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.