid a more terrible Stroke.
Nothing so constituted in Nature, but a superficial Observer may construe as a Blemish to the Creation; but to a more penetrating Eye, those imaginary Blemishes have their Convenience and Use, and appear to be the Product of perfect Intelligence and Wisdom.
LII. The Bom-Snake, is another Brazilian Reptile, call’d Bom from the Noise it makes in its Motion. It is of a prodigious large Size, but is class’d among the Innocent, that do no manner of hurt to Persons, viz. that can endure a little Sound, arising from a Propagation of the Pulse of the Air.
An innocent Serpent, no Contradiction. There is good among the bad in the moral World.
Virtue——needs no Defence;
The surest Guard is Innocence:
None knew, till Guilt created Fear,
What Darts and poison’d Arrows were.
Integrity undaunted goes
Thro’ Lybian Sands, and Scythian Snows.
In Paraguay, or La Plata in America, is a famous white Bird, which, though it has a very small Body, has a Voice like a Bell, and therefore the Natives call it Guirapo, that is, the Sounding-Bird.
How many Animals of the same kind in the moral Creation, that wear gaudy Feathers and Plumes, whose Sound, in the Assemblies of Saints and Sinners, proves to be vox & præterea nihil.
LIII. The Boicupecanga is a Serpent, so called because its Back looks as if it were overgrown with Briers and Thorns, the Ridge being sharp pointed, which makes the Beast look as if he were guarded by little Spears: This prickle-back’d Serpent is of a monstrous Extension, very frightful, and venemous, the very sight of which strikes Terror into Man and Beast.
LIV. The Cucurijuba is a Water-Snake of twenty-five or thirty Foot long, and three Foot in Compass, will swallow a Hog or a Stag at once; has Teeth like those of Dogs, but makes no use of them as Instruments of Mastication. HARRIS in the Atlas America, mentions one kill’d when asleep, that was twelve Yards and a half long, and proportionably big, in whose Belly they found two wild Boars. This Creature I take to be the Lyboya, (or a near Relative) a gigantick Serpent, already described, therefore I dismiss the Monster, and proceed to the
LV. MANIMA, another Water-Snake, of the same Proportion with the former, if not more bulky: The sight is terrible; the Monstrosity of Dimensions is sufficient to render it so; but we are told, the Terror vanishes in some Degree upon a view of the Skin, which is exquisitely painted, and the Brazilians not only love to see so spruce an Animal, but reckon it an Omen of a long Life.
If you ask, What a long Life is? I answer, ’Tis nothing but a lingering, slow Consumption: Life itself, what is it, but a meer practical Tautology, a Repetition of the same things over and over, and looks more like a Penance imposed upon Mankind than Pleasure.
LVI. The Terpomongo is another Serpent, which in the Brazilian Dialect, signifies to stick close, so close to whatever it touches, that it is not to be parted. It is about the bigness of a Cable-Rope, which being fasten’d to the Anchor, holds the Ship fast when it rides.
This Property in the Serpent, may be an Hieroglyphick; or Symbol of true Friendship, which is a sacred Mixture: My Friend and I are as two Rivers joined in one, not to be separated; we stick close and fast, traversing the Wilderness hand-in-hand: He who strikes one, wounds the other—No Schism in true Friendship.
LVII. JACORE Lizard; some of these Serpents are as big as Dogs, and resemble them in the Nose; their Teeth large and long, and their Skin impenetrable. They do no harm to their Neighbours, and therefore are generally allow’d to live. They make a loud Noise, by which their Haunts are discovered, and their Liberty hazarded.
They lay Eggs as large as those of a Goose, of an elastick Nature, so hard, that when one is struck against another, they ring like Iron: they frequent both Land and Water.
It’s observable here, that this Animal is obstreporous, and by its Noise invites Danger; whereas Silence would be his Security: yea, its Eggs are as so many roaring Bells. This may serve for a Document to the unruly Member: Thersites, in Homer, was counted a Fool for babbling. A talkative Tongue is the Spring, Ringleader, and Head of Faction in all places.
The first Rudiments in Pythagoras’s School, was Quinquennian, Silence. The Scholars were not allow’d to talk for five Years, that is, till they had learned the Art of Silence. Harpocrates was the God of Silence, therefore painted with his Finger on his Lip, and was worshipped in Egypt with Isis and Serapis.
ANGERONA was the Goddess of Silence at Rome, and painted with a Cloth about her Mouth. Nor is it less venerable at Venice, where after they come out of the Senate-house, they are as silent about what was said and done, as if they had power to forget all that was said and done.
To the above-mention’d Serpents, the learned Mr. Ray adds, by way of Supplement, a Catalogue of fifteen East-Indian Serpents, which he had from the Learned Dr. Tancred Robinson, whose Descriptions he had from the College at Leyden, which I shall annex to the foregoing[[235]].
[235]. Ray’s Synopsis Animalium, p. 330.
LVIII. SERPENS Indicus Coronatus, an Indian Serpent, that makes its Appearance with a crowned Head, which it holds up on high, as if proud of the Honour. This is an Emblem of Pride, that Dropsy of the Mind; to yield to its Thirst, is to swallow the Bait, that turned the Seraph into a Devil.
The Remedy used by the Indians for its Wounds, is what they call the Serpent-Stone, which, according to Thevenot and others, is an artificial Composition, and not taken out of this Serpent’s Head.
LIX. VIPERA Indica tricolor major, a Serpent remarkable for a Body decorated with three fine Colours, the Liveries of Summer’s Pride, but living much under ground, the Glories of its Attire are buried in the Earth, the World’s material Mould.
LX. VIPERA Zelanica minor maculis eleganter variegata, a Serpent elegantly garnished with a Variety of charming Colours: It is an Inhabitant of Ceylon, an Island in the East-Indies, called by the Inhabitants Tenarisain, that is the Land of Delights, and not without reason is this Island so called, since it is the most fruitful place in India, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, plenty of Rice, Ananas, Cocoas, best Oranges, Lemons, Figs, Pomegranates, Ginger, Grapes, Pepper, Cardamum, Tobacco, Nutmegs, Sugar; Mulberry, which yield much Silk; Palm-trees, which afford a Liquor for their constant Drink, &c. But in midst of these pleasing Varieties, they are haunted with various sorts of venemous Serpents; an Emblem of our present State, which is a Compound of Pleasure and Pain.
The Gods will frown, wherever they do smile;
The Crocodile infests the fertile Nile.
CEYLON is an Emblem of Man, to whom Pleasure is as a delightful Situation; but in it dwells a Serpent, called Pain. Pleasure is the principal Intendment of Nature, and the great Object of our Inclination, without which Life would be no Blessing, but a Mortification: Yea, ’tis Pleasure reconciles us to Pain; for who would submit to nauseous Medicines, and Tortures of the Surgeon’s Knife, but for hope of the Pleasure of Ease that succeeds it.
No Serpent so terrible as Pain, which is a strange domineering Perception, that keeps off Ease when wanted, and destroys Ease when we are in possession of it.
LXI. The Malcarabeta of Ceylon is a Serpent painted by Nature in a Garb blue and white; the last of these two Colours shew best by Candle-light. This leads us to the Excommunication by Inch of Candle; that is, while a little Candle continues burning, the Sinner is allow’d to come to Repentance; but after it burns out, he remains excommunicated to all Intents and Purposes.
LXII. The Ethetulla is a Ceylonick Serpent; of a little slender Body, and sharp-pointed Head. This is a kind of Ranger, delights in Groves and Forests, and may be known by a white and green Vesture, in which it rambles among the Trees.
LXIII. MALPOLON is another Serpent of that celebrated Island, and of a vermilion Hue, imbroider’d with curious fine red Spots, which shine like so many Stars.
LXIV. SERPENS Putorius, so denominated, probably because of its filthy Smell; by which it resembles the Putorius, a little Animal call’d Fitchet, that smells ill, especially when enraged[[236]]. Jonstonus and Gesner make it to be the Druinus, which has been already describ’d.
[236]. A putorio, quia valdè fœtet.
LXV. The Anacandia, a Ceylonick Serpent, of monstrous Corpulence, being in longitude about 25 Foot. D. Cleyerus, who accounts for this gigantick Serpent, says, he saw one of them open’d, in whose Belly was found a whole Stag, with all his integral Parts: In another they found a wild Goat; and in a third, a Porcupine arm’d with all its Darts and Prickles[[237]]. Serpents of this nature have often fallen in our way, by which we may imagine, that there is a vast spread of them over the Earth. Mr. Ray from Cleyerus gives this account of the Monster——Tho’ the Throat seems narrow, yet ’tis very extensible, and the Facts have been confirm’d by Experience. When the Prey is catch’d, he wraps himself about it, takes it by the Nose, sucks the Blood, and soon reduces it to a Hodge-podge; after he has broken the Bones in pieces, that emit a Sound like a Gun, ibid. And in doing all this he spends two days.
[237]. De octavo genere merentur legi, quæ D. Cleyerus in Ephemer. German. Anno 12. Observ. 7. cui titulas, De Serpente magno Indiæ Orientalis. Urobubalum deglutiente Narrat. Raii Synopsis Animalium,—p. 333, 334.
LXVI. The Ghalghulawa is another Ceylonite, that goes by the Name of Serpens Indicus Saxatilis, describ’d by whitish Lines, that run across one another: Whether the Poet refers to this, as a Serpent affecting stony and gravelly Situations, or to a certain Fish, I determine not[[238]].
[238]. Tum viridis squamis, parvo saxatilis ore. Ovid.
LXVII. The Manballa is another Indian, and from its Name we may conclude it has something of the canine Nature, for it flies with great Fury at Passengers, as some Dogs usually do. ’Tis of a light red (or bright bay, as we call it in Horses) spotted with white.
LXVIII. The Nintipolonga, an Indian Serpent, whose Skin is checker’d with white and black Spots. Its Bite is accompanied with mortiferous Sleep, therefore call’d Serpens hypnoticus, soporiferous Serpent, whose Wounds are as an Opiate, or Medicines that induce sleep, in which they die. Q. Why may not we suppose this narcotic Poison to be the same with that, which Cleopatra used in executing the Sentence that Heroine past upon herself?
LXIX. The Wepelon Serpent: Nothing is said of it, but that it resembles an Indian Reed or Cane in form.
LXX. SERPENS Fluviatilis, seems to be the Water-Snake.
LXXI. SERPENS Spadiceus, a Serpent of light red Colour.
LXXII. Then follows the Ceylonic Hotambœia. Dr. Robinson’s Account of this Serpent, he had from the learned Hermannus’s Library.
N. B. Some of these Eastern Serpents may coincide and agree in Character with those in America, and other Regions. Where there is such an infinite Variety of them, and delineated by so many different hands, ’tis difficult to give an exact Description of every individual Serpent.
Other parts of the East-Indies (Continent and Islands) are infested with Serpents of various kinds and sizes, and he must be more than a Conjurer in History, that can charm them to make their Appearance in one Place, and all in their proper Habiliments.
LXXIII. The hooded or Monk Serpent, found in an Island near Batavia (a Dutch Settlement in the East-Indies) which differs from other Serpents in the uncouth Shape of its Head, that looks as if it were cover’d with a large long Hood, like a Monk’s Cowl, or the Widow’s Veil, therefore called the hooded Serpent, which is a very dangerous Animal. Upon a view of its Prey, it immediately advances towards it, with terrible Rage and Hissing.
When the Sieur de la Case was hunting one day in the Woods adjacent to Batavia, he saw one of these Serpents descending from a Tree, making a fearful Noise: It was about the thickness of a Man’s Arm, and in length about eight Foot.
This venemous Creature was no sooner on the Ground, but it made towards him with the greatest Fury; but having a Gun ready charg’d, he very happily shot it dead, and made off hastily for fear of a second Attack[[239]].
[239]. Fr. Leguat’s Voyages, in Atl. for Asia.
LEGUAT, who gives this Account, and was in Batavia, A.D. 1697, says, he saw a Serpent in that Country about fifty Foot long. N. B. The Skin of one that was 20 Foot long, is shewn in Batavia, that swallow’d an Infant, ibid.
LXXIV. The Musk Serpent, so term’d from its musky or sweet Scent. These sweet-scented Animals are Inhabitants of the East, between Calicut, the second Kingdom of Malabar, and Candahor. In Ceylon are Musk-Rats, where the Inhabitants eat all Rats, but this kind.
These Musk-Rats are in all things shaped like our Water-Rats, only something larger; and in other respects differ only in that musky Scent. A Gentleman, who kept one of them in a wooden Chest, observed that two days before it died, ’twas most odoriferous, and scented the Room above what was common[[240]]. In Muscovy is a Water-Rat, which smells like Musk; and also a great number of Musk-Cats, which look like young Bucks without Horns, and therefore call’d Musk-Harts by the Chinese, because they resemble those Creatures. The Musk is contain’d in a little Excrescence near the Navel[[241]].
[240]. Lowthorp’s Abridg. vol. iii. p. 594.
[241]. This Animal is described by Philip Martinus in his Chinese Atlas.
In America also, are found Woods abounding with Musk-Rats, that are as big as Rabbits, and have Burrows in the Ground. Their Skins are black, Bellies white, and smell exceeding strong of Musk[[242]]. The vegetable World also, entertains us with Musk-Pears, Musk-Roses, single and double, and the Ever-green, &c. N. B. Musk-Rats frequent fresh Streams, and no other.
[242]. History of the Antilles.
The word Musk comes from the Arabic, Moscha, a Perfume of strong Scent, only agreeable when moderated by the Mixture of some other Perfume, by which it becomes an agreeable artificial Odour.... Musk is found in a little Swelling, like a præternatural Tumor, or Bag growing (about the Bigness of a Hen’s Egg) under the Belly of a wild Beast, of the same Name; and appears to be nothing else, but a kind of bilious Blood there congeal’d.
This Musk-Animal is common in the East-Indies, as in the Kingdoms of Boutan, Cochin China, but the most esteem’d are those of Tibet. When the Bladder under the Belly is taken out, they separate the congeal’d Blood, and dry it in the Sun.
Sir John Chardin[[243]] says, Musk is also produced in Persia from an Impostume in the Body of a Beast, that resembles a Goat, and grows near the Navel, and is better than that of China. The Scent of it, adds he, is so strong, that it many times kills those who hunt the Beast, when they first open the Bag, except they stop their Mouths and Noses with Linnen: ’Tis easily counterfeited, and the best way to try it, is by drawing a Thread, dipt in the Juice of Garlick, thro’ the Bag with a Needle; and if the Garlick loses its Scent, the Musk is good. Atl. 397.
[243]. His Travels.
LXXV. The Boitiapo (that should have been mention’d before with its Brazilian Relatives) is a large Serpent, about seven Foot long, not quite so thick as a Man’s Arm, of an olive Colour, yellow Belly, in Body round, cloath’d with Scales that make an elegant Appearance in a sort of triangular form. ’Tis very venemous, and its Wounds not curable without timely and proper Applications.
The Lacertan Snakes or Lizards come next under Consideration, and in the same order as laid down by the learned Mr. Ray[[244]]. Previous to that, I beg leave to observe, that Moses places two sorts of Lizards among unclean Creatures, the Stellio and Lacerta. These Lizards differ vastly in Bulk; some a Finger’s length; in Arabia, some of a Cubit long; in the Indies, twenty-four Feet in length. Several sorts of Lizards are mention’d in Scripture, Lev. xi. 30. the two former are translated Stellio and Lacerta; the third is translated a Mole, but Bochart maintains, it is a Cameleon; the fourth is describ’d Prov. xxx. 28. and there, Spider is render’d Stellio, a Lizard. Mr. Ray begins with
[244]. Synopsis Animal. de Lacertis.
LXXVI. The Crocodile, the largest of the Lacertan Race, a Name which is supposed to come from a word[[245]] that signifies afraid of Saffron, because this Creature abhors the Smell of Saffron, as a learned Author observes[[246]]. It is an amphibious Beast, noisome and voracious, and one of the Wonders of Nature; for, from an Egg no bigger than that of a Goose, proceeds an Animal which increases to eight or ten Yards in length.
[245]. Κροκοδειλος δειλος. Græcis timidus.
[246]. Calmet.
His Mouth is very wide, and is extended to the Ears; his Snout and Eyes like those of Swine; the Teeth, which are ingrail’d, are white, acute, strong and numerous; the Feet arm’d with sharp Claws; the Skin of the Belly is tender and may be easily penetrated, but the other parts of the Body are not penetrable by Swords and Arrows: It defies even the Wheels of a loaded Cart, as well as Darts and Spears: It is of a yellow Colour, say some; but Wormius in Mr. Ray’s Synopsis says, that those he had seen, were inclin’d to the grey or ash Colour.
The Tail is near as long as the Body, upon which are Fins of a Fish, whereby he is capacitated to swim. When he strikes with his Claws, he tears with his Teeth, and grinds the very Bones of what he kills into Powder. In Winter he lives much without Food, but in Summer, his Sustenance is of the animal kind, but is most fond of human Flesh; and as he is an amphibious Creature, plunders both Elements[[247]].
[247]. Jonstonus, 141.
The Crocodile, when prest with Hunger, swallows Stones, which have been found worn round about, and the wasted parts reduced to such minute Particles, as were fit to circulate with the Mass of Blood[[248]].
[248]. Nierembergius.
In Egypt the Crocodile is made the Object of religious Adoration, but not by all the Nation; for the Inhabitants of Tentyra (an Island form’d by the River Nilus) were so far from worshipping that hateful Monster, that they despised it, and often brought them to the Roman Shews for Diversion.——This Aversion to Crocodiles caused a War between the Tentyrians and the other Egyptians, who worship’d those Creatures; of which People Job seems to speak in the following Words: Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their Mourning, Job iii. 8. Some read it, to raise up the Leviathan, or to awake the Crocodile; of which Job gives an admirable Description, under the Name of Leviathan, Job xli. 1, 2, 3, 4.... So the Psalmist, Thou breakest the Heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be Meat to the People inhabiting the Wilderness.
When I think of the superstitious Egyptians warring against the People of Tentyra, I can’t but observe how the same kind of Spirit (the more the pity) too often reigns among Christians: Those who have ridicul’d Superstition, and endeavour’d to propagate Truth, have always had Vengeance and Wrath breath’d out against them, and have been exposed to the same Fate as the Tentyrians.
The Habitations of Crocodiles are generally in great Rivers, as the Ganges in Asia, one of the greatest Rivers in the World, and which is accounted sacred: Its Water is clear and sweet, weighs an Ounce in a Pint lighter than any other Water in the Country: The Great Mogul’s Court drink none else with their Wine. These monstrous Animals are also found in the Nile and Niger, two of the greatest Rivers in Africa; and also in the great Rivers of America, especially those of the Amazons, which abound with Crocodiles of vast Bigness, that very much annoy the Inhabitants.
GEMELLI in the Atlas, says the Crocodile is hatch’d of an Egg no bigger than that of a Turkey, but grows to thirty Foot long, the Back arm’d with impenetrable Scales, the Mouth wide enough to swallow an Heifer, and only moves the upper Jaw; it sees better by Water than Land, is cowardly, and generally flies from those that attack it, but daring enough otherwise; for which reason the Egyptians made it the Hieroglyphick of Impudence.—They have no Tongue, and eat nothing in all the autumnal Quarter[[249]].
[249]. For Africa, p. 47.
This Animal has a great Dexterity in catching Wild-fowl, which always abound in those great Rivers, and along Sea-shores, as Ducks, Teals, and other Water-fowls: When in want of Food, he goes into the Sea, where he lies in such a manner, that the upper Part of his Back appears above the Water, and looks like a piece of Timber floating; the wild Fowls mistrusting nothing, come so near it, that he immediately devours them: They lurk among Reeds and Bushes, on the Banks of Rivers and great Pools, from whence they suddenly leap out, and eat up their Prey, which sometimes happens to be People that come to drink or fetch Water.
The Inhabitants of Madagascar, an African Island, look upon Crocodiles as Devils, and swear by them: When Differences happen among them, they go to a River, where he that is to swear throws himself into the Water, and conjures the Crocodiles to be Arbitrators betwixt him and his Adversary, and to let him live if he speaks Truth, but if otherwise, to destroy him[[250]]. Among the Rarities in Gresham-College, London, is a Crocodile about two Yards and a half long. Crocodiles are little known in Europe, but common in the Indies.
[250]. Dellon on Madagascar, in Atl. Afr.
The Land Crocodile, call’d Seincus, is variously described. In the Molucca Islands they are accounted the fiercest of Monsters, contrary to those of the Nile, according to some Writers[[251]]. Harris[[252]] says, that they are very harmless, and in some places so tame, that Children play with them. Le Comte says, what are called small Crocodiles, are huge Lizards, found all over the Woods in Siam, as also in Houses and Fields[[253]].
[251]. Barth. Leonardo de Argensola’s Discovery of the Molucca and Philippine Islands.
[252]. Atlas Amer. 263.
[253]. Memoirs, 2d Edit. p. 502.
This Land Crocodile is indeed an amphibious Animal, lives partly in the Water and partly upon dry Ground: It has four slender Legs like a Lizard; its Snout is sharp, and its Tail short, cover’d with small Scales of a silver Colour. ’Tis hatch’d in Egypt, near the Red-Sea, in Libya, and the Indies.
In Leviticus there’s mention made of a kind of Crocodile, in the Hebrew called Choled, which the Septuagint translates κροκοδειλος χερσαιος, a land Crocodile, which is a kind of Lizard, that feeds upon the sweetest Flowers it can find; this makes its Intrails to be very much valued for their agreeable Smell. Bellonius says, it has four Feet, and a round knotty Tail, and is as big as the Salamander.
There’s scarce any way to manage him by Land, unless it be by a Wile, as they do on the Bank of Nilus, where little Huts are erected, from whence the Watchmen, upon the Approach of a Crocodile, spring out with long Branches in their Hands, which they, with great Dexterity, thrust into its Throat; and not being able to extricate itself, it falls down, upon which others of them discharge their Arrows at his Belly, which being a tender part, he is soon killed; but in Water he is quickly noosed, because for want of a Tongue, he can’t safely open his wide Mouth, without being suffocated.
This terrestrial Crocodile comes to us by way of Alexandria and Venice, and is very useful in physical Prescriptions.
LXXVII. The Cordylus is a little noxious Reptile, supposed by some to be the Land Crocodile, because upon first sight it looks like the Nilotic; but upon a stricter view, the Fallacy appears. The Back is cover’d with close compacted Scales, as a House with Tiles, by which ’tis distinguish’d.
Its Tail is rough, and like a Club, wherewith it strikes whatever it meets, therefore is called Caudiverbera, that is, one that strikes with the Tail; a Tail prominent with War[[254]].
[254]. Raii Synopsis Animalium Quadrupedum, p. 263.
LXXVIII. The Tapayaxin is a Lizard of New Spain, and of a round form; and, Spaniard-like, is slow in Motion, and as loth to change its Seat, as the Spaniards their old Fashions and Customs. This little Creeper is of the northern Tribe, being generally found in the Mountains of cold Regions. It is observable, that if its Head be comprest or squeezed, it will throw out drops of Blood with a Force that will carry them several Yards off[[255]].
[255]. See Dr. Plot’s History of Staffordsh. p. 252.
LXXIX. The Lacertus Viridis, or green Lizard, is found in Italy, &c. lives in Meadows, and being of the harmless kind, little is said of it. There are many Lizards of other Colours, but none so beautiful as the green ones; tho’ very small, they are pretty: Many make themselves very familiar with them, and put them in their Bosom[[256]].
[256]. Nat. History of Carolina, 131, 2. N. B. These are found in Ireland.
LXXX. The Tejuguacu is a Brazilian Lizard, of black Colour, beautified with elegant white Spots, which renders it pleasing to the Eye: Its Tongue is long and cloven, smooth and red. ’Tis a little Creature, and moves its little Body with great Celerity; is patient in Want, and will for six or seven Moons, live without any kind of Sustenance, but Air, the Fluid in which we all breathe.
LXXXI. The Taraguira is another Brazilian, of about a Foot long, whose Body is smooth, and naturally guarded by an Armour of a strong squamatick Skin, and the Scales situated in a kind of triangular form: It affects to reside in Underwoods, and Places inclosed, and near to Houses.
LXXXII. The Americina Serpent, which is not much different from the former, except it be in its forked Tail, which terminates in two different Points; and in this Article seems to differ from all other sanguineous Animals, among whom, says the learned Ray, I have never heard of any else furnish’d with two Tails: This looks like something anomalous in Nature, and contrary to its common Rules, if the Description be true.
LXXXIII. The Taraquico Aycuraba is another venemous Offspring of Brazil, a Species of the former, but differs from it in the Tail, which is single. This Animal is covered with little rough triangulated Scales, the Extremity of which is decked with brown Spots, and the Back with various dusky Specks, ranged in the form of Waves.
LXXXIV. The Americina is a little venemous Creeper, whose Body inclines to the square, about three Fingers long, in Crassitude as the Quill of a Swan; bright to the Eye, and smooth to the Hand: The Back is made strong by whitish Scales; the Head, Shanks, and Sides with brown ones: The Tail is of a fine azure Colour; its Claws are setigerous, resembling the Bristles of a Hog.
LXXXV. CARAPOBEBA is another minim Serpent of America, and veneniferous, four or five Fingers long: The Body, that in Colour resembles a Liver, is adorn’d with white Marks, (and the Tail with white Lines) and is illuminated with glaring Eyes, like Globes of Glass.
LXXXVI. TEJUNHANA is a little Serpent, whose Head is sharp-pointed: The Tail is about six Fingers long, smooth and round, and ends like a Needle; the Head is cover’d with rough Scales, like Milford Oysters; the Back and Sides are cloath’d with a Skin, that is finely painted with green and brown Colours, and when touched, feels soft like Velvet.
LXXXVII. To these Americans I add the Stellio, which Mr. Ray calls the swift, or spotted Lizard, whose Body makes a glorious Appearance, by glittering Spots, that when it makes its Parade, looks like a little moveable Firmament of Stars: This Serpent is pretty common in Thrace, Sicily, and Syria[[257]].
[257]. Ray, p. 265.
’Tis said of this Animal, that it casts its Skin and eats it again; and if so, ’tis a proper Emblem of desultory Creatures, who leave their Vices for a time, and return to them afterwards[[258]].
[258]. Grew’s Cosmologia Sacra.
Among Serpents is such Variety of charming Colours, and Figures, that if it were not for the natural Antipathy that we have for them, perhaps there is not one thing that the Eye could take greater Delight in.
Besides the above Lacertick Serpents of Brazil, Rochefort[[259]], a French Author, mentions other Serpents different from these, which come next under Consideration.
[259]. History of the Antilles-Islands.
LXXXVIII. The Les Anoles, a Serpent in bigness like the Gallick Lizards, but of a longer Head; of a yellow Skin, like a Sun-burnt Roussilonite, or the Savage Man in the Isle of Borneo; Russet Back, channel’d with green; of an ashy or cineraceous Colour; a boisterous noisy Animal. It’s generally in motion by Day, and by Night, lodges in hollow places, where it joins with the Brotherhood, in disturbing the Neighbours with hideous Croakings: by the loudness of its Noise, it should seem that it had but an empty Noddle.
LXXXIX. LES ROQUET, a Serpent of a ruddy Colour, intermix’d with black and yellow Points: of sparkling Eyes, and majestick Mien, walking in a stately manner with Head erect; and skipping about like a Bird, or a French Beau, who was said to make a Solecism with his Hand, when he made a false Gesture on the Stage.
XC. The Maboujas, a word that signifies a Devil in the Indian Language, and given to this Serpent, because in its Nature it is most malignant and mischievous: It lives in fenny Ground, and shaded Valleys, dreadful in Appearance, and more so in its Executions.
This cruel Serpent is an Emblem of the old Serpent, that great fiery Dragon, that in a few Hours reduced Job, a wealthy Prince, into the lowest Ebb of Poverty, converted his Palace into a Dunghill, and his Body into an Hospital of Diseases; and if permitted, he would immediately turn the Earth into a Scene of Blood and Destruction; therefore he is called απολλυωνορ, the Destroyer, Rev. ix. 11. the Murderer, and Shedder of Blood. N. B. The tutelar Deity of the Cæsars was Apollo, that is, the—Destroyer. The like kind of bloody Deity has presided in the Temples of Tyranny ever since.
XCI. The Gobe Moujes, so denominated by the French, from its gobbling all kinds of Flies, which it constantly hunts, and swallows in a voracious manner. It commonly frequents Houses where it suffers no little Insects to live, no not upon Garments: It is of the stellionick form, and the least of all the Quadrupeds in those Antilles, which our English call, the Leeward-Islands.
May not this Animal serve to represent those gobbling Sots, who brush off the Flies of Melancholy, and drown them in the inchanted Cup? Thus likewise the Sons of Mammon hunt for golden Flies, as Entertainments most delicious.
XCII. BROCHET DE TORRE, or the Land-Pike, is a Serpent of about fifteen Inches long, so termed from its Likeness in Figure and Skin to that Fish. Instead of Fins, it has four Feet, too weak to support the Body, therefore crawls on its Belly, after an odd unusual manner, winding its Body about like a Pike newly taken out of the Water; which kind of Motion being strange, strikes Terror into Spectators. Tetre denies it to have the perfect Shape, Head and Skin of the common Pike, and treats Sieur Rochefort with some Roughness, according to Mr. Ray.
In the Night, these Serpents are found under the Rocks, where they make a frightful Noise, more hideous than the croaking of Frogs and Toads. In Antigua is a Fish called Cane, like our Pike in figure, seven or eight Foot long, and big in proportion: It preys like the Shark, and especially on human Flesh; and the least Bite of its Teeth proves mortal Poison, without immediate Application of some sovereign Antidote[[260]].
[260]. History of the Antilles.
XCIII. The last he mentions, is a little Serpent, about seven Fingers in length, and terrible to the Eye. The Skin is embroider’d with black Scales, that look smooth and sleek as if it were a Surface of Oil: It is furnish’d with very sharp Teeth, small Eyes, but so weak that they can’t long face the Light, no more than a Frenchman can look Truth in the face, or a Spaniard the Field of Battle.
When this little venemous Animal apprehends any Danger, it immediately digs into the Earth, with its five crooked and strong Claws, that soon penetrate the Ground: ’tis guilty not only of Evils among Beasts, but of great Devastations in Orchards and Gardens[[261]].
[261]. Ray.
I have wondered, says a learned Author, to see with what great Quickness, Art, and Strength, many Vespæ, Ichneumons, wild Bees and Beetles,—perforate the Earth, yea, even Wood itself; but the most remarkable in this way, is the Mole-Cricket[[262]]. Swine, who dig in the Earth for their Food, have all parts of their Head adapted for that Service, but rather more remarkable in the Mole, whose Neck, Eyes, Nose and Ears are all fitted in the nicest manner, to its subterraneous way of Life.
[262]. Derham Phys. Theol.
XCIV. The Ground Rattle-Snake, so called, only because it resembles the real Rattle-Snake in Colour, but is somewhat darker: It never grows above twelve or sixteen Inches long; ’tis reckon’d among the worst of Snakes, and of a hardy Nature, because it keeps out of its Winter-Quarters the longest of any. N. B. This Serpent and some of the following are taken out of the natural History of Carolina[[263]], a part of America belonging to England. The Natives of that Country were of a larger Size than Europeans, and accounted so faithful in their Promises, and so just in their Dealings, that they had no Words to express Dishonesty, Fraud, or Cheating,—What contributed chiefly to their honest Simplicity, and plain Method of living, was their Contempt of Riches; were content with plain Food and Raiment, without being anxiously sollicitous for to-morrow.
[263]. In the new Collection of Voyages, 4to, printed 1713.
XCV. The Horn-Snake, very venemous, hisses exactly like a Goose, upon any body’s Approach. Serpents of this Class strike at the Enemy with their Tail, which is arm’d at the end with a horny Substance, like a Cock-Spur, that kills whatever is wounded with it. ’Tis said, that in Virginia, they only shoot their Tongues, and shake them at the Enemy[[264]].
[264]. Lowthorp. vol. iii, p. 599.
XCVI. The Hydrus, Natrix, or Water-Snake, of these are various sorts, and all in some degree amphibious. When the Coluber Aquaticus wounds any, ’tis attended with a most disagreeable Odour, and so strong, that it forbids a near Approach to the unhappy Sufferer, who immediately falls into a Tremor and Distraction, and soon expires (the third day, says Ælian) without timely Relief[[265]].
[265]. Ælian. lib. iv. cap. 57. Accessio Gyllii.—
Its common Residence is in shallow Waters, and when they are dried up, it goes upon dry Ground, where its Wound is more dangerous than in Water: But more of this elsewhere.
XCVII. In that Country they have what they call Swamp-Snakes; three sorts of which are near a-kin to the Water-Snakes, and may be rank’d among them. The Belly of the first is of the carnation Colour, the Back is dark: the next, which is of a brown Colour, always abides in the Marshes: the third is of a motley Colour, and very poisonous.
They dwell on the sides of Swamps, i. e. Bogs, Marshes, and Ponds, have a prodigious large Mouth, and they arrive to the thickness of the Calf of a Man’s Leg. Among these I place the black Truncheon-Snakes, that live on the Banks of Rivers, which, when disturbed, shoot into the Water, like an Arrow out of a Bow. I fancy the Name is borrow’d from a certain Weapon call’d Truncheon, which we call Battoon, or Tipstaff, of a cylindrical form, used by principal Officers of State, Generals, and sometimes by Constables, when they go upon secret Expeditions.
XCVIII. The Red-belly-Snake, this is so called from its ruddy Colour, which inclines to an Orange-red. Of these are two sorts; one, like Abel the Innocent; the other, like Cain the Cruel: An Emblem of the World, humane, angelic Animal, and Vegetable, in which is a Mixture of Good and Evil.
XCIX. The Red-back-Snake, so named from that Colour; a long, slender Snake, but not very common. A certain Surveyor of Lands in Carolina happen’d to step over one of these, which he did not see till his Servant spy’d it: The Surveyor inquired of the Indian that was along with him, Whether it was a very venemous Serpent? Who answer’d, That if he had been wounded by it, even the Indians themselves, tho’ expert in the Art of curing serpentine Wounds, could not have saved his Life[[266]].
[266]. Natural History of Carolina.
Red, which is one of the primary Colours, proceeding from the least refrangible Rays of Light, is a lively Emblem of Fire, or the fiery Venom in this Serpent, whose principal Quality is to draw Blood.
C. The Scorpion-Lizard; ’tis commonly called so, but is no more like it than a Hedge-Hog: It is indeed of the Lizard Colour, but much larger: Its Back of a dark copper Colour; the Belly, in Orange; quick in its Motion on the Ground, and very nimble in running up Trees; has several Rows of Teeth, and is reckoned to be of a very poisonous Nature.
CI. The Long Black-Snake, is a land Animal, and very common. I have, says my Author, kill’d several of them, full six Foot in length. Its Bite, tho’ painful in its Consequences, is not deem’d commonly mortal: the wounded Part swells, and turns to a running Ulcer. No living Creature more nimble in Motion, or a greater Enemy to Mice, for it leaves not one of that Vermin alive, wherever it comes. This Serpent kills the Rattle-Snake, by twisting its Head about the Neck of that Snake, and whipping her to death with its Tail.
This Serpent very much haunts Dairy-houses in those Countries, and makes very free with unguarded Milk-Pans, and Cream-Pots: It delights to be among Hens, whose Eggs it does not suck, but swallows them whole, as all Snakes do their Sustenance. It will often swallow the Egg under a sitting Hen, and then lie in the Nest in the form of a Ring.
Allow here a few Remarks upon the Nature of Milk and Eggs.
In all kinds of Vegetables is an oily Substance, which is a Fluid that Animals take in with their Food, and no vegetable Food is nutrimental, without some Proportion of this Oil; even Grass, especially in its Seed, abounds therewith, which being thoroughly mixt with the Saliva, it turns milky in the Stomach: Which differs from the Chyle, only as having been more concocted, and containing a large degree of Salt, which renders it convertible into Curd.
MILK therefore is an oily vegetable Matter, circulated first in Plants, then in Animals, and capable of being reduced into a caseous and watry Substance, (or Cheese and Whey, if you please.) If Milk finds no opportunity of passing off in its own natural form, it turns to Fat, or goes away by Urine and Sweat, which commonly is the case in Men, for they generate Milk as well as Women, &c.
An Egg is from a certain animal Liquid, which by repeated Circulations in the Body, arrives at a perfect animal State; this Fluid comes from the oviparous Class, which is the White wherein the Yolk appears to swim. The White and Yolk of Eggs are neither alkaline nor acid.
The White dissolves by a gentle Heat, till it totally liquifies, (thus the Hen’s Heat gradually dissolves the White of a prolific Egg into Nourishment for the Chicken) but if you expose the White to the Heat of boiling Water, it will immediately harden, into a viscous, dry Mass.
The White of an Egg is a surprizing Menstruum, for if it be first boiled hard in the Shell, and afterwards suspended in the Air by a Thread, it will resolve and drop down into an insipid Liquor; which is that heterogeneous Menstruum so much used by Paracelsus, and will make a thorough Solution of Myrrh, which is more than Water, Oils, or Fire itself can effect[[267]]. N. B. The White of an Egg, by a strong Distillation, will afford an alkaline Spirit, and will putrify by Digestion; and a single Grain of this putrify’d Substance taken, will, like Poison, presently cause a Nausea, Vomit, Diarrhœa, Fever ... as Bellini tells us he has tried. And the learned Boerhaave himself, had seen those terrible Effects of it, which however are immediately stopt by drinking any acid Liquor, as Vinegar, Juice of Lemons. From Milk I proceed to give an account of an odd Custom about Cheese in Antiquity, viz. Among the Romans, one of their Tabernæ was called Casearia, a Caseo i. e. from Cheese; not because Cheese was made or sold in it, but because it was wont to be smoaked there: It being a Custom among the old Romans and other Italians, to make a great Smoke with Reeds and green Wood, on purpose to dry and colour their Cheese; hence the Poet Martial.
Non quemcunque focum, nec fumum caseus omnem,
Sed velabrensem, qui bibit ille sapit.——
i. e. That Cheese only is pleasant and grateful, which does not suck in every Fume, but which is smoak’d only, velabro, in Tents or Booths.
[267]. Boerhaave’s Process, p.
CII. The King’s Snake, is the longest of all others; but not common. It is said to be terrible to other Serpents, though not very venemous and gross: the Indians, Men and Women, in Carolina, make Girdles and Sashes of their Skins, as Signs of Conquest, and wear them as Trophies of Honour.
This puts me in mind of Hippocrates, the Prince of Physicians, who tells us that in the Eastern Parts of Europe, there is a Scythian People, called Sauromatæ, bordering on the Palus Mæotis, where the Women ride on Horse-back, draw the Bow, throw the Javelin as they ride, and fight in their Battles, so long as they remain Virgins; and were not allow’d to marry, till they had killed three Enemies in the Wars[[268]]. Of my Author ’tis said, He neither knew how to deceive, nor be deceived[[269]].
[268]. Hippocrates upon Air, Water, and Situation; upon Epidemical Diseases, &c. translated into English, by the learned Dr. Clifton.
[269]. Of Hippocrates ’tis said,——Qui tam fallere quam falli nescit. -Macrobii Opera, p. 27.
N. B. These were the Women called Amazons, descended from the Scythians, whose Women were as warlike as the Men, and joined with them in their Wars.
CIII. The Corn-Snake, is most like the Rattle-Snake of all others in Colour, but the Chequers are not so regular; neither has it any Rattles. They are frequently found in Corn-fields, from whence, I presume, they have their Appellation. In their Qualities they resemble the Green-Snakes, that are innocent by Nature, and in form admirably pretty, if I may be allow’d by the Ladies, to call a Serpent so.
CIV. The Blowing-Serpent, which is a Species of the Viper, but larger than the European, is so called, because it seems to blow, to spread its Head, and swell very much, before it bites; which Bite is very poisonous, and seems to receive some additional Malignity from the Enlargement of its Head beyond the common Proportion.
CV. The Brimstone-Snake, so denominated from the Similitude of Colour: They might as well call it, the Glass-Snake, for if any Credit be given to the Historian, ’tis as brittle as a Glass-Tube, or a Tobacco-Pipe, so that upon the touch of a Twig, it immediately breaks into several Pieces, which some say, and nobody believes, are capable of Re-union.
Its component Parts may be weak and frail, but it is questionable, whether so brittle as represented: ’Tis true indeed there are hard Bodies, that would not be affected with a Twig, yet are very brittle. Thus Iron, which is one of the hardest Metals and yet most brittle, and by fusing, it becomes harder and more brittle. Now this great Brittleness of Iron, arises from the great quantity of Sulphur-Brimstone intermixed with it. The abundance of Sulphur in Iron, is apparent from the Sparks it emits from under the Smith’s Hammer; those fiery Sparks being only the Sulphur of the heated Iron, nothing of which is seen in any other Metal[[270]]. N. B. Roll-Brimstone sold in the Shops comes from the native Sulphur, which Helmont always preferred to that purified.
[270]. Boerhaave’s Method of Chemistry.
CVI. The Yellow-Snake is in length about seven or eight Foot; the Neck is small, rather less than its Body, which grows bigger, till it be as big as one’s Wrist, and continues so large to the Anus; from whence it diminishes by degrees to the Tail. Its Head (which is not very large) is of a dark Colour, and so are the Scales all over the Body, with some yellow Streaks here and there. The Belly is all yellow, like Marygold, whose Flowers are cordial.
These Serpents are for the most part to be found in the woody Mountains of America, coil’d up in the Paths, as Ropes in a Ship: they are not hurtful, unless irritated; they feed on Birds, Rats, &c. which they swallow whole, and therefore Nature has given them such a folded, rugous, inward Tunicle of the Stomach, that it may extend, and receive things of large Dimensions. Many of them have been killed with thirteen or fourteen Rats in their Bellies[[271]].
[271]. Sir Hans Sloan’s Voyages to Madeira, Barbad. vol. ii. Lond. 1725.
It has been observed, that the Heart of this Serpent was beating an Hour after the Head was cut off, and that it would turn and twist its Body strangely in its Dissection, for a long time after the Bowels were out: The Lungs were very membranaceous, being nothing but Blood-Vessels and Air-Bladders. So a very learned Author. ibid.
CVII. The Chicken-Snake, so called because of its Executions in the Poultry-yard, where it devours all Eggs, and lesser Birds that come in its way. These Serpents are of a sooty Colour, and will very readily roll themselves round a smooth-bark’d Pine-tree, eighteen or twenty Foot high, where there is no manner of hold, and there sun themselves, and sleep all the pleasurable part of the Day, reserving the hours of Darkness for rambling[[272]]. There is no great matter of Poison in them. Here the Historian mentions the Eel-Snake, improperly so called, I think, because it is nothing but a Leach, that only sucks, and can’t sting nor bite, so as to do any Damage.
[272]. Natural History of Carolina, p. 134.
CVIII. The Vectis, whose Head, strictly speaking, is neither round, flat, nor pointed, but looks like a Swelling on both sides, one stretching transversly, like a Bar that guards a Door, or, if you please, a Bettee, an Engine to break open Doors. Though this Sense be not intended here, yet ’tis true, that Serpents do make forcible Entries, but it is always with Teeth and Tail, by which they often throw down the whole Fabrick, and drive out the Inhabitant.
CIX. The Agnasen Serpent, called the Mother of Ants, because it lodges in their Apartments, and other warm Situations. We read of Ants in the East-Indies that build their Houses above Ground, and with the finest Clay, of which the People make their Idols; their little Houses are like strong Butts, hollow within, where they dwell, and breed in Nests like Honey-combs.
The Butts present to my view the Bow and Arrows in the Hands of the Parthians, who were esteemed the best Archers in the world, and very deservedly, having the Art of shooting backwards, and making their Retreat more terrible than their Charge: Whence that of Seneca[[273]], The Parthians Flight does most affright. The manner of their Fight is describ’d by the Poet, who says, They were better Soldiers when they run away, and fought best when furthest off, trusting most to the Bow[[274]].
[273]. Terga conversi metuenda Parthi.
Pugna levis, bellumque fugax, turmæque fugaces,
Et melior cessisse loco quam pellere miles.
Lucan.
M. CRASSUS, in his Expedition against them, being told by an Astrologer it would be unprosperous, because of some ill Aspect in Scorpio: Hush Man, quoth he, I fear not Scorpio, but Sagittarius.—But to return to the Motherly Serpent, which is about a Foot and a half long, the Body slender, adorn’d with red and white Streaks. Another Author says, ’tis of a red Colour, distinguish’d by black Lines, intermix’d with white Spots: The Indians play with this Serpent (as Ladies with their Lap-dogs) and for Diversion, wear this little innocent and pretty Animal (as a Necklace of Pearls) about their Necks[[275]].
[275]. Joan. Euseb. Nierembergii Historia Naturæ, p. 272,-3.
CX. The Macacoatl, or Anguis Cervinus, so called from its horned Head, which resembles that of a Deer, as thick as a Man’s Thigh, in length about twenty Foot, sprinkled with dusky Spots inclining to the black and yellow.—This seems to be a Member of the gigantick Family, already described. Ibid. 273. Therefore I dismiss it, and proceed to the
CXI. AQUASEN Serpent, which seems to be the Birth of the Philippines, and very venemous: Its Wound proves fatal in a few Minutes, which is preceded by the Putrefaction of the Flesh, next to the affected part. It is about two Spans long, of a brown Colour, and a large Head[[276]].
[276]. Nascitur in Philippicis. ibid. p. 273. Nierembergius.
CXII. The Serpent Otus is one of the Plagues of America, and very poisonous, there being but few hours distance between the Wound it gives and Death. It is about an Inch thick, and three Foot long, a little Head and whitish Belly, and may be farther distinguish’d from others, by white and black Spots, and three red Lines running across; slow in Motion, and fond of Shade; found in Cuba, a famous Island, where the antient Inhabitants went naked, tho’ they might have been cloath’d in Gold. The Historian speaking of Spanish Cruelty, observes, that a certain Indian Prince having fled to Cuba for Shelter, was taken by the Spaniards, and condemned by them to be burnt alive. When they were tying him to the Stake, a Priest told him if he would embrace the Spanish Religion, he should go to Heaven; but if not, he must burn for ever in Hell. Upon this, the poor distressed Prince ask’d him, if there were any Spaniards in Heaven, and the Priest answering, Yes; Hathuey the Prince replied, viz.
THAT if it be so, I’ll rather go to the Devils in Hell, than go with the Spaniards to Heaven; for their Cruelty is such, that none can be more miserable than where they are. N. B. This account is given by one of their own Bishops[[277]].
[277]. Barthol. de las Casas, Bishop of Chiapa. Hist. of Antilles.
CXIII. The Dopon is reckoned to be a most dangerous Serpent; ’tis about an Inch round, and four or five Foot long. The vulgar Opinion is, that the whole Body is all over tinged with Poison, the Tail excepted. Its Head is very large, and of an octangular form, so far as the Eyes, from which it grows less and less to the Mouth, which is oblong and flat, arm’d with six Teeth in the upper Jaws, and six in the lower, besides lesser ones: The Tongue is slender, and of a black Colour.
Its Wounds are terrible, allowing the Patient only about twenty-four hours to live. No sooner is the Wound given, but all parts of the Body begin to swell, and soon extend beyond their due Proportion; that they are soon disabled from performing their Operations[[278]].
[278]. Remedio est Alexiterium pangagausen. Nierembergii Historia, cap. xiii. p. 274.
Thus Pride, the malignant Tumour of the Mind, was the fatal Wound, by which the Angelic Serpent, the first in Dignity among created Beings, was transformed into a Devil. Sin, a Poison so strong, that by the first taste of it, the whole human Nature was infected. Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden Fruit, and lo! we must all die for it, at the distance of so many thousand Years.
CXIV. The Attaligatus is a small slender Serpent, not exceeding the Quill of a Goose in proportion; not poisonous in its Nature, yet very mischievous; for these little Creatures are an united Body, and live in community, and never separate: they are a Society without Schism, which is more than can be affirmed of all human Societies, civil or ecclesiastick.
When these small harmonious Reptiles go abroad, they travel in Company, a hundred strong or more, and where they find any asleep, they immediately seize the Body, and with a Force united and irresistable, they devour it[[279]]. Behold! a Conquest by an Army of Worms!
[279]. Nierembergii Historia, cap. xiii. p. 274.
Thus Herod the Great, the Proud, the Cruel, when upon the Throne, was attack’d by an Army of Worms, that quickly devoured him. His Body became worm-eaten like a piece of rotten Wood[[280]]. Of the Executions done by Worms, we have divers Instances in the human World. No part of Man’s Body, whether inward or outward, but is subject to Worms, and have been tormented with them.
[280]. γενομενος σχωληχοβρωτος, Act. xii.
Man’s Body, if rightly understood, would appear to be a Granary for Worms, of divers Colours and Sizes: In the inward Parts, as Stomach, Guts, Liver, Blood, Gall, Bladder, have been found swarms of Vermin, sapping the Foundation of the animal Structure. We have Instances of Worms bred in the human Brains, and were discovered in the Brain of the Paris-Girl when opened—probably laid, by some Insect, in the Laminæ of the Nostrils, from whence it gnawed its way into the Brain[[281]]. So in the outer parts.
[281]. Derham from Bartholinus.
GALEN in Jonstonus says, that in Ethiopia, India, and the mountainous part of Egypt, the Inhabitants were tormented with Worms, that bred in their Legs and Arms, called Dracunculi, whose Motion in the Flesh was conspicuous to the Eye.
LUCIUS CORNELIUS SYLLA, Consul and Dictator of Rome, (the Glories of whose Valour were obscured by barbarous Cruelties) died of a φθιριασις a wormy or lousy Disease: Thus Aliman[[282]], a renowned Greek Poet, and Pherecydes the Philosopher, and Master to Pythagoras, died of the same loathsome Distemper.
[282]. Pliny. Part. i.
Sed quis non paveat pherecydos fata tragœdi:
Qui nimio sudore fluens, animalia tetra,
Eduxit turpi miserum qua morte tulerunt.
Sylla quoque infelix tali languore peresus
Corruit, & sœdo se vidit ab agmine vinci.
Sic testatur Serenus medicus.
In Persia there are very long slender Worms bred in the Legs and other Parts of Men’s Bodies, six or seven Yards long. Those who live upon the Red-Sea, and feed upon Locusts, are, in the last Stage of Life, subject to a sort of Flying-Worms, like what is called a Tyke, spread over all the Body, arising at first from a Scab, by scratching of which they tear their Flesh. Nieremberg. Some relate divers Examples of Worms taken out of the Tongue, Gums, Nose, and other Parts by a Woman at Leicester, which they were Eye-witnesses of. N. B. Mr. Dent and Mr. Lewis, in the Philosoph. Trans. in Lowthorp’s Abridg. where these and divers others may be seen. If it did not extend the Digression too far, I might add here, That there are no Animals, as Sheep, Wolves, Goats, Deers, Cows, Horses, Swine; yea, no Vegetables, as Trees, Herbs, Plants, Flowers, but abound with Worms; and all these have Worms peculiar to themselves. By the help of microscopical Glasses, we may discover Legions of Worms in Vinegar, human Blood, and other Liquids.
CXV. The Ecatotl, Anguis-Venti, Serpent-of-the-Wind, and very innocent, and perhaps the Name may be borrowed from a gentle salutary Gale; it is about six Spans long, and two Inches in Crassitude; the Eyes are black, Teeth small, the Belly bright, like Silver. The Back and Sides illustrated with white Streaks, alternately painted with Yellow and Azure: the Tongue is of a black Colour, small, long, and cloven, and most nimble in its Vibrations[[283]].
[283]. Nierembergius, cap. xv. p. 274.
CXVI. DE Angue-Laqueo, the Ensnaring-Serpent. In the Province of Vera-Pas, west of the Honduras; they are much infected with several Insects, as Muskettoes, Fire-Flies, and Serpents. Among the last is one Serpent of great Bulk, and excels in Craftiness, being very subtle and sharp in laying hold of its Prey. The Method is surprizing; for it wraps up itself in the Form of a Ginn, and so decoys the Game into the Snare: It bites like a Dog, and is very mischievous, tho’ not of the venemous Order. Ibid.
CXVII. The stupid Serpent, which they call Canaucoatl, in Character is contradictious; for, as represented in History, ’tis dull and in a manner destitute of Sensation, and yet a Creature full of Vitality and Spirit; and indeed is only remarkable for its Mettle. It is of the Tribe of Innocents, and very strong, and fears no Assault. In Dimension, monstrous; for Thickness, equal to a Man’s Body, and twice the Length. ’Tis said, some have sat upon it, apprehending it to be only the Trunk of an old Tree. Some other fabulous Things are reported of it.
It lives in the Shadow of Woods, often concealing itself under Branches and Leaves of Trees, where it surprizes the Prey, which, to speak with the Vulgar, it draws to him, by the Force of its Breath, as a Loadstone does Iron. The Authors of the Atlas mention a Serpent of this attractive Power in the Philippine Islands; Birds and other Animals are drawn into the Trap by the Charms of the Breath; yea, Partridges, Weasels——are made to run into its devouring Jaws. Ibid.
If this Serpent be endued with this magnetic Property, it is a living Loadstone, and more extensive in its Attractions than the real one; for this draws all animal Bodies to it, whereas the real Loadstone only attracts Iron. Attraction in the gross, is so complex a thing, that it may solve a thousand different things alike. This Creature is called Ibitin in America; and probably the same with the following, though distinctly considered by the Historian.
CXVIII. The Serpent Bitin, an Inhabitant of the Mountains and Woods in the Island of Cuba, &c. of great Bulk, and Length about four Ells; and in Shape terrible to the Eye. The Head, which resembles that of a Calf, grows large to the Eyes, which sparkle with the bright and black, and are incircled with Rays of Green; it has wide Jaws, armed with many sharp Teeth, among which are four of the canine sort.
CANINI Dentes, that is Dog’s-Teeth, are two Teeth in each Jaw, so called, because they end like those of a Dog in a sharp Point, whose particular Office is to pierce the Aliments, therefore are buried in their Sockets, by which they are more able to resist all lateral Pressures, than the Molares, or the common Grinders.
This Bitinian Serpent hangs by the Tail on Trees, devouring Men and Beasts that pass by, and come within its Reach, by the dint of halituous Attraction, as the stupid, and some of the Philippine Serpents are said to do; but if it be so, the Philosophy of it is not yet accounted for.
CXIX. The Monoxillo, or Mucronated-Serpent, so called because its Termination is sharp-pointed. It has something of the Fierce and Terrible in its Appearance, but is more dreadful in Aspect than Nature; for its Wounds, though painful, are not mortal. ’Tis of the Lacertan Kind and Colour; the Tail long, and Legs of small length; the Body about two Spans long, the Tongue large and forked and of red Colour. ’Tis tedious in Motion; the whole Compound is crustaceous, like Shell-Fishes, adorned with white and yellow Spots, resembling little Pearls, or Seed of Grummel or Gray-Mile.
N. B. The Seed of Vegetables consists of an Embryo, in which is contained the whole Plant in Miniature. A compleat Oak is visible in an Acorn by a Microscope.
CXX. The Tapayaxin, a little wonderful Serpent; some say of the Lacertan Kind, others say of an orbicular Form, not above four Inches Long. The Body is cartilaginous, or gristly, smooth and solid. This kind of Coverture is harder than a Ligament, and softer than a Bone, but is not covered over with any Membrane to make it capable of Sensation.
It moves slowly, and recommends itself by Diversity of Colours: when touched, the Body appears to be cold. Now, Bodies are said to be cold or hot, as their Particles are in a greater or lesser Motion, than those of the sensitory Organs. All Changes in the created Globe, are the Effects of Motion, without which all Bodies would become unactive Masses[[284]].
[284]. Newton’s Opticks, p. 375.
This little Animal, is said to be pleased, or rather unconcerned, when taken up by human Hands; called on that account, the Friend of Man; that is, he who is not against us, is for us; therefore merits our Smiles. His Situation corresponds with his natural Disposition, for it is an Inhabitant of cold Regions. When its Head is comprest, Drops of Blood gush out of his Eyes, which he casts to a great distance from him; which agrees with a former Description, &c.
CXXI. DE Haro coloti genere. The Serpent Harus, according to the Historian[[285]], is a Native of the Philippines, and of the Lacertan Tribe: a very long Head (like the Philippine Queen) on a bulky Body, terminating in a sharp Point. It resembles the Quaquetzall, is in Mexico, and agrees therewith in most things, and of which it seems to be a Species.
[285]. Nierembergius, cap. xxiv. p. 276. Nascitur in Philippicis.
It chuses its Habitation among Shrubs adjacent to clear Streams, and never defiles a Body, so prettily coloured, with muddy Water, till constrained to make the Bulrush its Shelter against the excessive Heat of the Sun[[286]].
[286]. Ibid. p. 276.
CXXII. The Tamacolin, or a Serpent called Rubeta, of the Lineage of the red Toad: This kind is made up of Variety, differing only one from another in Magnitude, Colour, and Poison. The lesser kind not so venemous as the larger. Some are green, some are brown, and others black. In showery Weather they make an open Appearance, and in such Numbers, that none walk abroad without running the risk of a poisonous Touch.
NEW-SPAIN abounds with them, where they affect watry Habitations. In Peru are Toads as large almost as Cats or Dogs, but not so poisonous as those of Brazil, where they have a Fish called Amyacu, i. e. Toad-Fish; ’tis about a Span long, and oddly painted; its Eyes are fine and fair: It swells and snorts when taken out of the Water, which was the reason of giving it that Name: When flayed it may be eaten, but is otherwise poisonous; the Poison is drawn out by Application of Fire to the Part affected[[287]].
[287]. Harris in Atlas for Brazil in General.
CXXIII. TETZAUCOATL, or the rare Serpent; so called, because the least of Serpents; and though very little, scarce four Inches long, or in Bulk so big as a Goose-quill, yet its Wounds are most deadly. The Belly is red, and distinguishable by black Stains; the Back yellow, interlaid with divers Spots. It is an Inhabitant of the North, and delights in cold Apartments. This (though distinctly described by the Historian) seems to be the same with the Tetzaucoatl[[288]]. N. B. Little Things, greatly dangerous.
[288]. Nieremb.
The Poet weeps for a Person killed by the Fall of an Icicle, which is a little Drop of Water congealed[[289]]. Anacreon, the celebrated Lyrick Poet among the Greeks, was choaked with a little Kernel of a Grape. Little Things do great Executions. Little Worms destroy floating Castles. Tarantula, a little Spider, poisons a Giant. In Barbadoes is what they call the Poison-Tree, a little Drop of its Sap flying into a Workman’s Eyes, makes him blind; therefore Workmen cover them with Cypress.
Oh! ubi non est si jugulatis aqua.
Mart.
PLINY, from M. Varro says, there was a Town in Spain undermined by Conies, and another in Thessaly by Mold-Warps, and another in France, from which they were driven out by Frogs.... In some parts of Africa, People were constrained by Locusts to leave their Habitations. Out of Gyaros (one of the Islands of the Cyclades in the Ægean Sea, most of which are now under the Turks) the Inhabitants were forced away by Rats and Mice, little Things: And if it be true, that Theophrastus the Philosopher reports, the Treriens were chased away by an Army of little Worms, called Scolopendra[[290]]. All these mighty Conquests were made by little contemptible Insects.
[290]. Pliny’s Natural History, Part I. B. viii. Cap. 29.
What says the Laconian, when wounded with a Dart? I am not, quoth he, concerned at my Death, but at my Fall by a Wound from a little feeble Archer. For ’tis Satisfaction to the Vanquish’d to die by the Hand of heroic Valour; hence that of Virgil;
Æneæ Magni dextra cadis....
’Tis by the Great Æneas’ Hand you fall.
The reason was, because the Lacedemonians were wont to fight with Swords, therefore it was not counted Bravery to kill Men with a Dart, a thing that may be done by any Woman.
So in the vegetable World, there are Cedars and Shrubs. In Natural Philosophy, we read of Atoms, that are Minima Naturæ, the ultimate Particles into which Matter is divisible, and are conceived as the first Rudiments, or component Parts of all physical Magnitude, or the pre-existent and incomprehensible Matter, whereof particular Bodies were formed; there are Mountains and Mole-Hills,
So ... there was Alexander the Great, and there is Alexander the Little, the ingenious and learned Mr. Pope; the one conquered by the Sword, the other by his Pen, and has made all the Regions of Fame tributary to him.
CXXIV. The tame and tractable Serpent, is of the Indian Race, about an Inch long, when brought first from the Field for domestick Education; and when at its full Growth, is not much short of a Man’s Thigh. Its Habitation is in some little Hutch erected on purpose, (indulgentiæ gratia) where it idles away its time, till Hunger brings it out. Upon its Approach to the Master of the House, it creeps up to his Shoulders, where the Embraces of that terrible Creature (being made tame) are received with Delight[[291]].
[291]. Nierembergius, cap. xl. p. 283.—Humeros heri amicè conscendunt, benevolè terrifici animalis amplexus tolerantis.
CXXV. The Tleoa, or Tetloa, that is, a little fiery Serpent, and very common in the new World, and described by the Historian thus[[292]], viz. ’Tis about a Finger broad, and five or six Foot long, and differenced from others by a Medley of Spots, compounded of white, black, yellow, and dun Colours. The Head is like that of our Vipers, and the Tail, which seems to have a touch of the Rattle, ends acutely.
[292]. Nierembergius; from Franciscus Hernandus.
Its Wounds are deadly, and burn like Fire; hence the Name it bears: Though fiery in Nature, is slow and winding in Motion, and may be avoided by the Traveller, if he has Eyes and Ears. Its usual Residence is in Mountains, and the higher Mountains are, the greater the Cold, (because they only receive direct, and but little of the reflected Rays of the Sun) yet are the Habitations of fiery Animals.
The Learned observe, there are Mountains a Mile and an half high, to the tops of which, no Vapour, and consequently no Clouds, can ever reach: And hence it is that in very high Mountains, as the Pico de Theide in Bohemia, though the middle part be always inverted with Snow, and the bottom scorched with intolerable Heat; yet on the top you will find yourself in a pure, thin, serene Air, and view the Clouds hovering at a considerable distance below you[[293]].
[293]. Montibus Tepeztlanicis.
Hence it is that all Thunder is confined within less than a Mile’s Height. The Air is coldest in the highest places, and hottest in the lowest; but in the intermediate Atmosphere, where we live, very unequal: but no Climates, however situated, are privileged with Exemption from venemous Creatures, and where they are less pestered with them, ’tis owing to the Cultivation of the Land.
The Wounds given by this Serpent are dangerous, and cured by an Herb called Ancola, by Jonstonus, p. 26, 27. but Anola, by Nierembergius, p. 277, 283.
CXXVI. The Hydrus, or Natrix, an acquatic Serpent: The former word from ὑδορ Water, of which ’tis an Inhabitant; the other word denotes its Skill in the Art of Natation; it goes under various Denominations, as appears in Jonstonus; who, from Pliny observes, that this Serpent is superior to most in Beauty, and inferior to none in Poison[[294]].
[294]. Jonstoni Historia Nat. p. 28.
NICANDER, who calls the terrestrial Hydrus, a foul coloured Beast, vindicates the beautiful Character of the Marine; who yet is not very nice in its Choice of Water, for muddy and clear is equally the same to this beautiful Slut[[295]]. In its Nature ’tis very poisonous, says one; Cardan is in the Negative. The truth is, there are several sorts of them, some of which are harmless, and others hurtful, and their Wounds attended with very terrible Effects, described by the poetick Physician[[296]].
[295]. ’Tis sometimes called Lutra, ex Luto; because it delights most in foul Water; or the Word may signify, to wash and make clean.
Pessima quas fecit plagas hæc signa sequantur;
Arida tota cutis circum putret horribilemque
Elevat aspectum, magni ignitique dolores
Tandem hominem interimunt.——
Nicander.
In some parts of Persia they are very numerous, described by white Heads and black Body, four Cubits long, and dangerous to those who dabble in the Water by Night, as they often do in that hot Country where these Animals feed upon Fish and Frogs[[297]]; and breed upon Land, according to Aristotle[[298]].
Stagna colit, ripisque habitans his piscibus atram
Improbus Ingluviem ranisque loquacibus explet,
Exhausta palus—Exilit in siccum—
Virg. Georg. lib. iii.
[298]. Jonstoni Hist. Nat. p. 28, 29.
Its common Habitation is in the Myclean Lake, in Corcina or Corcyra, now Corfou, (a little rich Island in the Venetian Dominion) and also about Taracina (a City of the Volscians in Campania, in Italy, not far from Amyclæ) where the People, not daring to kill Serpents, were overthrown by them; to mention no more. Ibid.
CXXVII. The Natrix-Torquata, Jonston makes different from the former, and describes it thus——Called Torquata from its beautiful Neck, which looks as if incircled with a strong Collar of Pearls.... On the hinder part of the Head is a little narrow Space in the form of two Scales, where the Spots on both sides end acutely in a triangular form. The Scholiast upon Nicander, compliments those pretty Spots with the Title of little Crowns[[299]].
[299]. Ibid. p. 29.
It goes under various Appellations. The Greeks called it Guardian of their Houses[[300]], it being of the innocent sort. Some of the Italians call it Carbonarium, a Collier, because its Colour inclined to Coal-black, or Iron. Mr. Ray calls it, the common Snake. It is larger than a Viper, and more gross in Body; brings forth its Young by Eggs, hatch’d by foreign Heat; feeds on Mice; sucks Cows, upon which follows Blood. The Reader is referred to a former.
[300]. Οφεις οικουροι.
Plate 6th.
CXXVIII. The Marine-Dragon, as Pliny calls it, or the true Marine-Serpent, in the Dialect of Jonstonus, who, in his Description of Fishes, gives a particular account of it. We have already accounted for monstrous Serpents in the Indies, where some have Teeth in the form of a Saw, with which they do more hurt than with their Poison, says the Greek Historian[[301]].
[301]. Æliani Hist. lib. xvi. cap. 3.
In Africa, are some large and strong enough to contend with Oxen by Land, and to overturn a three-oar’d Galley by Water; which agrees in Character with those of Norway already described: There we found some of 200 Foot long, winding themselves about Ships, according to Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Upsal.
In several of the Persian Islands are some of twenty Cubits long, and very terrifying to Sailors. Such also are seen in the Promontory of Carmania, the Residence of the Ichthyophagi, a People that feed wholly upon Fish; a fine Country for such who are inclin’d to keep a perpetual Lent. Tho’ these Monsters are born in the Deep, yet are they found in fresh Waters, and sometime sporting upon Land, where they sleep[[302]].
[302]. Jonston. de Piscib. p. 9. Articulus v.
The same Author tells us, of a terrible Battle that happen’d in Turkey, in the time of Bajazet, between the land and marine Serpents, that continued from Morning to Night, when after a great Destruction on both sides, the Marines fled. Ibid.
CXXIX. The Rubetarian-Serpent is a very noisy Animal, who for its croaking Noise is resembled to a land Toad. It also engages the Attention of the Eye, for it excels in Beauty: It’s known among Country People by these two Characteristicks, viz. Loud and Pretty. Here we see, what is an Offence to the Ear may be a pleasing Entertainment to the Eye; thus the Five Senses agree to differ in their several Perceptions, and to meet in several distinct Apartments of the capital Temple, in the pacifick Empire. But to return to the beautiful Padalica of the Polonians:
It is said of this Serpent, that when it wounds any in the Foot, the Remedy is to put the wounded part into the next Earth, that is inclined to the moist, for twenty-four hours. This seems to differ from the American Rubeta.
CXXX. The Serpent de Boa is another of the monstrous kind; called Boa from Bos, the Latin word for an Ox, which it devours at once: The young ones, which grow to a great Bulk, are nourished by sucking the Cow.
In the Emperor Claudius’s time, in one of them that was killed, they found a Child that was whole. In Calabria are some monstrous Animals, not unlike these, says the Historian; who adds, that not many Years ago a certain Bishop speaks of a large mischievous Serpent, that was shot near St. Archangel, whose Jaws were almost two Palms long, the Portraiture of which is yet seen in a certain Temple there[[303]].
[303]. M. Antonius Cuccinus Episcopus Anglonensis ad Thomasium—in Agro S. Archangeli. In Jonstonus; in Verb.
CXXXI. I Am informed by some Persons, who had it by Tradition from ancient People, that formerly there was in this Country a monstrous Serpent of four or five Yards long, and thicker than a common Axle-tree of a Cart, and very mischievous, preying upon Lambs, &c. Its chief Residence was in a Wood, near Pickopbank, a few Miles from Blackburn, in Lancashire, called Ouse-Castle, wherein there is yet a little Spot of Ground, called Griom’s-Ark, which is a deep Cavern, situated among Rocks, in a Wood, from whence it was seen to come out, and bask itself on a sunny Bank.
The Picture of this Serpent is drawn with Wings, two Legs, and Talons like an Eagle, which is seen in some ancient Houses, (and particularly at Clayton-hall, near Dunkin-hall) by which it appears to be very large and furious.
It’s said, one —— Grimshaw Esq; Proprietor of that Hall, shot the Monster with Arrows, and had an Estate offer’d him for that good Service done to his Country, which he generously refused, and only desired he might have a Passage thro’ that Wood to a Township he had on t’other side of it, which was granted, the Title of which is to be found in old Writings. By another hand I am informed, that it was supposed to be a Griffin, which is a Bird of Prey, and of the Eagle kind, which, I take to be the Ossifrage of Moses, and mentioned Levit. xi.
There is also a fabulous Griffin, represented with four Legs, Wings, and a Beak; the upper part like an Eagle, and the lower a Lion. They conjecture it to watch over golden Mines and hidden Treasures. This Bird was consecrated to the Sun, therefore the Chariot of the Sun was represented as drawn by a Set of Griffins.
This poetick Griffin is frequently seen in antient Medals, and is still bore in Coat-Armor. The antient and honourable Family of the Guillims blazons it rampant, alledging any very fierce Animal may be so blazon’d as well as a Lion. It is observable, says my Author, that in the Front of Clayton-hall are two Figures drawn in Plaister in the form of a Coat of Arms; on the right side of the Escutcheon is a Figure with Wings, four Feet, and a Tail twisted in the Form of a Serpent. The like Figure is drawn in Plaister in several antient Houses in that Neighbourhood, which go under the Name of the Griffin’s Picture, and the Sign is used at Publick-houses: There is a Place in that Wood called the Griffin’s-Ark.
N. B. This seems to carry some Probability with it, since Eagles are voracious Creatures, and very destructive to Fawns and Lambs, especially the black Eagle, which is of a lesser Size than the other.
In some of the Scots Islands, the Natives observe, that this Eagle fixes its Talons between the Deer’s Horns, and beats its Wings constantly about its Eyes; several other Eagles flying at the same time on both sides, which puts the Deer upon a continual Run, till it fall into a Pit, or down a Precipice, where it dies, and so becomes a Prey to the Enemy[[304]].
[304]. Martin’s Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, Edit. ii. p. 7.
CXXXII. In some of the Western Islands of Scotland are several Serpents: There is one that is yellow with brown Spots, and another with brown Spots; but that which is the most poisonous, is the black and white spotted, three or four Foot long.
The Remedies are such as these: The Natives cut off the Head of the Serpent that gives the Wound, and apply it to the Place as the best Remedy: Others, by the Application of new Cheese, extract the Poison; and some make use of the Rump of a Cock stript of its Feathers, which they apply to the Wound with Success, according to the Historian[[305]].
[305]. Martin’s Description of the Isle of Skie, &c. p. 236.
In the Library at Manchester, is the Skin of a Serpent which was five Yards long, as thick as the Calf of a Man’s Leg; has a forked Tongue, scaly Skin, yellow Colour.
CXXXIII. MARTINIUS in his Atlas relates, that in the Province of Quangsi in China, there are Serpents thirty Foot long. The Flora Sinensis reports of the Serpent call’d Geuto, that it devours whole Stags, but is not very venemous. ’Tis of an ash Colour, from eighteen to twenty-four Foot long; will often seize on a Man, by leaping from a Tree, and kill him, by its violent windings about him.—The Chinese preserve his Gall to cure the Diseases of the Eyes.—Marcus Paulus Venetus testifies the same of the Serpents of Carrajam.—Some are in length ten Paces, in thickness ten Palms, and able to swallow a Man. Are taken thus: The Serpent in the Day lies in Caves of Mountains; in the Night hunts for Prey, and then returns to its Cave, with the weight of its Body, plowing deep the Earth, being sandy in the Track it goes along: Here the Huntsmen fix strong Stakes pointed with Iron, covered with Sand; and as the Serpent travels along, the Spikes gore its Entrails, and are fasten’d therein, by which ’tis kill’d; and the Huntsmen sell the Gall at a great Price for Medicine, and the Flesh for Meat. These, continues he, may be reckon’d among Dragons, but are without Poison: Instead of Feet, they have Claws like those of a Lion or Falcon.—There are other Serpents in China full of rank Poison, especially the hairy-headed Serpent. So far Martin.
N. B. This Province of Quamsi or Quangsi is able to raise a Million of fighting Men. It is not so much frequented as the Province of Quantung or Canton, where they have two Harvests a year. One says, there is a Mountain here with a Pool in it, which makes a Noise like Thunder, if a Stone be cast into it, and causes Showers from the Sky[[306]]. Their Winter is warm, and their Fields always verdant, producing great Quantities of Gold, Pearl, Silk, Copper, Steel, Iron, Salt,—and odoriferous Woods.—They hatch their Ducks Eggs and those of other Fowls in Ovens, or Dunghills.
[306]. Pancirollus.
CXXXIV. There is a kind of Reptiles and Insects (I don’t mean the common Tortoise) which is a certain sort of Snake, small in Body and of white Colour, found in Lydia, Arabia,—cased over with a white colour’d Shell, which shines like a sparkling Margarite[[307]].
[307]. Pancirollus.
I shall close this Part with an Experiment made by the noble Roman before-mentioned, who (being sollicitous to take a compleat View of a Serpent) after he had dissected one, preserved the Flesh and Bones, and having, secundum artem, reduced them to Ashes,—extracted Aqua Fontana,—whose Virtues were equal to those drawn from the Ashes of other Animals, and of Plants.
To this venemous Tribe, I shall annex a few Reptiles, in whose Veins I find something of the Serpent’s Blood; and close the variegated List with a large Account of the Tarantula, its Wound, and Cure by Musick; then inquire into the Reasons of that strange Operation; the Nature and Force of Sounds, not only on the Animal Passions, but Inanimate Matter. I shall begin with,
I. The Bee, called the Honey-Fly, a little Animal that has four Feet, which it carries close to the Belly, and not easily separated: It has four Wings, small Teeth, and a long Tongue, which usually it carries out of the Mouth. Its Sting cleaves to the Belly, which, when it strikes, it parts with, and becomes uncapable of wounding a second time; which, I think can’t be said of any other Member of the stinging Race, unless it be the Wasp and Hornet.
The Sting, in the Design of it, seems to be only a Weapon of Defence; it looks like a Tube or Pipe, hollow, with a little Bag of sharp penetrating Liquid (which is its Poison) joined to the Extremity of it within the Body, which, in stinging, is injected into the Wound thro’ the Tube; and tho’ venemous and painful, is not strong enough to corrupt the Mass of Blood.
One may, with the naked Eye, sometimes see this little Insect discharge its Venom, in which, says the ingenious Dr. Mead, by the help of a Glass, I can easily discover a great Number of minute Salts floating. In Brazil, Bees are distinguish’d into twelve kinds, among which are some that sting in a most furious and fatal manner, called Mateecas by the Indians.
In Ceylon in the East-Indies, are several Bees, the largest are of a brighter Colour than ours; they make their Combs on the Boughs of Trees: At proper Seasons, the Inhabitants hold Torches under them, till they drop down, which they carefully gather, boil and eat, and are accounted excellent Food. In Quatemala are Bees and Honey of a white Colour, and some without a Sting, says the Historian[[308]].
[308]. Nierembergius, p. 286.
II. To the Bee, I add the Wasp, which, as it is something larger, makes a deeper Wound; it differs also from it in its Food, which is Flesh and Carrion, when it can be got; whereas the Bee regales itself with delicious Entertainments, and enriches its Family with all the Glories of the vegetable Kingdom. From whence is the Honey? I answer, That in Flowers is found a viscid sweet Juice, and accordingly we see Children gather Cowslips, Honeysuckles, and suck the Honey from them. The Bees visit all Flowers within their Reach, and putting it in their Trunks, suck out the Honey, with which they load their Stomachs, to be discharg’d, and laid up in their Combs. Among the Antients, Honey was taken for a Dew that fell on Flowers; but this is a mistake, because the Bees only gather it after the Sun is up, when there is no Dew left, or very little.
III. The Hornet is yet more dangerous, and has been known to pursue a Sparrow, and kill it, and then suck its Blood. The Hornet and Wasp have strong Jaws tooth’d, by which they can dig into Fruits, for Sustenance; yea, and into harder Substances, for Quarters.
If you take a Bee, a Wasp, or Hornet, and gently squeeze the Tail, so that you can see the Sting, you may perceive a Drop of transparent Liquor at the very end of it; which if wiped off, you shall soon see it renew’d, that Liquid passing down the Cavity into the end thereof: ’Tis said the Decoction of Hornets dropt on the Skin, makes it swell.
IV. I proceed to the Spider, another little venemous Insect, whose forked Tongue or Sting, is very fine and sharp; by this he pierces Flies—and at the same time, instils a poisonous Juice into the Wound, by which the Prey being kill’d, it sucks out the Moisture, and leaves nothing but a husky dry Carcass: Tradition says, it poisons by spitting, or breathing, because it dare not approach so near to a large Fly as to a little one; but keeps at some distance, and uses a kind of shoving Motion, upon which the Fly has done struggling.
There are various sorts of these little strange Creatures, whose Stings are hurtful, as the Astorius, (so called from its resemblance to a Star) whose Wound produces Heaviness, and Relaxation of the Nerves. The Cæruleus, or blue Spider, whose Sting is attended with Vomiting and Pain at the Heart. The Lycos, the least of the kind, that causes an Asthma, and Swelling about the wounded Part. In the Philosophical Transactions, we have a Table of thirty-three kinds of Spiders found in England, by Dr. Lister[[309]].
[309]. Lowthorp, vol. ii. p. 793.
There is something very curious and admirable in those long Threads they make in the Air, during some part of Summer, especially towards September, so much wonder’d at, in such Quantities every where. The Method of Operation, I take to be as follows, viz.
All Spiders that spin in a Thread, are the Makers of those Threads, most visible in the Autumn. In all the ways of weaving, they still let down the Thread they make use of, and draw it after them. Attending on one that wrought a Net, I saw it, says a very nice Observer, suddenly in the Mid-work desist, and turning his Tail into the Wind, to dart out a Thread, with the Violence we see Water spout out of a Spring: This Thread taken up by the Wind, was in a Moment emitted some Fathoms long, still issuing out of his Belly; by and by the Spider leapt into the Air, and the Thread mounted her up swiftly.—And I found the Air fill’d with young and old, sailing on their Threads, and undoubtedly, says the Relator, seizing Gnats and other Insects in their Passage; there being often manifest Signs of Slaughter, as Legs, and Wings of Flies ... on these Lines, as in their Webs below[[310]].
[310]. Lowthorp, vol. ii. p. 794.
Spiders have been observed to get to the Top of a Branch or such like thing, where they exercise this darting of Threads into the Air. After the first Flight, all the time of their sailing on those Threads, they make Locks, still darting forth fresh Supplies of Thread to sport and sail by. N. B. Those called Shepherds, or long-legg’d Spiders, are no Spinners.
I have seen Spiders, says the Learned Dr. Hulse[[311]], shoot their Webs three Yards long before they begin to sail upon them. So the Learned Derham observes, that with pleasure he had often seen Spiders dart out their Webs, and sail away by the Help thereof.
[311]. Ibid. vol. i. p. 363.
AMERICA turns out diverse kinds of these araneous Insects: In Peru are Spiders as large as a Man’s Hand, and have Eyes as big as those of Sparrows. In Brasil there is one kind of Spider, whose Skin is rough and black, and whose Sting proves incurable, without immediate Relief. On the other hand, we read of monstrous Spiders in the Antilles, whose Eyes are so small and deep in the Head, that they are scarcely visible: They feed on flying Insects, and their Webs are strong enough to catch small Birds[[312]].
[312]. Atl. Geog. Amer. p. 179, 265, 519.
CEYLON in the East-Indies produces a long, glittering, and hairy Spider, called Democulo, whose Wound is not mortal, but sometimes deprives People of their Senses. There is an Experiment made by Mr. Leeuwenhoek, who put a Frog and Spider together into a Glass, and having made the Spider sting the Frog diverse times, the Frog died in about an hour’s time[[313]].
[313]. Scaliger Exercit. in Boyle’s Subtil. Efflu. Philos. Transactions. Where there is a curious Account how Spiders lay and guard their Eggs. Derham.
There is another Instance of the Poison of some of them (for all are not poisonous) given by the Learned Scaliger, who relates, that in Gascony in France, there are Spiders of that Virulency, that if a Man treads upon them to crush them, their Poison will pass thro’ the very Soles of his Shoe[[314]].
[314]. Scaliger Exercit. in Boyle’s Subtil. Efflu. Philos. Transactions. Where there is a curious Account how Spiders lay and guard their Eggs. Derham.
V. The Scolopendra is a little venemous Worm, and amphibious. When it wounds any, there follows a Blueness about the affected Part, and an Itch over all the Body, like that caused by Nettles. Its Weapons of Mischief are much the same with those of the Spider, only larger; its Bite is very tormenting, and produces not only pruriginous Pain in the Flesh, but very often Distraction of Mind. These little Creatures make but a mean Figure in the Rank of Animals, yet have been terrible in their Exploits, particularly in driving People out of their Country: Thus the Inhabitants of Rhytium, a City of Crete, were constrained to leave their Quarters for them[[315]]. There is a minute Scolopendra, accounted for by Dr. Molyneux.
[315]. Ælian, lib. xv. cap. 26.
VI. The Shrew-Serpent in Norway, is a Creature of admirable Beauty; small in Body, and slow in Motion, but of fiery Venom, and its Wounds most dangerous.
VII. The Lacertus Facetanus, or Tarantula, whose Bite gives Name to a new Disease. Those who are wounded by it are denominated Tarantati: It is a kind of an overgrown Spider, about the Size of a common Acorn.
It borrows its Name from Tarentum in Apulia, a City in the Kingdom of Naples, built by a Band of Lacedemonian Bastards, who having no Inheritance at home, were sent thither to seek their Fortunes, where they built that Town, and made it the Capital of Magna Græcia.
This little Animal is furnish’d with eight Eyes, and eight Legs: Its Skin is tender and soft, of various Colours, and always hairy: ’Tis of the oviparous kind, and propagates its Species by Eggs, and sometimes a hundred Eggs have been found in one Female.
In the Opinion of some, ’tis not only an Inhabitant of Apulia, but peculiar to that Province, a Situation that may be called, A Garden of Rarities; Plenty of generous Wine, delicate Honey and Oil, an early Spring, a soft Winter—render it a most delightful Habitation, especially to old Persons, according to the Poet[[316]]; and yet in that most agreeable Region, this little Tyrant reigns and spreads Terror.
[316]. —Ille terrarum mihi præter omnes—(Horat. lib. ii. ode 6.) Angulus.—
It’s found in other Parts of Italy, and even in the Isle of Corsica; but those of Apulia, ’tis said, are only dangerous; though I think to have read something like it in Persia, where there is an Insect like a Spider, about two Inches round, which the Holstein Ambassadors suppose to be the Latin Stellio, and the Italian Tarantula: It lets its Poison fall like a Drop of Water, which causes an insupportable Pain in that Part ... immediately causes a profound Sleep, from which the Patient is not to be recovered, but by crushing one of the same Creatures upon the Wound; or, if this can’t be had, by pouring as much Milk down his Throat as they can, and then put him on an Engine, which they turn round with great Violence, till by that violent Agitation, his Stomach discharges the Milk, which appears greenish, because of the Poison. Those who are cured thus, have some Remnant of the Pain once a Year, about the same Season[[317]].
[317]. Voyages and Travels of the Ambass. of Freder. Duke of Holstein.
But to return to Italy; ’tis observable, that it hurts no where but in Apulia, and that only in Summer, especially in the Canicular-Days, so called from Canicula, that signifies a Dog; hence Dog-Star, which rises cosmically with the Sun the 19th of July, and is supposed to be the brightest, as well as the largest Star in the Firmament.
Plate 7th
The Dog-Days denote certain Days before and after the Rising of this Star, to whose Appearance the Antients ascrib’d terrible Effects: the very first Day it appears, they say (but without Reason) the Sea becomes boisterous and boils like a Cauldron, produces Variety of Distempers, sours Wine, and Dogs grow mad.... The Romans, dreading the Indignation of this Star, sacrificed a Dog every Year to it, (viz. at its first Appearance in our Hemisphere) to appease its Rage against Mortals.
In Winter, this Italian Spider lurks in Caverns, and solitary Places; and if it happens to bite, hurts not: There it lives in a drowsy Posture, and keeps Lent till Summer; when the whole Tribe creeps out, and disperse themselves over that pleasant Land; and Wo to the Body asleep, and bare Legs, in Corn-Fields.
Those on the Plains are much to be feared, the Air being hotter there than on the Mountains, where their Bite is not dangerous, the Solar Rays not being so strong in those Heights: and what is yet more surprizing, is, that if they wound any out of Apulia, though in places not remote from it, the Wounded receive no deadly Hurt[[318]].
[318]. Baglivii de Anatome, Morsu & Effect. Tarantulæ Dissertatio i. p. 27. & cap. v. p. 20.
When it bites, the Pain resembles that given by the Sting of a Bee, and is attended with various Symptoms, according to their different Natures: The Northern Tarantula is the most terrible; those that are inclin’d to the white Colour are not so dangerous; the spotted differs from both.
The Wound given by any of them is dangerous, and has different Indications. In some that are bitten, an universal Stupor follows; others weep: Some tremble and vomit; others laugh, fancying themselves to be Kings. This perhaps made Dr. Cornelio represent this as an imaginary Disease; that those who imagine themselves hurt, are most of our young wanton Girls, who, falling from some particular Indisposition into Melancholy and Madness, persuade themselves that they have been stung by a Tarantula[[319]].
[319]. Philos. Transact.
Some grow pale, sick and faint, and die in a short time, unless relieved by Musick, which alone, without the Help of Medicine, performs the Cure.
The Wounded are as Men half dead, but at the first Sound of a musical Instrument, though they are very weak, and seemingly unable to stir, they begin by degrees to move their Hands and Feet, till at last they get up, and then fall to dancing with wonderful Vigour, for two or three Hours, their Strength and Activity still encreasing. Some will continue the Dance, without Intermission for six Hours; and when tired they are put to Bed, and after they are sufficiently recruited by Rest, they are called up again by the same Tune, and renew the Dance with great Violence, the Musick still playing; and when the Patients grow weary, they are put into Bed again, and kept warm to encourage Perspiration. These Exercises being continued six or seven Days, the Patient finds himself fatigued and unable to dance any longer, which is the Characteristic of a Cure.
They usually spend ten or twelve Hours a-day in this violent Exercise, and continue it for three or four, or six Days; by which time they are generally freed from all their Symptoms, tho’ not always, says the learned Baglivi, who observes, that about the same time next Year, the Distemper returns, and will prove fatal, if not prevented by the same musical Application.
In Apulia is a Scorpion, whose Wounds are accompanied with the same Effects as those produced by the Tarantula, and are only curable by Musick and Motion. These Apulian Scorpions, are less violent than those of Africa, but more virulent than those in other Parts of Italy. I shall only offer two Remarks here.
1. THAT different Patients must be entertain’d with different Tunes, according to the different Symptoms of the Disease; in which the great Art of curing them seems to consist. e. g. Some are roused by a Pipe, others by a Timbrel: Some are roused by a Violin, others by the Harp; and all must be entertain’d with different Airs. The Musicians therefore make Trial before they can accommodate the Sound to the Venom; which requires the most brisk and lively Tunes, to produce a powerful Vibration in the Body; and till this be done, the miserable Patients stand still, sighing and sobbing. The Vibrations must be quick and frequent.
2. DURING the Time of Cure, the wounded People throw themselves into a Variety of strange Forms, and behave like Drunkards and Madmen ... talking foolishly ... diverting themselves with naked Swords, red Cloth, &c. but the Sight of any Object that appears black is terrible to them. Ibid.
To this Account of the Tarantula, I have (by way of Illustration) added the Remarks of another learned Foreigner, who says.... The venemous Bite of the Tarantula is quickly follow’d with a very acute Pain, and soon after, with Numbness, profound Sadness, difficult Respiration: The Pulse grows weak, the Sight disturbed; Persons lose their Knowledge, Sense, and Motion; and if destitute of Help, they die.... The most effectual and certain Remedy is Musick: When the Person becomes destitute of Knowledge and Motion, a Musician tries a Variety of Airs: Shou’d he hit on that whose Harmony is suited to the Patient, he begins to move by successive Degrees, and keeps Time with his Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c. he raises himself, and dances about six Hours without Intermission....
When the Musick ceases, the sick Person gives over dancing, and is put to Bed: The same Air brings him out of Bed for a new Dance, an Exercise that lasts six or seven Days.——N. B. Every sick Person must have his particular and specific Tune, and always one that is very sprightly and moving.
The Poison of the Tarantula, adds he, thickens the Blood, and stops several of its Passages; thence the Numbness: The Blood being thick, furnishes but a small Quantity of animal Spirits, their Canals are shrunk up in the Brain: The Nerves being destitute of Spirits, relax; thence proceed the Inactivity, and Defect of Knowledge and Motion: But the Vibrations of the quick Airs which are play’d, agitate the Blood and the rest of the animal Spirits, which are soon increased by the Agitation of the Blood: Being agitated and multiply’d, they run into the Fibres and Nerves, which being put into Unison with the sonorous Strings, receive their Vibrations, and are shorten’d or extended successively; whence proceeds the successive Motion of the Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c.[[320]]
[320]. Father Regnault. Phil. Conv. or New System of Physic, vol. ii. Conversation xiv. p. 268, -9.
The action of Dancing augments the Agitation of the Blood, and makes the Patient sweat. The Poison being agitated and attenuated, is exhaled by Transpiration; in proportion as the Poison is exhaled, the sick Person perceives himself eased; this Ease continually inclines him to dance: When all the Poison is dissipated by Agitation and Sweat, the Blood recovers its Fluidity and usual Course.
I Shall conclude this historical Account, with a Passage taken out of a formed History of the Tarantula[[321]], writ by a learned Author, who having described the Disease, proceeds to the manner of Cure, viz. The salivous Poison of that Spider seizes principally on the Nerves and Muscles––the manner of Cure thus––
[321]. Printed at Leyden, in 12mo. A. D. 1668.
The Air moved by the musical Motion of Instruments, moves the next, and so onwards (as we see in the circular increasing Motion of the Water, when a Stone is cast into it) till the like be produced in the Spirits of the Body, to which the Air is impelled.––Now, adds he, the Commotion of the Passions depends upon the Spirits, and the viscous Humour of the Tarantula is a very capable Subject of Sound: Hence the next Air being moved by a musical Tone suitable to the Patient, the lurking Poison, and Spirits of a Man are put into a Commotion; by which Agitation, the Nerves being vellicated, the Spirits vehemently stirred, and Muscles moved, the Dancing, or something like it, must of necessity ensue, by which the Cure is performed: For, by vehement Motion the Blood is heated, the Pores are opened, and the Poison rarified; which can’t be done by common Sudorificks, because the Medicines can’t reach, or at least can’t stir those little Particles where the Poison lies, as Motion by Dancing does.
I shall add here some Reflections on the Power of Musick, and give Instances of it in the human Mind, in animal, and inanimate Bodies.
MUSICK appears to be one of the most antient of Arts, and of all other, vocal Musick must have been the first kind, and borrowed from the various natural Strains of Birds[[322]]; as stringed Instruments were from Winds whistling in hollow Reeds, and pulsatile Instruments (as Drums and Cymbals) from the hollow Noise of concave Bodies. This is the Conjecture.
At liquidas avium voces imitarier ore,
Ante fuit multo quam carmina cantu
Concelebrare homines possent aureisque juvare.
Lucretius.
Musick has ever been in the highest Esteem in all Ages, and among all People. Nor could Authors express their Opinions of it strongly enough, but by inculcating, that it was in Heaven, and was one of the principal Entertainments of the Blessed. The Effects ascribed to Musick by the Antients, almost amount to Miracles; by means thereof Diseases are said to have been cured, Unchastity corrected, Seditions quelled, Passions raised and calmed, and even Madness occasioned.——
Musick has been used as a Sermon of Morality.... Athenæus tells us, that the Lives and Actions of illustrious Men were written in Verse, and publickly sung by a Chorus, to the Sound of Instruments, which was found to be the most effectual means to impress Morality, and a right Sense of Duty on the human Mind[[323]].
[323]. Chambers’s Cyclopædia, vol. ii.
Thus the Pythagoreans made use of Musick to cultivate the Mind, and settle in it a passionate Love of Virtue. Pythagoras instituted a most profitable Correction of Manners by Musick, which, he says, conduces very much to Health; and he made use of it, not only against Diseases of the Mind, but those of the Body. It was the common Custom of the Pythagoreans to soften their Minds with Musick before they went to sleep; and also in the Morning, to excite themselves to the Business of the Day[[324]].
[324]. Plutarch de Osir. & Is.
This Cure of Distempers by Musick sounds odd, but was a celebrated Medicine among the Antients. We have already considered, how those wounded by the Tarantula were healed by Musick; the Evidence of which is too strong to be overturned: That which now lies before me, is, to prove this to be the Practice of Antiquity, which will appear by the following Instances.
I shall begin with Democritus (a Philosopher of the first Rank, and a most diligent Inquirer into the Mysteries of Nature) who taught in his Works, that Musick of Pipes was a Medicine for most Distempers.... Thales of Crete, being sent for by the Lacedemonians to remove the Plague, came, and by the Help of Musick he did so; and he is said to do it by the Command of Apollo, as appears from the Great Chæronean Moralist[[325]]. If any Credit be given to Terpander, it appears he supprest an Insurrection in their Town by the Use of Musick. Ibid.
[325]. Plutarch’s Morals on Musick.
We read of a young Man among others of Tautomenium, whose Passions being inflamed by Musick in the Phrygian Mood, was going to force open a Matron’s House, but his Rage was soon calmed, when the Piper (by Pythagoras’s Advice) changed his Air into the Spondaic Mood; and he went home quietly, which the Philosopher could not make him do by Persuasives. This historical Passage is confirmed by Ammonius, and Cicero, and is thus related, viz.
When as some young Men, being drunk, and irritated by the Musick of Flutes, would have broke into an honest Woman’s House, but upon hearing one playing a Spondaic Air, their outragious Heat was allay’d by the Slowness of the Mood, and Solemness of the Tune....
St. Basil gives another Instance to the same purpose, viz. That Pythagoras meeting with some that came with Musick from a Feast, drunk, requested the Musician to change his Tune; which he did, and playing a Doric Air, they were so brought to themselves, that they threw away their Garlands, and walked home, ashamed of their Folly.
THEOPHRASTUS is said to cure Persons that had been wounded by Serpents, with various kinds of Musick—Probatum est[[326]]. Another Observation of his was, that Diseases were made and mitigated by Musick. Plato forbids Musick and Wine to young Persons, lest one Fire should kindle another[[327]].
[326]. Quibusdam viperarum morsibus cantus tibiarum aut fidicinum atque alia organa artis musicæ modulare adhibita aptissimè mederi. Alexander ab Alexand. ... Genialium, lib. ii. cap. xvii. p. 81. The Title is, Quod Theophrastus sensit quibusdam Viperarum morsibus tibicines mederi, probatum experimentum. Baglivi Dissert. i. de Tarent. cap. xiii.
[327]. De Legibus.
The Pythagoreans, to appease the Troubles of the Mind, lulled themselves asleep by Tunes upon the Harp: Thus Homer brings in Achilles relieving his Melancholy by playing on his Lute, and mitigating his Anger against Agamemnon by Musick, which he had learned of Chiron. Asclepiades, a Roman Physician of great Reputation, is said to heal frantic Melancholy, and mad People, by vocal and instrumental Musick[[328]]. The learned Neapolitan adds, Tanta hominis naturæ cum harmonia consensio est.
[328]. Qui Phreneticos mente imminuta, & valetudine animi affectos, nulla re magis quam symphonia, & vocum concentu, & modulis resipiscere, & sanitati restitui censuit. Alex. ab Alex. lib. ii. cap. xvii. p. 81.
Whatever be the Cause of it, there is nothing more powerful than Musick for moving the human Passions, making some pensive and melancholy, others brisk and lively. The truth is, says the Learned Wallis, we can match most of the antient Stories of this kind in the modern Histories. e. g.
If Timotheus could excite Alexander’s Fury with the Phrygian Mood, and sooth him into Indolence with the Lydian, a more modern Musician is said to have driven Eric King of Denmark, into such a Rage, as to kill his best Servants. The Occasion was thus—The King willing to make Trial in his own Person, whether a Musician spoke true, who boasted, that by virtue of his Musick, he could make People mad: The Artist play’d, and the King became outragious, and experienced the Truth of it so thoroughly, that in the Excess of his Rage, he kill’d some of his best Friends[[329]].
[329]. Father Regnault’s Convers. from Repub. des Let. p. 264.
This may be owing to the Impression made by the Vibrations of the Air, being carried as far as the Origin of the Nerves, passes into the Soul, and puts the animal Spirits into a rapid Motion, determines them to run into different Nerves, diffused thro’ different Parts of the Body, and is communicated to those Nerves, according as it finds them more or less in Unison.... Hence the Passions and Madness itself. Ibid.
In Musick are different Tastes, which seems to proceed from the different Constitutions of the Fibres or the animal Spirits: The Fibres of the auditory Nerves are differently disposed in different Persons, and in the same Person at diverse Times; but generally speaking, Musick inspires more pleasing Sentiments, e. g.
A certain famous French Physician being ill, fell into a violent Delirium, after some Days Illness of a continued Fever: the third Day of his Delirium, I know not by what Instinct, (says the Learned Father Regnault) made him desire a Concert of Musick; upon which, they play’d, and sung to him the Songs of M. Bernier[[330]]: Scarcely had he heard the first Notes, but his Eyes were calm; a Serenity was spread all over his Countenance, the Convulsions ceased, and he wept thro’ Excess of Pleasure; he was free from his Fever all the time of the Concert, but whenever they ceased singing, he relapsed into his former Condition: They fail’d not to continue so marvellous a Remedy, which always suspended his Indisposition. In short, after ten Days musical Entertainment, he was restored to his former Health. Ibid.
[330]. Father Regn. from Hist. of the Royal Academy in France.
Another Instance, is a Dancing-Master of Alais in France, who had the same Fate in the Year 1708; after a Fever of about four Days, and a long Lethargy, he fell into a Delirium, both mad and dumb. One of his Friends took his Violin, and plaid to him those Airs he was most accustom’d to: People thought at first, that the Player was as mad as the Patient; but, in a short time, the sick Man raised himself upright in his Bed, with the Air of a Man agreeably surpriz’d.... All his Motions discover’d the Pleasure he felt: Soon after he fell into a deep Sleep, and the Crisis he had during his Sleep, perfected his Cure. Ibid.
One Reason of this strange Operation might be this, viz. The Sound of the Instrument agitates the Fibres, especially those that are in Unison, by that means brings to his Remembrance agreeable Perceptions ... sets the animal Spirits going, and restores them to their natural Course: These Spirits being moved, run into the Nerves and Muscles, where they have been used to run, in order to form the Motion of certain Airs; the Passages of the Blood thereby become more free: Hence that serene Air diffused all of a sudden over the Face of the sick Musician, who was cured by the Charms of his own Art.
These two Instances are quoted by the Learned Dr. Nieuwentyt, who says, both of them (the Musician and Dancing-Master) were perfectly restored to their Senses by Musick. He also observes, that the Wound given by the Tarantula can only be cured by the Sound of Musick, of which different Airs and Tunes must be play’d, according to the different Nature and Colour of those Tarantula’s that have given the Wound[[331]]. Then adds;
[331]. Religious Philosopher, vol. I. Contempl. xiii. Sect. 270.
That the famous Italian Musician, Angelo Vitali had related to him the following Story, and assured him of the Truth of it, viz.
That a certain Player on the Flute at Venice had boasted, that by his playing, he could deprive the Hearers of the Use of their Understanding: Whereupon he was sent for by the Doge, who was a Lover of Musick, and commanded to put his Art in practice before him; where, after having play’d some time very finely, (and to the Amazement of the Hearers) he at last begun a mournful Tune, with a Design, as far as he was able, to put the Doge into a melancholy Humour; and presently, he struck up a jovial one, to dispose him to Mirth and Dancing; and after having repeated these two kind of Tunes several times by turns, the Doge being no longer able to endure those different Emotions, which he felt in his Soul, he was ordered to forbear playing any longer. Ibid. p. 271.
FROM the Account given of Concords and Discords in Musick, a Reason may be form’d why two Strings of a Viol, that are Unisons or Octaves one to another, if one be struck the other will tremble, so as to be visibly perceived.
What is this Unison? In Musick, Unison is a Consonance of two Sounds, produced by two Strings, or other Bodies of the same Matter, Length, Thickness, and Tension, equally struck, and at the same Time, so that they yield the same Tone or Note. Others define it, the Union of two Sounds, so like each other, that the Ear perceiving no Difference, receives them as one and the same Sound.
What constitutes Unisonance, is the Equality of the Number of Vibrations: Unison is the first and greatest of Concords. Others say, it is only that in Sounds which Unity is in Numbers.
Being once in a Room where there was a Bass-Viol, and striking one of the Strings, a loose Quarry of Glass in the Window, jarr’d every time that String was struck, which it wou’d not do upon striking any of the other discordant Strings. The Reason may be, viz. That the times of the Vibration of the loose Quarry, were equal or near Concordance to those of the String. A Gentleman of my Acquaintance, when he sounded a particular Tone on the Bass-Viol, very plainly heard the Noise of the Glass of the Clock in his Chamber, which Glass never moved, upon his sounding any other Tone.... It is a general Remark, that an Unison-String will receive the Motion, and so tremble, when another Unison is made to sound; and yet all other Strings of the same Instrument, that are not Unisons, shall remain silent and unmoved.
Musick does not only exert its Force on the Passions and Affections, and musical Instruments, but on the Parts of the human Body also. Witness the Gascoigne-Knight, (mention’d by Mr. Boyle) who could not contain his Water, at the playing of a Bag-pipe: The Woman, mention’d by the same Author, who would burst out in Tears, at the hearing of a certain Tune, with which other People were but little affected: And in this County, near Rochdale, there is a certain Man, who can’t forbear dancing, if in a House, or Market, upon hearing a certain Tune sung.
Wonder not at the strange Effects of musical Sounds, when other Sounds strangely affect the Mind. How are the Passions excited by the Sound of a Drum and the Discharge of Canons.... Not only human Minds and Bodies are affected by the Impression of Sounds, but even Things without Life.
KIRCHER tells us of a large Stone that would tremble at the Sound of one particular Organ-Pipe. Mersenne also tells us, of a particular part of a Pavement that would shake and tremble, as if the Earth would open, when the Organs play’d. Mr. Boyle adds, that Seats will tremble at the Sound of Organs, that he has felt his Hat do so under his Hand, at certain Notes, both of Organs and Discourse; and that he was well inform’d, every well-built Vault, would answer some determinate Note.
We may observe the like mechanic Perception in several empty Drinking-Glasses, of fine white Metal. Thus if we cause the Strings of a musical Instrument to be stretched to a certain Tone or Note, it would make one of the Glasses ring, and not the other; nor would the Sound of the same String, tuned to another, sensibly affect the same Glass. Morhoff mentions one Petter, a Dutchman, who could break Rummer-Glasses with the Tone of his Voice. The same, I think, is said of Purcel.
When two Viols are tuned in Unison, one of them being touch’d, the other will answer, tho’ at some distance. This is a noble Proof of an harmonious Creation: This Unison looks like a more pure sort of sympathising that is found in all the Creatures, when those of the same Species flock together.
Here give me leave to observe, that all Nature is as it were a System of divine Musick, and delightful Harmony; or, in the sacred Language, a Poem which is a Work of Skill, curious and polite, lofty and sublime; in which Numbers and Measures are exactly observed. Under this Idea of a Poem the old and new Creation are represented.
THE invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, τοις ποιημασι[[332]], Poems that are made. The Creation is, as it were, a Poem in the Sublime: Every Species of created Beings is a Stanza, and every individual Creature, a Verse in it, as a certain learned Divine expresses it. Creation here is not stiled εργον, which is a Work of manual Labor, but ποιημα[[333]], a Work of Skill; not so much the Operation of the Hand, as of the Head and Heart: No Creature so small and mean, but glitters with a Beam of divine Skill.
[332]. τοις ποιημασι. Rom. i. 20.
[333]. Αυτου γαρ εσμεν ποιημαι. Eph. ii. 10.
So the new Creation is stil’d a Poem.... We are his Workmanship in Christ Jesus, Eph. ii. 10. In the Greek, we are his Poem in Christ Jesus.
As for the several Moods, which, in musical Composition, were observed by the Antients, for moving particular Passions, there is a remarkable Fragment of Damon the Musician, mentioned by Aristides in Plutarch. This is supposed to be that kind of Musick used by David and Elisha, as a Prescription to remove mental Disorders; and may suppose to point at the Original of the Pagans curing Diseases of the Body and Mind by instrumental Musick.
It’s said, when an evil Spirit from God was upon Saul, David took a Harp and play’d with his Hand, so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil Spirit departed from him. 1 Sam. xvi. 23.
... AND Elisha said to Jehoram, King of Israel.... Were it not that I regard the Presence of the King of Judah, I would not look towards thee, but now bring me a Minstrel. And it came to pass when the Minstrel play’d, that the Hand of the Lord came upon him. 2 Kings iii. 13,-15.
It is observable here, that the Mind of Elisha the Prophet was very much ruffled; now, under this Discomposure, he calls for a Minstrel, not out of Levity, but for a religious End; and that was, to compose his Mind, and to bring it into a serene and sedate Frame, and thereby to prepare himself for divine Exercises; or perhaps, a devout Levite, well skill’d in musical Performances, might play before him, and intermix with it, Psalms and spiritual Songs, according to the Constitutions of those Times.
As the Prophets might indispose themselves for the Spirit of Prophecy, so they were to use Means to dispose themselves for the Impulses of the Holy Spirit; and for this End the School of the Prophets was appointed, in which the Students were trained up in the Science of Musick, in strict Virtue, Self-denial, Contempt of worldly Grandeur, Knowledge of the Law, &c. These Schools were Seminaries of Religion, in which the intended Guardians of the Spirituality were instructed, and prepared to receive the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit.
We read how the Indians performed their Worship by dancing to Songs, the Priests of Cybele with Cymbals, the Curetes with Drums and Trumpets, the Romans sung Spondaic Verses, while they offer’d their Sacrifices; the musical Sound that calm’d the Passions (consisting of Spondees principally) Aristotle calls moral; (to distinguish it from the Diatonic and Phrygian) from whence the Custom might be derived. When the Spartans went to War, they march’d to the Sound of Flutes, to animate the Soldiers; as is now done by Drum and Trumpet, to lessen the Terror of Death.
THE Antients having related wonderful Things done by Musick in their days, by which Diseases were suspended, the Sick restored ... I shall make a short Inquiry into the Reasons of it. Tho’ the Report be strange, and in some degree hyperbolical, yet some Account may be given of the surprizing Effects of Musick, and is attempted by the learned Dr. Willis, (among others;) a Hint of which I shall add here, to what was observed before upon the Subject.
REASONS (or rather Conjectures) for Medicinal Cures
by MUSICK.
I. That Musick, if not new, was in those Days a rare thing, which the Vulgar, on whom ’tis reported to have mighty Effects, had scarce heard any before, and on whom a little Musick will do great Feats, as we now find a Bag-pipe at a Morris-Dance.
II. Antient Musick was much more simple and plain than ours now, having only one single Voice or Instrument apart, which to a rude Ear is much more taking, than compound Musick; the former not exceeding their Capacity, whereas a Concert of Musick confounds them quite, and ’tis by no means distinguishable by them, so as to affect them with the Harmony of its Parts.
III. Musick, with the Antients, was of a much larger Extent than what we now call by that Name; for Poetry, and Dancing or graceful Motion, were then counted part of Musick, when it had arrived to some degree of Perfection: And we see that Verse alone, if in good Measure and moving Words, sung by an agreeable Voice, with soft instrumental Musick, will work strangely on the Ear, and move all Affections suitable to the Tune and Ditty ... especially if attended with proper Gestures and Actions.... Thus suitable Acting on the Stage, gives great Life to the Words[[334]].
[334]. Lowthorp’s Abridg. vol. i. p. 618.
If a deliberate pathetick Reading of a well-penn’d Romance, will strike the Passions, and produce Mirth, Tears, Joy, Grief, Pity, Wrath, Indignation, suitable to the respective Intents of it; much more would it so do, if accompanied with all those Attendants.——
If it be ask’d, Why may not all this be done now? I answer, No doubt but it may, if the Address be made in proper Words, emphatically spoken, with agreeable Voice, attended with a decent Gesture; and all these adjusted to the Passion and Temper of the Mind, particularly design’d to be produced, (be it Joy, Grief, Pity, Courage, Indignation) will certainly now, as well as then, produce great Effects upon the Mind, especially upon a Surprize, and where Persons are not otherwise pre-engaged. Ibid.
The Antients had the Art of exciting this or that particular Passion of the Mind, the Tunes being suitably adapted to such Designs; whereas those now are almost quite neglected in our modern Musick.
The Chromatick Genus[[335]], with its greater and lesser Semi-Tones, either ascending or descending, is very proper for the Pathetick in Musick; as is also an artful Management of Discords, with a Variety of Motions; now brisk, now languishing; now swift, now slow. The Venetian Musician before-mentioned, excell’d in the Pathetick to that degree, that he was able to play any of his Auditors into Distraction.... The great Means he made use of, was the Variety of Motions.——
[335]. Chroma in Musick, is the graceful way of Singing.
Even little Children, when crying, are charm’d and quieted by a jingling Sound, a Shadow of Musick. In short, Musick attends the Man to his Grave, where Elegies were formerly sung in Honour of the Deceased: Thus the Phenicians added Flutes to their Mournings, and the Romans had their Siticines, that is, those who sung to a Pipe, or blow’d the Trumpet at their Funerals, a Custom not yet entirely abolish’d among the antient Britons and some Parts of England, who, when they take up the Corps, sing Psalms before it all the way to Church; a common Practice about seventy Years ago: So far I can charge my Memory.
We are not without modern Instances of Persons extraordinarily affected by the Powers of Musick, as appears from our Opera’s, and the very particular Devotion paid to the Farinello’s of the Age, and to Italian Musick, display’d in Temples as well as on the Stage, the first Erection of which was intended for the Honour and Defence of Virtue.
The Laconians were wont at the Death of their King to tinkle a Caldron, instead of a Bell: Yea, the Jews had their Minstrels at Funerals; for, at the raising to Life the Daughter of Jairus, ’tis said, the Musicians were commanded to troop off, Matth. ix. Before the Roman Funerals, a Trumpeter went, follow’d by the Præficæ, i. e. old Women, singing Songs in Praise of the Deceased.
Thus we have had a general View of Serpents, their Poison and Cure; and a particular Account of Persons wounded by the Tarantula, and cured by Musick; the Effects of which musical Operation, have past for Miracles; for, by means of it, dangerous Distempers have been cured, Insurrections quelled, Passions calm’d and raised, even to Distraction and Madness.
Antiently all Laws, Exhortations to Knowledge and Virtue, and Lives of illustrious Men, were written in Verse, and publickly sung by a Chorus to the Sound of musical Instruments, which was found a most effectual way to impress Morality. So much for Serpents in particular.
N. B. In the Description of some Serpents by different Authors, ’tis difficult to know whether they mean the same, or another; some having the same Description with different Names, and some different Description with the same Name. Another Mistake may arise from some Difference in the same Serpent, in different Climates, as in Situation (N. or S.) and Size.
A
NATURAL HISTORY
OF
SERPENTS
PART III.
Containing Six Dissertations.
| I. | Upon the Primæval Serpent. |
| II. | Fiery Serpent. |
| III. | The Brazen Serpent. |
| IV. | Adoration of Serpents. |
| V. | Reasons of that monstrous Worship; |
| VI. | And for the Adoration of different Animals. |