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.