re dts vit i uw cits mM f HN vy pk ES $ AY NATURAL HISTORY Serpe N T S: IN TWO PARTS. . The Firft exhibits a general View of SerPENTs, in their various Afpects; fuch as their Kinds, Bulk, Food, Motion, Propagation, Co- verture, Colours. In which is inferted a fhort Account of Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal Poifon, particularly that of the SERPENT ; and. its Cure in various Nations; where alfo the SERPENT is uled as Food and Phylick. II. The Second gives a View of moft Serpents that are known in the feveral Parts of the World ; defcribed by their various Names, different Countries, and Qualities. Illuftrated with Coprir-Piates, Engraved by the : Best Hanps. Ill. ‘To which is added a Third Part; containing Six DisseRT A= An RO ds Tions upon the following Articles, as collateral to the Subject. . Upon the Primevat SERPENT in PaRaDise. The Fiery Serpents that infefted the Camp of Israert. The Brazen SERPENT erected by Moszs, The Divine WorsuiP given to Serpents by the Nations. The Oricin and Reason of that Monstrous WorsuHiP. . Upon the Aporarion of different Kinds of Beasts by the Ecyps T1ans, with divers Inftances of the fame Stupidity in other Nations. The whole intermix’d with Variety of ENTERTAINING DIGREs- SIONS, PHILOSOPHICAL and HisToRICAL. By CHARLES OWEN D.D. LONDON: Printed for the AUTHOR. Sold by Joun Gray, at the Crofs-Keys in the Pouliry, near Cheapfide. M.DCC.XLI, 2tAAG owt a et lat nagtae 2 wei iV bacon 2 ssitbakes: Ait AHA Boos et ie abit iors 25 FOU porset eyoled: tiga di hes bee ¢ lorsaiivi RY UE: See. eat fini ons dette tee bode - wag “ngin ts ee avid browse ste Eh vs a bedi sinh ephoW 3310 eis) igovst- brat ae bos porno. shew. boreal ye? LIRA fe" nf | oi At a ae a bs iS a Sale ate 7 pee i % | : las aeons rT e auaes0W servidl af P54 daa H has wctHOs a ia Wa = y M/ OR Gao? ENC On ia aS Oo Sir AZans Sloane Bar. STR, HE. SERPENT [| Suéjeé? of the follow- ing Sheets, | being one part of your __eelebrated and expenfive ColleQtion of Rarities, naturally leads me to beg the Honour of your Name to grace its Entrance into the publick World. I Can’? enter intothe vanity of thinking, that the Book can be any improvement to one who has been fo long and laborious an Enquirer after Truth, and penetrated fo far 2 into 1V DE DYCUTILON into the Empire of Nature: but as in Divi- nity, a willing Mind; fo in Learning, the beft Endeavour will be accepted. And tho’ the Book cannot recommend it felf to you, your Name may recommend it to others. Happy are the Times, when Knowledge is the ftudy of thofe who have fuperior Abi- lities for it: Happy therefore is the prefent Age, that has you, among many other Learn- ed, fo eminent an Encourager of it. _ THO’ elevated Minds dire€t all their con- cern to what they /hould bc, and not to any Applaufe for what they really are; yet, if to delineate their Excellency be offenfive to Modefty, the Sincerity with which it is done, will, it ishhoped, fecure their Pardon. Now, what is it that makes the great Cha- racter, but Knowledge in all its diverfity, a Sollicitoufnefs. for the Spread of Arts and Sciences, excelling in one’s particular Station of Life, and being divinely forward to all the high Offices of sip >? ‘This is the Picture DEDICATION. _PiQure of real Worth, and what can forbid to fay, that Sir Hans SLOANE 1s the Life ? THAT you may long continue the Re- ftorer of Health, the Ornament of the Day, and in triumph over all the deadly Power of the O/d Serpent, at laft poflefs eternal Health, are the moft fincere Wifhes of him, who with a juft Senfe of Obligation, and the sreateft Regards, is, oy p. Your moft humble, and devoted Servant, WaRrRINGTON, Marchi, 1741-2. Cha. Owen. SN Sy TT U dG new NG FF AS) ENG, es Hite LAE YL ye FaSNS, LYK MOLL READER. bi E Divine Wifdom fo varioufly difplayed in the Works of Nature, even the loweft Order of them, entertains the hu- man Eye with Profpects exquifitely beautiful and pleafur- able: As our Knowledge is defective, we are at a lofs how to account perfectly for the particular. Endsof their Formation, and Manner of their Subferviency to the Whole of the Eternal Defign. HOWEVER, by Obfervation and Improvements in Natural Philofophy, we are affured thus far; that as the Almighty Creator made nothing in vain, fo all his Works are good, and admirably fit- ted to anfwer the Purpofes of his Will, and that his Wifdom, like bis tender Mercies, shines through all the Syftems of bis Creatures. T HAT there 1s not a wife Purpofe in every thing that is made, becaufe we do not underftand it, is as abfurd as for a Man to fay, there 1s no fuch thing as Light, becaufe he is blind, and bas no Eyes to fee it. 4 OR the Iiluftration of this, we may take a fhort View of Creatures, in vulgar account too diminutive and defpicable a Species, to deferve a clofe Attention: And among thefe, if we confider the Noxious, we fhall find, if not an Argument why they /hould be made, yet we fhall be able to difcern no Reafon why they fhould not, becaufe their Noxioufnefs is not fo unavoidable, but that we may, and almoft every one does avoid it. GENERAL PREFACE GENERAL HISTORIES of thefe Kinds we have been Surnifbed with in the Writings of the Learned : Here I apply myfelf to the Difcuffion of one particular Species, viz. the Serpent : 7 which I don’t pretendito new Di/coveries, but only to collect, and bring into one View, what has been faid by different Perfons, which 7s not to be found by any without many Books, and much Time; and which, without the prefent Englith Dre/s, would not be underftood by others at all. ae IN accounting for Jome things relative to the Subject, I have al- ways chofen theWords of the Learned in the Phyfical Profeffion. TH E Subject being like Dutt, the Food of the Serpent, very dry, I have endeavoured to give it fome Agreeablenefs, by a Variety of Paffages from Hiftory, and Reflections of many kinds; which, though they may not always naturally arife from the Subjeét, yet being in- tended for the Reader's Entertainment and Inftruction (as he goes along in the principal Defign of the Book) I hope they will find a fa- vourable Ffudgment. - GIVE me leave, upon this occafion, to adopt Sir William Temple’s Words, viz. “ It is not perhaps amifs, /ays he, to relieve “* or enliven a bufy Scene fometimes with fuch Digreffons, whe- “* ther to the Purpofe or no.”* I SHALE only add, that in cultivating this Subjett, I have attempted to give a fhort Difplay of the Divine Perfections, which, as they:appear eminent in the Syftem. of the Creation in general, fo in the Serpent they may be feen in particular ; and if it produces in the Reader a more exquifite Perception of God-in all his Works, I have my. End, who az Your Humble Servant, * Temple's Memoirs from 1672 to 1679. Second Edits p. 575 58s 5q- Vil Directions for the Binder, where to put the Plates, 25 Ead Bocca; inftead of Baca. 25 Four: Lines from bottom, ’ after honor, x. other. 4 Line 2. r. tho’ the Venom may. 53 After Dauphiny, r. and inftead of or. 58 Quotation, r. Natural Hiffory of Lan- cafbire. 4 L. 14. inftead of Amphishenick Animals, 1. Whether there be two-headed Serpents or not. 76 L.14. from bottom. for Zyzhon, r. Python. 95 Lig. r. made, for move. 109 L. 3. for could, 1. would. tiz Lt. r. Quinquennian. 114 L 17. for emits, r. emit. 115 L.2. for if they, x. the wounded, 122 Head LXXXIV. r. Americina. 132 Head CXI. r. Agnafen. 134 =m CXIV. r. Aitaligatus, Plate I. after p. 54. Platel]. -- p.7o. PlateIll. -- p.78. PlateIV. - - - p. 86. PlateV. --- p. 94. >Plate VI. - - - p. 142.) Plate VII. - - p. 152. Pag. ERRATA. Pag. ERRATA. 141 Head CXXVI. for Navigation, t. Na- ‘~ tation. 147 CXXXIV. +. Reptiles and Infe&s. 148 Head IId. for it, r. them. : 162 Inftead of Demon, r. Damon. L. 4. from bottom, in Quotation, F. mothe. 171 L.o. +. their other Faculties were. 195 1. Verdegreafe. 196 r. Nebufbtans. 211 r. Gades. 231 Dele 3. 237 L.14. a Comma should be after adore. NV. B. In the Story of the Elephant, pag. 86. it is a miftake, to place the Action at Newcafile; the Scene of it being in the Eaf-Jndies, according to a Book cal- led Hamilton's Travels. : S eZ Ei <7 of the SUBSCRIBERS. A. -ADY Abney, B. 4. Mr. Eliz. Abney. The Reverend Mr. Acres, R. of Newbury. Jofeph Adams E/g. Mr. Cornelius Adams. Mr, James Adams. hig John Adams Eg; of Whitland. Mr, William Adair, Merchant. Mr. Edward Addicot, dpothe- cary at Exeter. Mr, John Adkin. The Rev. Mr. Aldred, of Morley, Yorkfhire. The Rev. John Allen, M. D. Mr. ——— Allen, deceafed. Mifs Alcock, of Nottingham, Mr. William Ambrofe. Adak The Rev.Mr.Amory of Taunton;, Mr. Robert Anbury, Surgeon. Jofeph Andrews E/q; F.R.S. Mrs. Andrews. 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XXIll a Bey = won M al as = ff) Se = SS Pare (02 ey So Sue $e 5 = Sy f 4 See oaeONeS LY a f Za Ya; a A WZ NX NATURAL HISTORY OF Shak PoE No TS PibAciRY a co SE Gy Tt Orne Be GIN with the Divifion of Serpents, which I diftri- bute into Terrefrial, that live upon Land only ; alias that live in Water ; and Ampbibzous, that j inhabit both Elements. Under thefe I comprehend a oe: al the Relatives to the venomous Tribe. But how can Land- Serpents live in Water? I anfwer, their Bodies are equally formed for both Places. A mone Animals, fome breathe by Lungs, and others by Gi//s, as all fanguineous F ith, (excepting the Whale. ) By Gills, I mean thofe membranous cartilaginous Parts on both fides the Head, whereby they hear and refpire: What we call Gz//s in Fifh, are properly their Lungs. Refpiration (which is an involuntary Mo- tion of the Breaft, whereby Air is alternately taken in and thrown out) is as neceflary to Fith as to Land-Animals : In Water, is u great Quantity of Air inclofed, and it is that Air they refpire, and by their Gzl/s they eps wate the Air from the Water, and prefent it to the Blood, after the fame manner as ‘tis prefented to the Lungs of Land-Animals, B THE A NATURAL HISTORY Tue Gulls of Fith have an alternate Motion of Dilatation and Compreffion ; when they dilate their Gills, the Water is taken in; when they contrac them, ’tis expelled again. Thus the Water is carried in by the Mouth, and carried off again (ftript of its Air) by the Gz//s, which perform the Office of Lungs. Their fucking Water is Breathing, and their Food as little of Water, perhaps, as other Creatures ufe. SERPENTS will fwim in all Liquids; this appears in the Experiment made by a /earned Italian, who puta Serpent into a large Glafs-Veflel of Wine, where it lived fwimming about fix Hours : and when it was by force immerfed and kept under that Liquid, it lived only about an Hour and a half. He put ano- ther in common Water, where it lived three Days; but when it was kept under Water, it lived only about twelve Hours *. SoME Serpents are reptitious, creep on the Belly, and fome have Feet ; the Form of their Legs is peculiar and different in divers Species, whence the flow Motion of fome, and wonderful Agility and Swiftnefs in others: Their Feet are fome cloven (as it were) into Hoofs, others divided into Claws, with Variety of dif- ferent Nails to anfwer the feveral Purpofes of Life ; among them are Flying Serpents: for which purpoie, they are furnifhed with Wings to buoy themifelves up in the fluid Air, whereby they keep their Bodies on a’ due Balance in their Motion. SERPENTS are provided with Tails of different Length and Size ; thefe alfo are neceflary to adjuft their Motion, and guard them againft Stimulation of Flics. In winged Serpents, the Tail ferves as a Rudder to govern them in flying through the Air; and, in the marine Serpents, they ferve as Oars. But another fays, the flying of a Bird, in effect, is quite a different Motion from the failing of a Ship : Birds don’t vibrate their Wings towards the Tail, as Oarsare ftruck towards the Stern, but waft them down- ward ; nor does the Tail of the Bird cut the Air at might Angles as the Rudder does the Water, but it is difpofed horizontally, and preferves the fame Situation what way foever the Bird turns +. THEY ate painted with variety of Colours, as red, black, white, brown, green ; the Compofition of thefe, in fome of their Garnitures, forms Beauties exquilitely fine. Some of them have very little Eyes, others large ones: Some wound with their Teeth, others * Fr. Redi Exper. circa res nat. p. 170. } Borelli. DSI OF SERPENTS. others with the Tail that terminates in a Siing, which is an Apparatus in the Body of certain Infeéts like a little Lance, ferving them as a Weapon of Offence. Mention is made by Hiftorians of harmlefs Serpents, and of Perfons who have tamed Serpents, and whofe Hair has been kifled by a tame Dragon, and which, with its Tongue, gently lick’d its Mafter’s Face *. Tue Serpent feems to be one of the diftinguifhed Favourites of the Air, feeing it fubfitts by aerial Food all Winter; that is, in thofe Regions where it dare not turn Ranger. Sleep is the Nurfe of Nature, a Nurfe that greatly indulges the animal Spirits, and, by artefting voluntary Motion, prevents their daily Confumpition, and, at the fame time, allows the perpetual Motion of the Ar- teries, Veins, Heart. We know but little of the real peculiar Nature of what we call Air, only that it is the moft heterogeneous Body in the World, a kind of fecondary Chaos, being a Compound of minute Particles cf various Kinds, Earth, Water, Minerals, Vegetables, Animals, vc. collected either by folar or artificial Heat. Tuest Particles together conftitute an Appendage to our Earth, called Atmofphere ; or that thin, elaftic, fluid Mafs, wherein we live, move, and have our being ; which Air we continually receive, and expel by Refpiration, and no Animal can live, or Vegetable grow without it. Tuus Serpents inclofed in the Receiver, are immediately (I may fay) ftarved when deprived of Air, which is their only Winter-F'ood.——NV. B. Whatever is put in a Receiver fo ex- haufted, is faid to be put zz Vacuo: Animals that have two Ven- tricles, and no Forazien Ovale, as Birds, Dogs, Cats, Mice, die in it in lefs than half a Minute ; a Mole died in ene Minute ; a Bat lived feven or eight; Infects, as Wafps, Bees, Grafhop- pers, feem dead in two Minutes -f. Nor will any Vegetation proceed in Vacuo, or without Air: Seeds planted will not grow. OxsyecTion. Beans grow in Va- cuo. I anfwer, they grow a little tumid, but that kind of Vege- tation is only owing to the Dilatation of the Air within’ them ; they fwell a little by the Expanfion of the Air, but they never bud, Be AMONG * Raii Synopfis, lian, Hift. + Derham. GS A NATURAL HISTORY A mMoNnG the Ancients were very ftrange Notions about the Or7- ginal of Serpents, and other Animals: Bees, fays a certain Ora- tor, Hiftorian, and Philofopher, were bred from the Carcafs of Oxen; Wafps from the Corruptions of Horfes ; Beetles from Affes ; and Serpents from human Marrow: Hence they confecrated a Dragon to Kings and Princes, asa Creature peculiar to Man *., I Don’t know how to form an Apology for the old Philofo- phers, whofe Account of {pontaneous Generation is perfectly ro- mantick : What can be more fo, than to fay Frogs are engendered of Slime, or in the Clouds, and dropt down in the Showers of Rain? So the Egyptians faid, that Mice were produced from the Mud of N/us, and Infects from putrified Matter animated by the Sun. The Principle of this equivocal Generation, was the old Doétrine of Hgypt, and now juftly exploded, as contrary to Reafon and common Senfe, as well as to the Defign of the Creator in making Animals Male and Female ; the End of which Difference in Sexes, all Animals exactly anfwer, as if they were endued with human Reafon. No Woman more tender of her Babe, or careful in providing for it, than Animals are of their Young Ones. SH Ciel, Orne HE Knowledge of mere Animals (who have no School for Arts and Sciences) is moft furprifing ; thefe without vifible Initructors, know how to perpetuate their Species to the End of the World ; and how to order their Eggs, as thofe, who are ap- prized, their Succeffors were contained in them, and that it was in their power to produce them, and to perpetuate, or keep up the Name of their Family. Tue Serpentine Animals are thus taught by Nature; thefe differ in the Mode of Propagation ; fome of them are vivipa- vous, an Epithet applied to fuch Animals, who lay their Eggs within their Bellies, who bring forth their Young Ones alive and perfect, as Vipers, Sheep, Hares ; others are ovparous, and bring forth their Young from Eggs, as Serpents, Snakes, Lizards, Frogs, Salmon, Tortoife, Herrings, Ge +f. In * Plutarch’s Lives of Cleomenes and Agis. + Omnia ab ovo animalia. OF SERPENTS. In this Contrivance of Male and Female, and different Me- thod of Multiplication for perpetuating the Species, we may fee an admirable Inftance of divine Wifdom: Bat for this Difference in Sexes, there would be no Increafe of Serpents nor other Animals. The oviparous and viviparous Manner of Propagation is as won- derful ; for, W ere theyall vzveparous, that is, brought forth living Births, there would be but a {mall Number, and not fufficient to fupport the whole animal Body: Corn, Grafs, Fruits, &c. are no Pro- duction of the Sea, therefore can be no Food for Fifh: The Al- mighty Creator fo ordained it, that they fhould feed one upon another ; and this made it neceffary that they fhould be ovsparous, that they might increafe in great Plenty, which they could not do, if they were of the weuzparous Kind ; that is, brought forth their living Offspring, as Vipers, Sheep, Hares, Cows do. BuT Fifth being covparous, propagating ther Kind by Eggs, which, for Number, are infinite, their Progeny is innumerable, and fufficient to fupport all the Branches of the Marine Family ; even the leffer Kind of Fith fend forth an incredible Number of Spawn. On the other hand, if four-footed Beafts were propagated by Eggs, they would foon cover the Face of the Earth, without a daily Deftruétion of them, which would take up no little time, tho’ an Army of Nimrods were employed. Birds increafe by Eggs, and bring forth great Numbers; and perhaps, for this reafon, that Birds of Prey and Serpents, Kitchens, &c. might not want proper Supplies. Now, if a Female Bird was great with fix or twelve Young Ones at once, the Burden would be intolerable, her Wings would fail, and fhe would become an eafy Prey to her Enemies. Bur you will fay, what if they none pith only one or two at a time, till they amounted to the utual Number of their Egos P I anfwer, that then they would be troubled all the Year long with feeding their Young, or bearing them in their Womb. T w 1s Production of Creatures by Eges, is a wonderful Pha- nomenon in the animal World ; the Eggs are fhelly and hard, to preferve the included Embryo from -Accidents, and to contain fuitable Nutriment for it. ”Tis obfervable that Chickens, while in their dark embryotick State, are nourifhed by the Wiite alone, til! grown AN AV ORR A Et S IM hk, Y grown big, and then feed on the Yolk, as the ftronger Diet ; and, when that is confumed, the Shell opens, and lets out the Prifo- ners. TuoucuH all Fowl are hatched from Eggs, yet it is not al- ways by the Parent’s Incubation, or Brooding, but by fome other Warmth: The Tortoi/e is faid to lay no lefs than fifteen hundred Eggs, which fhe covers in the Sand, and leaves the Sun to hatch them. The Eggs of the Ofrich * are hatched after the fame man- ner; fo the Serpent lays, and leaves her Eggs in the Dunghill. Tue Eggs of Serpents, and certain other Animals, are Parts formed in the Qvaries of the Female, covered witha Shell, which includes an Embryo of the fame Species. Inthe days of old, the Egg was the Symbol of the World; the World, by Tradition, be- ing made of an Egg : Hence Eggs became of fingular Impor- tance in the Sacrifices of Cybele the Mother of the Gods. Some of the Pagan Deities were faid to be produced from Eggs. In fome Parts of fia, and at Grand Cairo in Egypt, they hatch their Chickens in Ovens ; each Oven contains feveral thoufand Eggs which the Country brings in, and have their Eggs returned in Chickens. By this Method, they generally want fome integral Part, as an Eye, a Claw, @c. which may be owing to a Want of equal Impreflion of Heat, tho’ the artificial Warmth be continued. There are thoufands, yea Millions at a Batch, thus produced in Egyptian Ovens ;—and may as well be in Ezrope, if our Bakers had the knack on’t. An Experiment has been made by a Duke of Tufcany, who having built fuch Ovens, did produce living Chic- kensin the fame manner. Unovenr this Section, I fhall confider the wonderful Sagacity of Serpents, in chufing their Paths for Deambulation, and finding out proper Receptacles for their Repofe and Security in Winter ; and that in Climates that are Oppofites in their Nature. In Summer, generally fpeaking, they are found in folitary and unfrequented dry Situations; others delight in moorifh fenny Grounds; and in hot Countries, near to Groves, Rivulets—Theie, like other Animals, ftrily adhere to the Conftitutions of their Family, without Deviation. THEY : . © Fob xxxix, 14, 15. Willoughly’s Ornithol. lib. ii. cap, 8. OF SERPENTS. Tuey take up their Winter-Quarters in Caverns, hollow Places, Burrows, Rocks, old Hedges, and under the Roots of Vegetables, efpecially the Birch, others fay Beech-Trees, which were confecrated by the Pagans to the fupreme Numen. In thefe lonefome Habitations they repofe themiéelves during the Winter, in a kind of fleepy State, as half dead, with opex Eyes *. In this Solitude they lie dormant, indulg’d ails a little humid Be till the Sun, by its prance, into the northern Con- ftellations, ‘reftores them to the ative Life ; ; without fome Air they could not live. Mr. Boy/e made the experiment, by putting Vipers into the exhaufted Receiver, which foon died upon pump- ing out the Air. Ir argues~no little Penetration, that they know when and how to fhelter themfélves in Places of Safety in all Seafons; and what is yet more aftonifhing, is, that they live there fo many Months without Food and without Action; and when releafed from their hybernal Confinement, how foon do they find out their appointed Food ? Taken in this light, they are not fingular ; for ’tis believed, there are other Ae ce ‘that pafs the aanters Seafon in a ftate of Indolence and Inactivity, as Cuckows and Swallows, making way by their Retreat for Woodcocks and Fieldfeirs, which vifit us in Winter, and then return northwards : They are faid to breed in colder Counties, as Norway, Rujffia Sweden, and the Iffands of Orcades, the moft northern Parts of Scotland ; which Iflands were formerly in pofieffion of the Nor- WESLANS, ‘and given and annex’d to Scotland by Chriffiern 1, King of Denmark and Norway, on the Marriage of his Daughter Mar- garet, with ames Til. King of Scotland, about the Year 1474. I r is probable, that when thefe northern Countries are buried in Snow, and their Rivers are frozen up, thefe Birds take their Flight hither, and fuch like Places, where they have accefs to Wi ater, Ore. But as to Cuckows and Geallon as intimated above, ’ tis generally allow’d that they fleep in Aico having, as “tis fand, been found in hollow Trees and Caverns. N Jones this, at all unlikely 5 tho’ on the other hand, I can fez no Abfurdity in fuppofing that thefe fhould go upon a Summer, as the other do upon a Winter Fil- grimage; that thefe purfue a leffer Heat, as well as the others fy from a greater Cold. Yea, Vegetables are iaid to fleep in Winter, and * Apertis Oculis. Conrad. Gefner, pag. 3. de Serp. A NATURAL HISTORY and to be awake and lively in Summer: During the Months of their Reft, a quantity of Oil is laid up in them for their Defence againft the Cold, ard in proportion to the Degrees of it, which they are to fuftain; whence it is, that the Trees of the northern Climates fo much abound with Oil. Own the other hand, there are Reptiles and In/eéts that have Senfe enough to lay up Winter-Store in Summer, as the Bee, Wafp, Field-Moufe, &c. a Property foreign to the ancient Houfe of Serpents. In Summer, the Bees labour hard for Winter Provifion: As foon as the Air grows mild and warm, they are out betimes, and gather their Harveft from the Simples of the Fields, which they fuck into their Bodies, and upon their Return to the Hive they difgorge it, as Pigeons do their Food wherewith they feed their Young. When the Bees have fill’d their Storehoufe with the De- licacies of Nature, they lock the Doors, which they feal up with delicate white Wax, to prevent the Emanation of the Honey, which is a vegetable Juice: The Combs in which their Treafure is lodg’d, are geometrically nice, and exceed the moft exquifite Art of Man, Tue Ants alfo in this refpect, are remarkable for Penetration and Forefight. In America are Ants which raife Hillocks four or five Foot high, and have fuch a way of cementing the Earth about them, that ’tis as firm as Lime and Stone, which protects them againft the 4nt-Bears, or Pifmire-eaters ; 7.¢. a kind of Creatures as big as Dogs, that feed on thefe Infecs. One obferves, that the Spaniards left famaica, and went to Cuba, for this Reafon among others, becaufe their Childrens Eyes were eaten by thefe Ants, when left by themfelves in the Cradle *. Cr yLon in the Ea/-Indies produces feveral forts of remarkable Ants, particularly a large red kind, which make their Nefts on the Boughs of great Trees, with Leaves wrapt together in Clufters, in which they lay their Eggs: And another fort call’d Vacos, whofe Hinder-part is white, and the Head red ; thefe fwarm over the Land and devour every thing, but Stone and Iron: They creep on Houfe-walls, and always build an Arch over themfelves 5 on thefe their Poultry live chiefly ; fome of them bite defperately. To © Sir Hans Sloan’s Introduétion to his Voyage, p. 68. OF SERPENTS. To thefe I might add the Wajps, that have their Winter- Treafures in fubterranean Cells, and the Field-mice that know the proper Seafon to gather Acorns, which they carefully hide in hollow Places, (as Mole-runs) in the Earth. Thus we fee no Creatures fo mean in our View, but a Ray of divine Wifdom fhines in their Forefight and Contrivance: When we confider how wonderfully thefe inferior Creatures are conducted in their Operations, how punctually they obey the Laws of their Creator, how folicitoufly every one propagates his Kind, and makes pro- per Provifions for his Family; it looks as if it were done by fome Principle that’s more perfect than the common Reafon of Man. Neverthelefs ’tis paft doubt, that Brutes of the higheft Order, and moft refin’d, are but Brutes, 7. ¢. irrational, and it’s well for us they are fo. Turis is call’d Infincé, a natural Difpofition, or Sagacity wherewith Animals are endued; by virtue whereof they are en- abled to provide for themfelves, know what is good for them, and are determin’d to propagate and preferve their Species, In- ftiné bears fome Analogy to Reafon or Underftanding, and fup- plies the Defect of it in Brutes. The Narrative of Eve's Temp- tation begins with affirming, The Serpent was more fubtle than any Beaft of the Field. And Chri/t recommends the Wifdom of the Serpent, but not without the Innocence of the Dove. THE Proofs of its Subtilty are not fo obvious; fome produce fuch as thefe, telling us, that the Serpent Cera/fes hides itfelf in the Sand, with a view to bite the Horfe’s Foot that he might throw the Rider. ‘facob feems to allude to this, in the Bleffing he gave to Dan, of whom 'tis faid, Dan fhall be a Serpent by the Way, an Adder in the Path, that bites the Hor/e’s Heels, that his Rider fhall fall backward, Gen, xlix. 17. But more in Part third. pa SE C- IO A NATURAL HISTORY SE OCP 1 -+O {N= HI. ERPENTS are fuppofed to have many Enemies, befides Man, as the Eagle, Hawk, Stork, Ibis, Ichneumon, Ma- gaure, &c. I fhall only touch upon fome of thefe: Ibis isa Bird of Egypt, and a faithful Ally inthe War againft Serpents ; vaft Numbers of winged Serpents are annually bred in Arabic, from whence, at certain Seafons, Swarms of them take their flight acrofs the Red-Sea into Egypt: Upon the firft notice of their Ar- rival, the Jd:dian Birds afiemble in ‘Troops, and immediately fly upon the Invaders, and foon deftroy them. In the fame manner they execute Vengeance upon the Serpents of Ethiopia, when they moleft the Land *, Tue Storks deftroy all Serpents that fall in their way, and are fo greatly regarded in Theffaly for this kind office, that it is counted a capital Crime to killa Stor?, and the Criminal is pu- nifhed as in the cafe of Man-flaughter. -- T HE Stork’s Bill is very long and fharp, with which it makes a rattling kind of Noife: It is faid, the Chirurgeons have learn’d the Clyfterick Art from thefe Birds. The Storks alfo are efteemed the Clergy’s Friends, for the Au- thor of the Book of Nature fays, they will not inhabit any City in Germany, where no Tythesare paid tothe Prieft. An Ortho- dox Brood of Birds! W HEN Mofes conductedthe Egyptian Army againft the Erhio- pians, he was to pafs through a Country full of Serpents, and to fecure his Forces from them in their March, he carried with him feveral of thefe Jbidian Birds, before whofe Fury they fell or flediste ICHNEUMON is a little Animal of bold Spirit, and a great Deftroyer of Serpents, and therefore the Egyptians keep it in their Houfes, as we do Cats; and the young ones are com- monly fold for that end at dlexandria. In form it refembles an over-grown Rat, and is called the Indian-Rat, and Pharaoh's Rat; and by its mighty Atchievements, it muft be of fome con- fiderable 3 * Conradus Gefn. p. 55. Ray. Gyllius. + Pliny’s Nat. Hif. Tomi. B. 10. t Fofephus, B ii, Cap. v. p. 65. OF SERPENTS. fiderable Bulk; for in its Encounters with great Dogs, Crocodiles, Serpents, &c. it generally comes off victorious: Upon their Ap- proach it bunches up, and briftles up its Hair, in token of De- fiance: It couches on the Ground, and leaps like a Bull-dog at its Prey. By fome it is call’dthe Lgyptzan Otter; ’tis of a dun Colour, has round Ears, black Legs, and long Tail: It cannot endure the Wind, and runs for Shelter, when it rifes, fometimes thrufting its Head between its hinder Legs, in a round Form like a Hedge- hog. i HOSE Who have examined into Kites Nefts, have found Vipers in them, which are fuppofed to be Food for their young ones. In China is a little Creature like a Weezel, called Magaure, that is a mortal Enemy to Serpents, which it kills by ftriking its Teeth into their Heads. The Chameleon trembles at the Sight of this little Furiofo *; whofe Ears are fhort and round, its Nofe like that of a Ferret, its Tongue and Teeth like a Cat, which is a Creature it deftroys ina Minute, though not the eafieft to be killed. The Argo Serpents in India deftroy Afps; therefore by Alexander the Great's Command, they were tranfported to Alexandria +. WHETHER the Serpent hates Man more than other Cre- tures, is with me a queftion; be that as it will, it is wonderful to think, that notwithftanding Man’s and other Creatures invin- cible Hatred of Serpents, yet hitherto they have been able to fup- port themfelvesin a State of War againft all the World. Even among Vegetables are found Enemies to Serpents; as the Dittany of Virginia, or the wild Penny-royal; the Leaves of which, fays my Author, being bruifed, we tied in the Cleft of a long Stick, and held them to the Nofe of the Rattle-Snake, who by turning and wriggling, laboured hard to avoid it, and in half an hour’s time was kill’d by it: This was done Fuly 1657, at which Seafon thofe Creatures are computed to be in the greateft Vigour of their Poifon; it is alfo remarkable, that in thofe Places where the wi/d Penny-royal grows, no Rattle-Snakes are obferved to come |}. * L, LeComte’s Memoirs, ~. 504. + Fobnftenus, p.16. — || Philof. Tran/act. abridg’d by Lowthorp, p. Sir. eg C2 S E C- It 32 ANA EUR AS 01'S TO. Rey Se Col a HO IN), lV: HAT Duf was not the original Food of the Serpent, feems evident from the Sentence pafled upon the Paradi- faick Serpent, but the neceffary Confequence of the Change made in the manner of its Motion, 7.¢. the prone Pofture of its Body, by which it’s doomed to live upon Food intermix’d with Earth, diied to a Powder; Du/? fhalt thou eat, is one part of the Curfe. It’s true, Serpents eat Flefh, Birds, Frogs, Fifth, Fruits, Grafs, but as they continually creep on the Earth, ’tis impoffible but their Food muft be often defiled with Dirt; fome of them may eat Earth out of Neceflity, or at leaft Earth-Worms, which they cannot fwallow without fome Dirt with them. No Animal but has its proper Food; even the moft minute Infects; thofe that feemingly feed upon Duft, in reality feed only upon fome nutri- tive Particles therein. Infects have been feen through a Micro- {cope to eat fome Particles of Duft, and reject many others, hay- ing accurate Organs of Sight, Smelling, and Feeling, as well ac- commodated to Duft, as the Organs of Ducks and Hogs are to find their Food in Dirt. ANp here it may be obferved, that what the Serpent does through a Neceffity from the Divine Sentence, the earthly Man does from his own Will; the Serpent only by the Will of ano- ther, Man eats it from his own Inclination to it; the Serpent would have better Food if it could, Man might have better and will not: This fhews that Man has a mind to be Companion with ‘the Serpent, and to carry onthe Acquaintance, that was begun in Paradife; the Serpent licks the Duft materially, the earthly Perfon licks it morally; the one has its Tongue upon it, the other has his Heart. The earthly Man is only a Man in fhape, but a Serpent in Practice: What is the Punifhment of the Serpent, is made the Happineds of the earthly Mind. Some Serpents are carnivorous, and feed on Fleth; others are verminivorous, and feed on Reptiles: Their Suftenance is va- rious, fuited to their feveral Conftitutions, and Nature of the Climates, where they inhabit. Vipers and Adders feed on Herbs, Weeds, Dews, as well as upon Lizards, Mice, Frogs.——-When they OF SERPENTS. they take Food into their Mouths, they raife up their Bodies a little, that they may {wallow their Prey with lefs difficulty. Tuey {wallow thofe little Animals whole without chewing. In a Viper diflected by a certain Gentleman, he found three large Mice, intire, without any Change of their Form by hard Com- preflure. Scorpions live chiefly upon Locufts, and other winged Infeéts. In Arabia, tis faid, they feed upon Bal/am-Fuices, and feem to delight much in the Shadow of that Tree *. Ir is remarkable, that Nature has provided young Vipers with poifonous Teeth grown to Perfection, commenfurate to their Bulk, that fo they may immediately feed themfelves, by being able, in fome meafure, to kill their Prey as foon as they are born, Some of thefe Animals have temporary Parts, as the Lacerta Aquatica, a little Water-Serpent, which, when young, has four ramified Fins, to poife and keep its Body upright, (which gives it the Refemblance of a young Fifth) and thefe fall off when the Legs are grown: So Frogs and Toads, in their Tadpole State, have Tails, which fall off when their Legs are grown out --. Thefe pafs through various Tranfmigrations, before they arrive at their perfect State. SebCGy Tat. Oi Nua. S Serpents differ in Kind, fo in Size; the Length to which fome of them grow is moft furprizing. A certain Num- ber is fent out with little Bodies; others are of monftrous Bulk, and capable of making the ftrongeft Efforts againftall the At- tempts made to deftroy them; yea, are {trong enough to contend with Elephants, the greateft of Animals, and conquer them. e. gr. ATTILIUS REGULUS, the Roman General in Africa, is faid to encounter a Serpent in that Country, of vaft Strength and ‘Stature, near the River Bagrada, 120 Feet long, which he and his Army could not fubdue, without difcharging all their Engines of War againft it; and, when conquered and flea’d, its Skin was con- * Conrad, Gefner. 85. + Derham’s Phyf. Theol. B. IV, be | rs 14 A NAT UR*A*D Pers TOR Y conveyed to Rome in Triumph *. ‘This is the more credible, fays Pliny, becaufe, in Italy, we fee other Serpents, called Boz, fo large that in the Reign of Claudius, there was one of them killed in the Vatican, within whofe Belly was found an Infant whole +. AmonG the Andes in America, are Serpents of prodigious Mag- nitude, from 25 to 30 Foot long ¢.” In the Province of Carza, are Serpents ten Yards long, and Ten Hands broad, and their Eyes as large as two {mall Loaves. In Bra/fil, are found Serpents 30 Foot long. In Grefham-College, London, isa Snake preferved in Spirits, that is near two Yards long. In Norway, we read of two Serpents of very large Proportion: One of two hundred Foot long, and lives in Rocks and defolate Mountains, near the Sea, about Bergen; which in Summer- Nights ranges about in queft of Plunder, devouring Lambs, Calves, Swine, and other Animals, that fall in its way. Ina calm Sea, it ranfacks the Superficies of the Water, and devours the Polypus (2. e. a little Fifh of many Feet) and all forts of Sea- Crabs. Upon the Approach of a Ship, this Serpent lifts up its Head above Water, and fnatches at the Mariners. My Author adds, that it rolls itfelf round about the Ship, the more effeCtu- ally to fecure its Prey ||. The Reprefentation of this you have in C. Gefner. THe other Serpent is in the Diocefs of Hammer, about fifty Cubits long, by Conjecture. In Bothnia, on the Livonian Sea, we read of monftrous Serpents, with which the Shepherds of that Country were in conftant War. Wonderful Things are reported of the large Serpents that infeft the He/vetzan Mountains. From the Inftances above, ’tis evident that the Northern Climates breed Serpents as well as the South; but with this Difference, that they — are not fo venomous as thofe in Africa, tho’ Olaus Magnus, Arch- bifhop of Upj/al, feems to except the Shrew-Serpent. Ldzd.. THERE ate Marine, as well as Land-Dragons, of uncommon Bignefs: Some in Ethiopia of 30 Paces long, and in Phrygia ten Paces long. N. B. A geometrical Pace is five Foot; but if it be the lefler Pace only, vz. the Meafure of two Foot and * Prelium grande & acre eumgue magna totius exercitus confiictatione, baliftis wique catapultis diu oppugnatum — Ejufque interfecti longum corium pedes 120, Aul. Gellii Noét. Att. Liber V1 Cap. ili. + Nat. Ai. B. VIII. Cap. xiv. t De Le Vega, \| Olaus Magn, B, xxi. c, 27. p. 23. Gefner ex Scalig. OF SERPENTS. and a half, it muft- be a monftrous Animal *, — In the Reign of Philadelpbus, two Live-Dragons were brought from Ethiopia to Alexandria, one 13, the other 14 Cubits long. In the Reign of King Ewergetes, they took three Dragons, one feven Cubits, the other nine Cubits long. The third was carefully nurfed in the Temple of E/cu/apius, and no Creature fo highly reverenced +. On the Pelloneon Hill in Chius, was a Dragon whofe hideous Noife filled the Vicinity with Horror and Dread; fo terrible, that none durft approach fo near as to take its Dimenfions. It happened, the Wildernefs wherein it lived, took fire in a Storm; and being involved in the Smoke and Fire, itperifhed, and, upon viewing its Bones, twas concluded to be of a monftrous Bulk, Ibid. Tue Ethiopian Dragons juft mentioned, have no proper Name, and are only known by a Periphrafis, wz. Killers of Elephants. The Method is, by winding themfelves about the Elephants Legs, and then thrufting their Heads up their Noftrils, fting them, and fuck their Blood till they are dead. ALEX ANDER, in his Tour thro’ the Red-Sea, fays, he faw Serpents of incredible Magnitude, fome about 30 Cubits long f. W's read of monftrous Dragons, particularly two Draconic Monfters mentioned by Alexander's Ambafladors, feen by them in their Return from the Kingdom of bifaris, one of 80 Cubits long, the other 140 ||. In Places adjacent to Batavia, a Dutch Settlemennt in the Ea/- Indies, we read of Serpents 50 Feet long; and the Skin of one, which was 20 Feet long, that fwallowed an Infant, is fhewn in Batavia, the Metropolis of the Dutch Empire in the Ea/t-Indies. In Querica alfo are Serpents of prodigious Bulk, from 25, to 30 Feet™long --; but this Subje@ will be further confidered in the Second Part of this Book. Own the other hand, there are Serpents, as remarkably little as the Amphifbena, Gallic Viper, and {ome of the Lizards, that are not * Gefner, p. 44. + 4han.1. 16. c. 39. p. 957- { Ahan, lib. 17. cap. I. || Strabo, de fitu orbis, lib. 15. pracugs xwee Bifari, alias Abifari Regio. + Atlas American, 15 16 A UNUAT USRRARE Stet s 170 Rey not above four or fix Inches long. Moft of thefe Minutillos vary in outward Form. AnD here, I can’t but obferve that as the Magnitude of fome other Animals is very wonderful, fo, on the contrary, the Mi- nutenefs of fome is equally aftonifhing, if not more fo: There are fome very little Infeéts that are confpicuous to the Eye, but more that are zmvifible without the Help of a Mrcrofcope, which is an optical Inftrument, that magnifies Objects, aud makes them big- ger than really they are; it helps to difcover minute Particles, of which Bodies are compofed, and the curious Contexture of them. To thofe who are not ufed to a rigid mathematic Proof, this may be illuftrated by the Smallnefs of many organized Bodies. There is a Plant called Harts-Tongue, ten thoufand Seeds of which hardly make the Bulk of a Pepper-Corn. Now the Cover of the true Body of each Seed, the parenchymous and ligneous Parts of both; the Fibres of thofe Parts, the Principles of thofe Fibres, and the homogeneous Particlesor Atoms of each Principle, being mo- derately multiplied one by another, afford a hundred thoufand Millions of formed Atoms in the fpace of a Pepper-Corn, fays the learned Dr. Grew *. _T He fame is yet more evident from the ftupendous Smallnefs of fome Animals, efpecially in the Sperm of fmaller Infects; which have been obferved by Mr. Lewenhoeck, to be fome Mil- lions of times fmaller than a great Sand. This learned Gentle- man has obferved more of them in the Spawn of a Cod-fifh, than there are People living on the Face of all the Earth at once +. N B.1r is the infinite Number of thefe little invifible Anij- mals that makes ftagnating Waters or Pools appear of fo many different Colours, as green, reddifh, brown, —accord- ing to the feveral Natures of thefe little Animals thgs live therein. Tuus, among Men, wefind big and little; Giants and Pig- mies: Whether that Difproportion be from meer natural Caufes, or by Defignation of Providence, I determine not. It is very queftionable whether there be a particular Nation of Pygmies; but no * Cofmologia Sacra, B.i. chap. 3. + Numerum animalculorum ex unius affellé majoris laétibus provenientium plus decies fuperare bomines in univerfe terrarum orbe viventes.— Epiftola ad Dom. N. Grew, p. 1. OF SERPENTS. no doubt is made about the Exiftence of Dwarfs in many Places as well as Giants. ‘ula, the Niece of Ifland’s Colec?. A. D. 1726. OUF oS ER PE N°WS. “© violent; and when in his Toe, it made him roar out, but upon “* rubbing it there, it vanifh’d. «© A young Woman being feiz’d with a great Pain and Weak- “¢ nefs in her Knees when a Girl, ufed divers Means to no ef- “ fect: After fix or feven years time, Mr. Greatrix coming to “© Dublin, he ftroak’d both her Knees, and gave her prefent ‘* Kafe, the Pain flying downward from his Hand, till he drove “it out of her Toes; the Swelling that always attended it, did ‘* in a fhort 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 fome of his * Spittle into her Ears; which, after chafing them, foon cured “‘ her, both of the Pain and Deafnefs..... Her Uncle was cured “ by him of the fame Malady, and in the fame manner. *°....A Child, being extremely troubled with the King’s- ‘* Evil, was touch’d by King Charles II. and was nothing better ; “< but was foon and perfectly cured by Mr. Greatrix *,” IV. Tue Hemorrhous Serpent is an Egyptian of the viperine kind; of fandy 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 fharp Scales; which by one is given as the Reafon of making fome Noife as it goes, which another denies, becaufe it wants the Sovalia -. Tu1is Creature is little in Body, but great and terrible in its Executions ; for when it wounds any Perfons, all the Blood in the Body flows out, at all.the Apertures of it, which is imme- diately follow’d with Convulfions and Death ft. THE Atlas from Ribeyro mentions an Indian Serpent of the fame malignant Nature, whofe Poifon operates with fuch Vio- lence, that the Perfon wounded by it bleeds at the Eyes, Noftrils, Ears, and all the Pores of the Body, and the miferable Patient is irrecoverable. I THE * Lowthorp’s Philofoph. Traufuctions abridged, vol.iit. p.1t, 12. Edit.2. Com- municated by Mr. Thoresby, N. 256. p. 332. 1699. In Pige ro. an account is given of the wonderful Effeéts of Touch and Fri¢tion. + Caret Sonalibus. Nierembergius, p. 269. t Gyllius, p. 261. Rati Synopfis Meth. 8vo. A.D. 1693. Invenitur in Zgypto & aliis locis quibus Thonis imperavit. ibid. G& in agris Fucatenfibus. At non ftare fuum miteris paffura cruore Squamiferos ingens Flemorhois. 57 58 A»SNATURAL BPS TIOR Y T ue Poet laments the Death of the brave and noble Tullus*, by this bloody Serpent ; which is alfo found in India (according to Diodorus Siculus) in that part where Alexander the Great con- quer’d Porus, the Great King of the Indies. The Conqueror bid Porus afk of him whatever he defired; who anfwered, That he only defired to be treated as a Prince: with which Alexander was fo charm’d, that he not only gave him his Kingdom again, but fome of the Provinces he had conquered in that Vicinity. N.B. On the Bank of the River Hyda/pis, Alexander built a Town, which he call’d Bucepbale, in remembrance of Buce- phalus his great Horfe, which died and was buried there. - V. Tue Serpent Seps, which by fome is faid to be the fame with Sepedon, is about two Cubits long, the Head broad, and of divers Colours. Both thefe are of the fmaller Species, but moft venemous, and therefore are rank’d in the fecond Clafs of Ser- pents. ‘The Virulency of the Poifon is not in proportion to their diminutive Stature. WHEN any are wounded by thefe venemous Animals, the Hair of the Head immediately falls off, the whole Body turns fcurfy, leprous and putrid; yea, the very Bones, as well as the Flefh, putrify and corrupt; therefore fome call it the putrid Ser- pent +. The Poet accounts for the Symptoms of its Poifon f. THESE Serpents are Afaticks, Inhabitants of the Rocks in Syria; Syria, the fuppofed weftern Porch of Paradife. Thefe refemble the Hemorrhous in Colour and external Figure: Accord- ing to Elan, they change into the Similitude of the Things they light upon. He might, I think, as well have faid, they chang’d their Nofes on different Trees, fince there is a kind of relation between Mujfick and Colour, as the Learned Newton obferves. VI. KOKOB Serpent, is between three and four Foot long, of a dufky Colour, and made beautiful by Spots of red and light Blue. Its Wounds are terrible, and the Effe&ts not very diffimi- lar to thofe of the Hemorrhous. Nicrembergius obfetves, that it refides * Lucan, lib. ix. p.269. Tnpreffit dentes Hemorkois afpera Tullo magnanimo Fu- veni. + Nonzulli ex Secligero, on male putriam vocare. Fonftonus, p. 14. t Mors eft ante oculos Seps fletit exignus—Parva moao Serpens, fed qua nonnuila cruente Fugit rupta cutis. Lucan Poarfal. lib. ix. p. 271. OF SERPENTS. refides among Stones; and when it rambles out, and hears any Noife, makes towards it like a mighty Hero. Thus the Gallic Monarch, upon Debates among Princes, marches out as fovereign Umpire of Europe, and never returns home but by way of Lor- rain, Corfica, Palatine, or Spanifh Flanders. VII. The 4/p, fo called from the A/perity of its Skin, as 4r- noldus, or from a/piciendo, becaufe of the Acutenefs of its Eyes. A Serpent well known, but not accurately defcrib’d, fays the Learned Mr. Ray: Some make it a {mall Serpent, others fay ’tis feveral Feet long ; and both may judge right, for according to “Elian, there are various Species of Afps; fome a Foot and half long, and others fix. AmowncG thefe different Proportions, the leaft of them is faid to be moft hurtful, and kills the fooneft. Its Poifon is fo dan- gerous and quick in its Operation, that it kills almoft in the very Inftant that it bites, without a Poffibility of applying any Re- medy : They die within three Hours, fays my learned Author * ; and the manner of their dying by Sleep and Lethargy, without Pain, made Cleopatra chute it as the eafieft way of difpatching herfelf, (More of this further on.) TuHeEseE Afpick Serpents, are the Growth of feveral Climates : Olaus obferved fome of them in the northern Parts, of rugged and rough Skins, afh Colour, f{parkling Eyes, three or four Cu- bits long-+; tho’ Lovers of warm Situations, yet delight in fhady Retirements |. Many of them are found in the Spanifh Iflands-+; but Egypt, Libya, and other Places in Africa claim the greateft Right to them, for there they are moft numerous and venemous. WueEn provok’d, the Neck of this Creature fwells, and the Wound then given, is moft dangerous. Its Teeth are of confi- derable length, growing out of the Mouth like the Tufks of a Boar. The Hiftorian fays, that two of the longeft Teeth have little Cavities in them, covered witha thin Skin, that flides up when it bites, by which means the poifonous Liquid runs out, and drops into the Punéture ; after which, it recovers its Station. Re: In * Ca'uet in Verbum, p. 213. + Fonftonus Hift. de Serp. p.15. t Ideo Semeca, ad umbram cxf. rgere dixit. S)y) 60 A NADURA E APIS TORY In America, faysa celebrated Hiftorian, are found 4/ps with Stings in the Tail, wherewith they ftrike and kill *. Tue Banks of Ni/us abound with A/ps, who have Sagacity enough to remove their Habitations to a place of Safety, feveral days before that River overflows the Rifing-Grounds about it: "Tis alfo faid the Crocodile and Tortoife recede with their Eggs, to a Situation not acceffible by that mighty Flood; a Flood that makes the Land of Egypt, a Region of Fertility, a Flood dreaded by thefe Animals, and ador’d by the Egyptians, thofe Sons of Contradiction, who confecrated their Animals to the Gods, and then worfhipped them, and upon Occafions kill’d them, (Can we behold fuch Inftinéts in the Crocodile, &c. without acknow- ledging the Divine Wifdom that ordain’d *em!) No Nation more knowing, and more fottifh, e.g. Upon the Statue of Minerva, or the Goddefs J/s, was this Infcription, wiz. I was fhe that was, that am, and fhall be, and that am every thing. Which being an exact Interpretation of the Word ‘febovah, and the fame Defini- tion the Almighty appropriates to himfelf, I can’t, fays the Learned ‘Furieu, conceive, how a Nation that was arrived to fuch a high Degree of Knowledge, fhould have worthip’d Bullocks—as Gods. P LUTARCH givesa ftrange relation of them, vz. that in cafe of any extraordinary Calamity, as War, Plague, Famine, the Egyp- tian Priefts ufed to threaten the /acred Beats moft horribly: If they failed to help them, they whipt them till the Blood follow’d; and if the Calamity did ftill continue, they kill’d thofe facred Beafts by way of Punifhment +. The Reverfe of this is given us in a Clan of Tartars, who, when expofed to any imminent Ca- Jamity, facrifice their Priefts, in order to intercede for them with the Gods in the other World. Ir has been faid, that the 4/p, when exafperated, did, with an erected Head, caft out of its Mouth liquid Poifon; but it now appears, it darts it only by its Bite, or by Poifon taken from it by Force, and poured into a Wound made by another ; and both the Wounds {o made, foon terminate tn an ea/y plea= fant Exit; which is fuppofed to be the reafon why Queen Cleo- patra chofe this kind of Death, that is, to poifon herfelf by an Afpick Dofe. This reminds me of a certain Herb I have read of, in * Fonftonus Hiff, Naat, de Serpentibus. p.15. + Fwriew from Plut. de I/- & Ofr. OF SERPENTS. + in Arabia, which (according to the Tradition) 7f a Man /lept upon, he died in his Sleep without any Pain. A CERTAIN learned Pen, makes this Remark upon Cieo- patra’s Cafe, viz. that fhe was not bit by an 4/p, as fome have afferted, but did that which was more fecret and fure; that is, after fhe had bit her own Arm, infufed Poifon into the Wound, expreffed before-hand from an A4/p by Irritation, and preferved in a Phial for that purpofe: Or, as Dzo fays, fhe wounded her Arm with a Needle, or Dreffling-pin, and then poured the Poifon into the bleeding Wound. This feems probable, becaufe no Serpent was found in her Chamber or near it. Tue Queen, in order to find the moft eafy Paflage out of this Life, made an Experiment upon Criminals by various kinds of Poifon, and Application of diverfe forts of Serpents, and found nothing came up to A/pick Poifon, which throws Perfons into a pleafant Sleep, in which they die *. Obj. If it be faid, that in the Triumphs of Auguffus, Queen Cleopatra is drawn with an Afp in her Hand: I Answer, That I apprehend that Device might only be P7éfo- rial-Licence, or a Flourifh of the Painter to affe@ the People, by difplayiug the Heroifm of a Woman, who to prevent the Difgrace of Captivity, embraced Death at the hands of a Serpeut, a ter- rible Creature, to which none has fo great an Averfion as the fe- male Sex. Excufe a poetick Digreffion. On the ASP and its POISON. Welcome thou kind Deceiver, Thou beft of Thieves! who with an ealy Key Doft open Life, and unperceiv'd by us, Even fteal us from our felves ; difcharging fo, Death's dreadful Office, better than him/elf. Touching our Limbs fo gently into Slumber, That Death ftands by, decerv'd by its own Image, And thinks himfelf afleep +. SoME * Plutarch’s Lives of Mare Anton. and Cleopatra, and Fr, Redi Nobilis Aretin# Experiment. p. 170,—1,—2,—3. + Dryden, All for Love. 62m A NATURAL HISTORY SoME are of Opinion, that the 4/p is David's deaf Adder, Pfal. lviii. 45. They are like the deaf Adder that flops her Ear, which will not hearken to the Voice of Charmers, charming never fo wifely. They are like the deaf Afp, faysthe Hebrew and the Septuagint. The word in the Original is * Pethen, q. d. Unperfuadedne/s ; hence, wicked Men are called Azaes in the New Te/?. unperfuadable, which the Engl/b Tranflation renders Di/obedient, Tit. i. 16. THE common Tradition is, that when Men by Inchantments and Charms have attempted to take thefe Serpents, they ftopt one Ear with the Tail, and the other was either deaf, or made fo by laying it clofe to the Ground. Some are of Opinion, that there is a fort of 4p that really is deaf, which of all others is the moft dangerous, and is meant by the Royal Prophet here. TuarT there was a Pradtice of charming Serpents by fome Art or other, fo that they could neither dite nor /timg, feems evident from the facred Writings. e.g. Eccl. x. 1. Surely the Serpent will bite without Inchantment. Jer. viii. 17. I'l] fend Serpents, Cockatrices, among you, that will not be charmed, and they fhall bite you, fays the Lord. Among other Things the word Charmer, fome fay, figni- fies one that conjoins and confociates; that is, that by Sorcery gather’d Serpents together, and made them tame and familiar ; or the Perfon may be fo call’d, becaufe by Magick Art, he aflo- ciated with Demons, the Lords of Serpents. : W e are inform’d by Hiftory, of fome, who have fummoned together a hundred Serpents at once; but by what method, I leave the Reader to judge. Montanus, a famous Phyfician, and Profeffor at Padua in Italy, fays he faw this Coadunation of Serpents. THE learned Doctor Ca/audon tells us, he had feen 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 thin the reft, would not be brought in, upon repeat- ing the aforefaid Charms, it fubmitted to the Flames. W = read of a famous Charmer at Sa/tsburgh in the Circle of Bavaria; that, when (in fight of the People) he had charm’d a great Number of Serpents into a Ditch, where he kil’d them; there * 17: weer womidas RUD FS. OF SERPENTS. there camea Serpent of great Bulk, fuppofed to be the Devil, that leapt upon the Charmer, and immediately flew him *. AnsweER me, fays Paracel/us, (the celebrated Swé/s Phyfician, who did wonderful Cures by Liquids extracted from Vegetables) from whence is it, that a Serpent of He/vetia, Algovia, or Suevia, does underftand the Greek Idiom, Ofy, Ofja, Of ; that they fhould, at the firft Sound of thefe Words, ffop their Ears, remain immoveable, and do us no hurt with their Poifon? From whence he infers, there was a Power in Words to operate upon the Ear, without Superftition. The Antients feem to have entertain’d fome favourable Fhoughts of the Power of Spells upon Serpents : Their Poets {peak often of thefe Charms and Incantations. Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis. Virgil. Vipereas rumpo verbis, & carmine fauces, Ovid. Ingue pruinofo coluber diftenditur arvo Viperes coéunt alrupto corpore nodi Humanoque cadit ferpens afflata veneno. Lucan. PHILOSTRATUS defcribes particularly how the Indians charm Serpents—they take a Scarlet-Coat embroider’d with golden Letters, and fpread it before the Serpent’s Hole; and thefe golden Letters have a fafcinating Power over it, and therewith its Eyes are overcome and laid afleep +. Ir we confider the ftrange Things done by Force of Words, fo much extoll’d in Antiquity, it will be no wonder to fee Letters, out of which Words are form’d, made the Rudiment and firft Study of human Life: But as to the Mode of Operation by Words, the Learned are not agreed. Some fay, 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 Orafors; in this they triumph’d, and never wanted Acclamations and loud Applaufes. In Plutarch, we have, among others, one remarkable Inftance, wz. Cefar, upon the Accufations brought in by Tubero againft Quintus Ligarius (Pompeys Friend) he was refolved to facrifice that Rebel, till he was charm’d by the Words of the Orator that pleaded in his favour——No fooner did Cicero begin his Oration in * Doétor More’s Antidote. + His Life of Apollonius Tyaueus, writ at the Defire of the Emprels Zilia, lib. 3. cap. 2, his 63 64, A NATWRAL BASTDOR'Y his defence, but Cz/ar’s Countenance chang’d, and his Indigaa- tion begun to foften.... but when the Orator touch’d upon the Battle of Pharfalia (where Ce/ar was Conqueror) Cz/ar’s Heart tender’d, his Body trembled with Joy, and certain Papers in his Hands dropt to the ground——And when Cicero had finith’d his Oration, Cafar's Wrath againft his Enemy was intirely extin- guith’d ; and Ligarius was fet at liberty *. The fame Orator, by the Dint of Eloquence, overthrew the Conflitution of the De- cemutri. OTHERS fay, there is a mighty Force in Words in fuch a Tone, and Tali/manical Charaéters, rightly-adapted Figures, and Images under certain Conftellations +. Some affirm that Magick confifts 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 feveral extra- ordinary Effects have been afcrib’d to the Devil, that in reality were natural, and artfully difguifed: The Story of Sieur Brioche, a famous Puppet-player, is well known, who ina Town in Swit- zerland, where that Show had never been feen before, he was ap- prehended as a Warlock or Magician, and ran the hazard of be- ing punith’d as fuch f. OTHERS affirm, that Charms by Words are but means to heighten the Imagination ; and the ftrange Effects produced by ’em, flow’d only from the Aétivity of an exalted Thought, or Fancy of heated Brains, In proof of this ’tis faid, that if a Wo- man at a certain Seafon, ftrongly fix her Imagination upon any particular Object, the Child will bear the Image thereof. I Tuin Xk ’tis pretty obvious, that thofe extraordinary Im- preflions made by Pagan Sephiffs upon the Minds of their Au- dience by the Charms of Rhetorick, paft for a divine Afflatus or Infpiration; and therefore in fuch Cafes, we fhall find this For- mula (Aliquis nefcio quis Deus) frequently ufed by Enthufiaftical Orators, as wellas their Poets : Thus Cicero, {peaks of himfelf, that he was mov’'d by acertain Jmpetus or Ardour || : Apollonius Tya- a neus, * Plutarch’s Life of Cicere. + Paracel/us, C. Agrippa, Life of Mr. Duncan Campbell, A.D. 1720, page 256. Gafare!. { De Saint Andre’s Letters. | Nulla ingen:i, fed magna vis animi iaplamantes ut me spf? non t2neam. OF SERPENTS. neus, ‘who was looked upon by the Chriftians as a notorious Ma- gician, being afk’d by the Governor of Rome under Nero, what was his Profeffion ? he anfwer’d, Seocuo;, an Enthufiaft, g.d. Fa- natic, Conjurer. °T 1s true, that wonderful Things have been done by Words, but how verbal Charms operated upon Serpents, wants Explica- tion: Of fome Inchanters ’tis faid, that by vocal and inftrumental Sounds, they have charm’d Rats, Mice and Serpents, fome into a ftupid State, and others into a flexible fubmiffive State. A remarkable Inftance in Rats we have in the publick Records of Hamelen, (an antient City on the River Wefer in Germany, about 28 Miles S. E. of Hanover) where the following ftrange Account is regifter’d, viz. THAT in Fune 26. 1284, a certain Stranger undertook to deftroy an Army of Rats with which the Town had been long pefter'd, on promife of fuch a Reward ; and immediately playing on his Pipe and Tabret, the Rats march’d out, and follow’d the Mufick 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 fame Mufick, and moft 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 /ad Cataftrophe, the Citizens for many Years after, dated all their publick Writings from the Day they loft their Children, as appears by their old Deeds and Records: They ftill call the Street thro’ which the Children went out, TLabret-fireet; and at the Mouth of the Cave there is a Monument of Stone, with a Latin Infcription, giving the Particulars of this tragical Story. As to the other Inftance, vz. Serpents charm’d into a duétile manageable State, “tis thus accounted for; viz. Serpents, they fay, are f{trangely influenced by the Smell of thofe 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 obfequious Temper— << When touch’d by a Rod from that Tree, they are immediately ‘«« intoxicated, but fo as to be able to follow the Motion of the “« Rod ; but whether by reafon of fome great Difproportion or K ** Incom- 65 66 A NATURAL HISTORY “ Tncompofhibility, between thefe fubtile Efduvia and the Tem- “ perament of the vital, fpiritual Subftance of the Serpent, or by « what other way, weare not told *, The Saffafras-tree, a Na- “© tive of America, is call’d Cornus alfo, whofe Wood is very odo- «* rous and fragrant.” Now, fay thefe Gentlemen why fhould it feem impoffible, that he who underftands this invincible En- mity, and how to manage a Rod of the Cornus with Cunning and Dexterity (having firft intoxicated a Serpent by the Touch there- of) fhould during that Fit make it obferve, and readily conform to all the various Motions of the Wand, fo as that the unlearned Spectators, perceiving the Serpent to approach the Exchanter, as he moves the Wand near to himfelf, 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 ftill asina Trance, as the Rod is held ftill over it ; and all this Time, the People knowing nothing of the Virtue in the Rod, are eafily deluded into a Belief, that the whole Scene is fupernatural, and the main Energy radicated in thofe Words or Charms, which the Impoftor with great Cere- mony and Gravity of Afpect mutters forth, the better to difguife his Legerdemain, and diflemble Nature in the colour of a Miracle. Tue Rattle-fnakes in America are faid to fecure their Prey by Incantation ; for they have the Power or Art, (I know not which to call it, fays my Author) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Partridges, or any fuch Thing, in fuch a manner, that they run dire@ly into their Mouths: This I have feen, adds he, by a Squirrel and one of the Rattle-{fnakes ; and other Snakes have in fome meafure the- fame Power -f. Iv is allowed indeed, that there aré dumb Creatures that do ex- ceed Manin fome /enfible Perceptions, particularly in that of Sme/- ling, as the Harriers, and other Dogs. How ftrange, that Odours from the Hare’s Body, fhould fo affeét the Nofe of a Hound, as to raife in him that Senfation or Scent, by which he follows her all the Day (tho’ he never had a Sight of her) thro’ a Cloud of Oppofition, from perplexing intricate Places, and Efflu- viums proceeding from other Animals! Tuese 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 Atmofphere) ftrike againft ® Charlton. + Natural Hiftory of Caroling, A.D. 1711. page 129. OF SERPEN-TS. againft the Dog’s Nofe, and produce that Senfation of Smell_—— N. B. The Intenfity of Smell in all Creatures, is in proportion to the Denfity or Thicknefs where we are: This Denfity is always diminifh’d in proportion to the Squares of the Diftances from the odorous Body. YeA, a little Cur, by the Power of Smelling, can find out his Matter among Thoufands, will trace his Steps thro’ Crouds in Fairs and Markets; yea, throughout a whole Country. Our Hiftories inform us of Dogs in fome parts of this Ifland, that being put up- on the Scent, would purfue a Thief and a Murderer; and if he crofs'd.a River, would fmell where he entered, and fwim after him; and when arrived at t’other fide, would hunt about till they found where he landed, and then run on, till they overtook the Criminal. Iw Animals is a fulphurous or oily Matter, fo attenuated and fubtiliz’d as to become volatile, which is denominated a Spirit : Now that there is fuch a Spiritin Man, and a peculiar one too in every Man, is evident from thefe Dogs, which will purfue the Game by their Nofe, and follow their Mafter’s Track, and di- ftinguifh it precifely ; yea, tho’ a thoufand other Perfons had paft the fame way. Ir mutt be by meer Force of Smelling, that the Dog is able to do this, that is, to diftinguifh his Mafter from all Men by the Inftrumentality of his Nofe. THEREFORE there muft be fome fpecifick Matter exhaled from the Mafter’s Body, which the Dog can perfe@ly diftinguifh from the various Effluvia flowing from all other Perfons. Tue Dog mutt exceed us, in that he can thus exactly difcern his Mafter, by thefe fubtile, oily, or fulphurous Effluvia, which no human Nofe 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 crofs Paths of a thoufand others, and at laft fingle out that individual Deer among a whole Herd of thofe Ani- mals. In Scotland are afort of Dogs(in Colour generally red and {potted with black, or black with red) of extraordinary Sagacity, being, as’tis faid, put uponthe Scent, will purfue Thieves with Succefs ; and the Ufe of them has been authorifed by the Magiftrate—— Ka2 Nullus 67 68 A NATURAL HISTORY Nullus perturbet aut impediat canem trafantem, aut homines tran- Jentes cum tpfo ad fequendum latrones aut ad capiendum malefaétores. N. B. Trafantem is a Word latiniz’d from the old French Tracer or Traffer, fignifying to follow by the Track. Ir any fhou’d fuggeft, That this derogates from the Wifdom and Goodnefs of the Creator, who has given to fome Beafts ftronger Perceptions, Nerves more exquifitely fine and delicate than he has beftow’d upon Man : IT Answer, this is fo far from derogating from divine Wif- dom and Goodnefs, that it is an admirable Inftance and Illuftra- tion of both ; for were our olfactory Nerves fufceptible of fuch quick Senfations as Dogs and fome other Animals, we fhou’d be continually annoy’d with peftiferous Fumes and Exhalations, fo as nor only to render moft Situations troublefome, but even Life it felf miferable and wretched. Su cu quick Senfations may be very ufeful to carnivorous Ani- mals, fo as to direct them to their Prey, but to human Beings it wou'd be very vexatious, if not peftiferous and deadly. I thall only add to this Digreffion, a fhort Hint about the Magic Art, the moft furprifing of all Arts, and in its firft Appearance moft innocent and ufeful. AmonG the antient Chaldeans, Babylonians, and Perfians, where the Art-magic was firft and principally cultivated, it fig- nified no more than Wi/dom ; and hence the Sophi, or Wifemen of the Greeks were by them call’d yaya, that is, Magicians ; who being acquainted with many of the hidden Powers of Nature, di- rected them in fuch manner, as to produce Effects, whofe Caufes being unknown to the Vulgar, were attributed to Demons. Hewnce the Art in procefs of Time came into Difrepute, and Magicians have been cenfur’d, as working by Compaé with the Devil : But this is invidious; for in the Gofpel we find, the Magz or Magicians, are faid to come from the Eaft to Jerufalem, /ayzng, where ts be that is born King of the Jews? for we—are come to wor- hip him. No body can imagine this to be underftood of thofe that have been called Sorcerers, Wizards, Conjurers, Witches or Magi- cians, in the modern Senfe of that Word * ; for thofe who were ~ familiar with the Devil, would fcarce come to enquire after him, who came to deftroy his Works. THE ® Matt. ii. ¥, 2. OF SERPENTS. Tue Notion of Witches in the Days of Ignorancé and Super- ftition, was very prevailing in this Ifland, but of late Years has un- dergone a parliamentary Excommunication ; though the Lenca- Jhire Witches, who are conftituted of the fairer Part of the fairer Sex, triumph even over our Senators, and will maintain their faf- cinating Charms, while their rival Beauties, the Sun and Stars endure. W = read of a certain King of Egypt, who having affembled his Magical Prie/ts without the City Memphis, caus'd them to en- ter where the People were gather’d, by Beat of Drum: All of them made fome miraculous Difcovery of their Magic and Wif- dom. One had his Face furrounded with a Light, like that of the Sun, fo bright that none could look earneftly upon him. ANOTHER feemd as if enrob’d with precious Stones of di- verfe Colours, red, green, yellow, or wrought with Gold. A T u1RDcame mounted ona Lion, compafs’d with Serpents, like Girdles. THE next came in with a Pavilion, or Canopy of Light, di- ftended over his Head. ANOTHER entered furrounded with Flames of Fire, turning about him ; fothat none durft come near him: AFTER him appeared one with dreadful Birds, perching about his Head, and fhaking their Wings like Vulturs and black Eagles, T ue /aff made his Appearance with an Army in the Air, marching before him, of winged Serpents and terrible Perfo- nages. In fine, every one did what was taught him by the Star he ferved ; and, after all, the whole Scene was but an Ap- parition and: IIlufion, according to their own Confeffion to the King, when the Farce was over Something analogous to this are the Magick Lanthorns in our days. Iw antient times, the Word Magician generally fignified Men: of Wifdom and Learning, i. e. of fuperior Knowledge in Things. natural and divine, and more efpecially in that fort of Learning. relative to the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as we learn from Porphyry, Apuleius, * This Paffage is taken out of the Egyptian Hiftory of the Pyramids—by Mur-- tadi the Arabian, printed at Tibe, a City in Arabia, 14th of Regebe, 992 ; which: correfponds to Fuly 22d, 1584; about 156 Years ago; tranflated into. Fremch, and: into Evglifb, 1672. 69 de A NATURAL HISTORY Apuleius, and others. And feeing the infpired Apoftle gives them ‘that Name (Magicians) not as a Mark of Infamy, but a Title of Honour, therefore does the Engli/h Tranflation ftile them W7/e- men, fuch as the old Greeks called copa, Sages of their Time *. How, and how far this Art is degenerated, I refer to the Judgment of the Learned: We fee there are Revolutions in Words, as well as in Families and Kingdoms ; a Magician being formerly a Wie- man, as well asa Knave an honeft one. Sed tempora mutantur. ISHALt only add to the A/pick Subject, the Tribute of Ve- nefation paid to this poifonous Animal in the Land of Egyft. The Hiftorian fpeaks of a certain Perfon, who, in digging, hap- pened unawares to cut an Afp with his Spade, and went mad up- On it,---was taken into the Houfe of Serapis, an Egyptian Idol,— the Relatives of the Patient praying the Spectrum of that Serpent might be deftroyed,----which being accordingly done by Magick Art, the Man was cured.------ By this we fee, how highly As were venerated among the Egyptzans, who not only fuffer’d them to live, but to live in their Houfes, where they were carefully fed, as Favourites of the Family -+. And Queen Cleopatra's Cafe was not fingular, for the Perfian Kings kept an exquifite Porfon by them, made of the Dung of an Indian Bird, which would kill ‘without putting them to pain, that they might ufe it themfelves in cafe of any Difafter ¢. DEMOSTHENES, who flew his Soldier, when he was ‘ afleep, was a merciful Executioner; a kind of Punifhment the Mildnefs of no Law has yet invented. It is ftrange that Lucan and Seneca made no difcovery of it. S, SLEEP is a kind of Death, by which we may literally be faid to die daily; and in this Senfe, Adam may be faid to die be- fore his final Exit. VII. I now proceed to the Serpent Scyzale; the Name is borrowed from the Gree Word oxro7, a Staff, or any thing like a Cylinder, of along fmooth round Form; the Body of this Ser- - pent being in fhape equally round, like a Rolling-Stone, with very little Variation in the Extremities of it. : T * Boerhaave’s New Theory, p. 211. 3 SaaS + Circurantur cibo, cum infantibus vivunt, CG crepitum digitorum vocataex cavi prodeunt. Jonftonus, p. 16. t Atlas, Afia. GF SER'PENTS. Ir forms a beautiful Profpe@t, being an Aggregate of moft charming Colours, (therefore call’d the Painted Serpent by Man- tuanus.) It may be view’d without danger, becaufe flow in its Motion. ’Tis an Error in Lucan to attribute its Slownefs to a Defign of enticing Spectators, if it be not Poetica Licentia. W HEN releafed from its Winter-Confinement, the firft thing fhe does, fays the Hiftorian, is to refrefh her languid Body with Fennel-Leaves ; but does not tell us what is done, in cafe that Herb can’t be readily found. It muft indeed be allowed, that wild Fennel is a common Herb of the Field, and well known and of Ufe in Phyfick *. The Poet obferves, that no Snake cafts her Coat in Winter, but the Scytale +-. T urs Serpent being adorned with beautiful Colours, excufe a: thort Digreffion upon the Doétrine 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 thews itfelf to- be prefent by Light. The Senfation of Light is produced when the Particles of Fire, directed by the AGion of the Sun, reach the Eye in right Lines. Now, Fire thus entering the Eye, gives a Motion to the optick Fibres at the bottom of the Eye, and thus excites the Idea of Light. Il. FIRE difcovers itfelf by Colour ; for all Colours depend upon Light, and Light depends upon Fire ;.and different Colours: appear in Natural Bodies, as their Surfaces are difpofed to reflect. this or that fort of coloured Rays more than others. Colour is a Property inherent in Light.. Coxrouwrs therefore are not connate with Natural Bodies, which are all of the fame Hue in the dark. To this the Poet alludes, when he makes Darkne/s the Deftruétion of Colours t.— 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 page the Eye, produces in the SpeCtator the Senfation of Co- our, Crov Ds: * Alian, Gylhi Acceffio. + Ex Scytale fparfis etiam nunc fola pruinis Exuvias pofitura fuas.---Lucan’s Pharf. $ Rebus nox abftulit atra colores.--- Virgil. Ts 72 - _A NATURAL HISTORY CxLovps often appear very beautifully coloured; they confift of aqueous Particles, between which Air isinterfperfed ; therefore, according to the various Thicknefs of thofe aqueous Particles, the Cloud will be of a different Colour *, IX. AMPHISBZNA Serpent, fo called from ang: & Baw, Biceps,aMonfter with two Heads. This is a {mall and weak Crea- ture, equal in Bulk toa little Finger, and about a Foot long, of a whitifh or terraceous Colour; of the oviparous Family, of {mall Eyes, no otherways vifible than the Prick of a little Needle; lives much under ground, and is often found by digging; feeds upon Ants. Under this Head, the Hiftorian mentions three Serpents, VIZ. Tue Brafilian, that has two Heads, and moves as a Crab-+. THE Taprobanenfian, with four Heads; and he who believes it muft have a four-headed Faith. Tue Hungarian; of which elfewhere. THE fame Hiftorian adds, that the marine Amphishena, taken in the Emgii/b Sea, has two Heads. Ibzd. Pliny, Zhan, Lucan, Mantuan,—affirm it has two Heads; Matthiolus denies it, He/ychius is doubtful. Mention is made of a Serpent found neat Chipping-Norton, not far from Oxford, having two Heads, and Faces like Women ; one being fhaped after the new Tyre of that Time; the other was habited after the old Fafhion, and had great Wings refembling thofe of the Flinder-Moufe or Bat{. This happened in the Reign of Edward III. A Spanifb Author fays, that in Chiapa he found a two-headed Serpent, 18 Inches long, in the Form of a Roman T, and very ve- nemous ; it does not only kill, adds he, by its Bite, but if any tread upon that part of the Ground over which ’twas juft gone, it proves fatal ||. The Poet alfo fubfcribes to two Heads **. Tt this two-headed Serpent has flain its Thoufands, there is a certain metaphorical three-headed Serpent on the Banks of Zyder, that has flain its Ten Thoufands. PERHAPS * Boerhaave, Gravefand. + Acofta. } Stow’s Annals, Loudon,printed, 1631. || Antonio de Herrera’s Hiftory of America. « #* Et gravis ingenium furgens caput Ampkisbena.----Lucan, p. 270. OFISERPERNT S a ge?" Peruaps the Reafon of afcribing two Heads to this Ser- pent, might be, becaufe it is faid to poifon by the Tail and Teeth. Others fay, both Ends are fo like in Figure and Bulk, that they are not eafily diftinguithed. I r feems probable to me, that this Serpent, like fome Infeéts or Worms, has a double Motion, antrorfum & retrorfium, which made fome of the Antients conclude it had two Heads; one in the ufual Situation, the other in the Extremity of the Caudz. Its Body is of equal Thicknefs, and recommended to the View by various and delightful Spots *. W £ read of this Serpent in Goth/and, where it comes forth in the Spring before all other Serpents, being more able to encounter the cold Air +. Some Authors tell us, that its Skin wrapt about a Stick, drives away all Serpents; which I place among the Tales of Antiquity. Tuts Serpent is found in the Lybzan Deferts, and alfo in the Ifland of Lemnos, in the #gean Sea. The Puncture made by its Wounds is fo fmall, that it can fcarcely be difcerned, yet termi- nates in a dreadful Inflammation and a lingering Death. ERASMUS was puzzled about the Senfe of that Greek Pro- verb sdG & ifs, hydrus in dolio, a Serpent in the Hogfhead: The Meaning of it, faid an Interpreter of Dreams, is this: A cer- tain Perfon had a Vefiel of Wine, that was conftantly diminith- ing, tho’ carefully lock’d up ; the Reafon of which he could not account for, till he empty’d the Veffel, at the bottom of which he found a Serpent rioting in Wine #. PrRuH aApsasgood an Interpretation may be this, that there was Venom in the Cask (of which the Serpent was an Emblem) to all thofe who rioted in the Bowls of Excefs. Not fo, fays a Son of Bacchus ; for The thirfty Earth foaks up the Rain, And drinks, and gapes for Drink again. The Sea it/elf, which one would think, Should have but little need of Drink, Drinks-Ten thoufand Rivers up.— L The * Conrad. Gefner. “lian. Columella, lib. vi- + Ofaus Magnus Hift. B. xxi. t Conradus Gefner. 73 74 A NATURAL HISTORY The bufy Sun, and one would guefs By’s drunken fiery Face no le/s, Drinks up the Sea. ——————— Fill up the Bowl then, fill it high, Fill all the G1 affes there, for why, Should every Creature drink, but I ? Why, Man of Morals, tell me why ? * Some of the Poets have thought this Amphishena to be the Hydra Lernea, the many-headed Serpent, that was very terrible to the adjacent Country, and flain by Hercules : When one Head was cut off, many others fprung up ; fo that there was no way to deftroy the Monfter, but by cutting off all the Heads with one Stroke. Tuo’ there be no Amphisbenick Animals, there is fome Re- femblance of it in Plants, whofe 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 aéted on by the Earth, warmed by the Sun, begins to expand, and fhoots its Root both upward and downward. Thus, in a Bean committed to the Ground, we foon fee it to cleave into two Parts, and in the Fiffure appears a little Speck, which fends out a Root downwards, and a Bud upwards.——A remarkable Pheno- menon, fays the Note on Boerbaave's Theory. X. Amon Serpents, Authors place Dragons ; Creatures ter- rible and fierce in Afpe&t and Nature. They are divided into Apodes and Pedates, {ome with Feet, and fome without them ; fome are privileged with Wings, and others are deftitute of Wings and Feet: Some are covered with fharp Scales, which make a bright Appearance in fome Pofition. Some have obferved, that about the Ganges, are Dragons whofe Eyes fparkle like precious. Stones, Tu ey differ in external Form: The Draconopades are repre- ~ fented by a human Face, and fightly Countenance ; the reft of the Body in a tortuous winding Shape. In one of Dr. Yohbzfon's Fi- gures, a Dragon is made to appear like a Man’s Face, with a Gre- nadier’s Cap on the Head. Some differ in Colour, fome are blaek * Cowley’s Anacreon. OF SERPENTS. black in the upper Part of the Body, according to Philoffratus , red, according to Homer; yellow, according to Paufanias; and Lucan makes it a golden Colour *, Tue fame Hiftorian obferves, that in the Atlantick Moun- tains, they kill where they touch, and thofe that are in the King- dom of Narfinga, and dwell in the Woods, kill all they meet. Tbid. I a ESUME, the Author means Navfinga, a potent King- dom, bounded on the Eaft with the Bay of Benga/, that noble Part of India, fays Herbert ¢; where the Monarch is always at- tended with 1000 for his Guards, has § or 6000 Jefters, and rec« kons it one of his chief Titles to be the Hufband of a Thoufand Wives. DracGcons are Inhabitants of Africa and Afa; thofe of India exceed moft in Largenefs and Longitude : In the Tower of London, is the Skin of one, which is of vaft Bulk. In 4¢hzo0- pia, they have no Name for Dragons, but Killers of Elephants, which is fuppofed to be the largeft of Land-Animals. Over the Water-gate in the City of Rhodes, there is fet up the Head of a Dragon, which was 33 Foot long, that wafted all the Country, till it was flain by Deodate de Gozon, one of the Knights of St. fobn Baptift ||. The Knights of that Order had frequently attack’d it, but in vain ; for its Scales being proof a gainft all their Arms, it deftroyed fo many of them, that the Grand Mafter forbad them to engage the Monfter any more. GOZON, who, after feveral dangerous Onfets efcaped with his Life, refolved to make another Trial by Stratagem ; perceiv- ing it was no where vulnerable but in the Eyes and Belly, con- trived the Refemblance of a Dragon by a Machine of Paftboard, 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 atthe Belly, he went out privately one Morning, well-armed ona managed Horfe with his Dogs, and rode up to the Ln Den, * Philoftratus deVita Apol. lib. iii. cap. 2. Homer. Wiad. lib. 12. Lucan. Phar fal: in Fonftont Hiftoria Serpentum, p. 33, 34. + Unde qridam in arbores & chamo dracones diftinxere. { His Travels into Africa and Afa, ihe famous Empires of Perfia and Indo- an,—Oriental If{lands. ‘ || Atlas Geog. Anatol 2, p. 43,--4. from Tz vernier and Du Aone. 75 76 A NATURAL HISTORY Den, from whence the Dragon leaped furioufly at him: In the Encounter, the Dogs laid hold on his Belly, and forced him to lie down ; upon which the valiant Knight alighted, thruft his great Sword feveral times into his Throat, and foon killed him: Upon which the Spectators drew near, and with great difficulty fever’d the Head from the Body, and lugged it into the Town in Tri- umph. T H E Conqueror was degraded for the fake of Form, becaufe he had violated the Grand-Mafter’s Order ; but was immediately reftored, and foon after was elected Grand-Mafter himfelf ; he died in the Year 1335, and on his Tomb were engraven thefe Words, Draconis Extinétor ; The Deftroyer of the Dragon. In the Life of A¢tilius Regulus (the Roman General in the War againft the Carthaginians) is defcribed a Dragon of prodigious Bulk near the River Bagrada, that annoyed all the Country round, without Remedy. Several Devices were formed to deftroy it, but without effect, till the Military Po//é was called in, who difcharged the Exgines of War againft it with Succefs: And fo great was this Deliverance, that an Ovation, or a {mall Triumph, was publickly made at Rome for the Victory. XI. The Pythian Dragon, fo called from its being the Guar- dian of the De/phick Oracle: Its Eyes are large and fharp, and the Body painted with Variety of Colours, as red, yellow, green and blue, and furnifhed with Scales that are refplendent, well com- pacted and hard. It has been called Deucaloneus, becaufe in the Language of Ignorance, it was produced from the Mud left by the Deucalionian Deluge : a Serpent of prodigious Bulk.* PYTHON is alfo taken for a prophetick Demon, by St. Luke +.—As we went to Prayer, a certain Damfel poffeft with a Spirit of Divination, (having the Spirit of Pytho, according to the Greek) which brought her Majfters much Gain by Sooth-faying, that is, by Predictions, telling of Fortunes. Python of the Greeks is fuppofed the Iyphon of the Pheniczans, and the Phenician Ty- phon to be Ogg King of Ba/ban, and Apollo that flew it, to be fofbua. Apollois called Pythius from this Serpent, or from fome notorious Tyrant of that Name, flain'’by him, as the antient Geo- grapher * Fonftonus. + A&@XVi. 16.—TNvevpa Mvdwvoa OF SERPENTS. grapher obferves. So Gefner from Pau/fanias. The Prieftefs of Apollo, that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called Pyzhia and Pythoniffa. This Pythonick Spirit among the Gentiles, was efteemed as a God, and by ‘fuvenal is ftyled Vates, a Prophet. Tue Prieftefs that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called Pythia, from Apollo Pythias, and muft be a pure Virgin. Moft of the Fathers of the Church were of opinion, that it was the De- vil gave the Anfwers, which were generally dubious, a Sign of his Ignorance about Futurity. On £ Ocnomaus, a certain Pagan Philofopher, highly refenting it, that he had been fo often befooled by the Oracles, {peaks to Apollo thus---“‘ When we come to confult thee, either thou know- “eft Things to come or not. If thou knoweft them, why doft “‘ not thou fpeak fo as to be underftood? If thou knoweft not, “« why doft thou pretend to it? If Things neceffarily come to “< pafs, why doft thou amufe us with Ambiguities ? *” F.BALTHUS, a learned Jefuit, and F. Bouchet, fay there were real Oracles, and {uch that can never be attributed to Priefts and Priefteffes; and that the Devil {till gives Oracles in the Indies, and that not by Idols, which would be liable to Impofture, but by the Mouths of Priefts,and By-Standers; and that the Devil becomes mute, in proportion as the Gofpel prevails. “It is generally believed among the moreLearned, that the Pa- ** gan Oracles were mere Frauds and Impoftures, and calcu- “* lated to ferve the political Views of Princes, and covetous ““ Ends of Pagan Priefts.” According to the learned Bayk, they were meer human Artifices ; and he is feconded by Van- dale 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 fpoke, was at the Mouth of a certain Cavern, whence they received their Intelligence. The Prophetefs fat upon a Tripodium, a three- footed Stool, affifted in her Function by divers Priefts. Unpver her Seat, ’tis faid, that fome time there appeared a Dragon, through whofe Throat Refponfes were audibly deliver’d, with a loud and ftrong Voice: According to Eu/ébius, a Serpent rolled itfelf about the Tripod, on which the Prieft fat. Or * Enfebins. Wii 48 A NATURAL HISTORY O F all Oracles, that of Apollo Pythius at Delphos, in the Agean Sea, was the moft celebrated, and confulted as the dermier Refort by the Princes of thofe Times; yea, all the Greeks reforted thither for Counfel in Matters of Importance. At the firft opening of that Oracular Office, Anfwers were given to the Querift in Verfe ; but upon People’s ridiculing the Poornefs of the Verfification, the Oracle fell to Profe. °Tis ftrange, that what they made a God, could not make a good Verfe, but not.ftrange to fee the old Serpent . adhering to its firft Scheme of Politicks, by making the weaker Veffel the Vehicle to convey his ftrong Delufions to the World. Some of thefe Draconick Serpents excel in the Senfations of Hearing and Seeing, as well as in the Art of Killing; and therefore a Dragon was made the Confervator of their Treafures and Curiofi- ties; e. @. Mauritania in Africa, was famous for the Gardens of the Hefperides ({o called from three Sifters and Daughters of King Hefperius) 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. Tue Rod of Mofes, ’tis faid, was turned into a Serpent.. The Syriack, Arabick, and Septuagint Tranilations, fay, twas turned in- toa Dragon; and fo the Rods of the Magicians became Dragons. XII. The Bafilisk or Cockatrice, is a Serpent of the Draconick Line, the Property of frica, fays lian, and denied by others : In fhape, refembles a Cock, the Tail excepted. Authors differ about its Extra@tion; the Egypteans fay, it {prings from the Egg of the Bird Jézs; and others; from the Eggs of aCock: Other Conje@tures about its Defcent, 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 lefs various about its Stature. Ir is. grofs in Body, of fiery Eyes, and fharp Head, on which it wears a Creft, like.a Cock’sComb; and has the Honour tobe ftiled Regulus by the Latins, the Little King of Serpents; and‘us generally fuppofed 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*: Yea, Tradition adds, that his Eyes and Breath are killing; that is, I prefume, when he grafps vou ~ Severa * Sibilo efus reliquos terreri > predam derclinguere. = ‘ . y HY fj yf MH Y} i OF SERPENTS. Several dreadful things are attributed to his venemous Qualities, fo fing the Poets *. Accorp1ING to Pliny and other antient Hiftorians, this Ser- pent in its Motion, inclines to the Ereét; it goes half upright, the middle and pofterior parts of the Body only touching the Ground. The Venom of the Bafilifl is faid to be fo exalted, that if it bites a Staff, “twill kill the Perfon that makes ufe of it; but this is Tradition without a Voucher +. THE reafon why this Serpent is dubb’d Kg, is not becaufe *tis larger in bulk than others of the Fraternity, or becaufe it wears a Crown, or becaufe that Title feems to be recognized by a divine Prophet, who fpeaking of Ahaz and his Son Hezekiah, {fays, Out of the Serpent's Root fhall come forth a Cockatrice, and bis: Fruit fhall be a fiery flying Serpent. The Hebrew exprefles it by a word, that fignifies a Prince or King, but not with a View to Empire over the ferpentine Race. Bur ‘tis moft probable, that the royal Stile is given to this. Serpent, becaufe of its maje/tic Pace, which feems 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 fight of it would not be frightful, but moving about, in a fort of an erect Pofture, it looks likea Creature of another Species, therefore they conclude ‘tis an Enemy. Serpents are for Uniformity, therefore: can’t endure thofe that differ from them in the Mode of Motion. ’"T 1s faid of this Creature, that its Poifon 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. Thefe: little Furiofo’s are bred in the Solitudes of Africa, and are alfo: found in fome other Places, and every where are terrible Neigh- bours. Tue crown’d. Bafilifk leads me to Ovid, who, fpeaking of Man’s erect Pofture, fays ’tisa Mark of Diftin@tion. due to the Excellencies of the human Mind : A * Tam teter vacuas odor hinc exhalat in aurss; Atque propinquantes penetrant non fegniter artus. Nica. Ante venena nocens, late fibi f{ubmovet omne Vulgus, & in vacua regnat Bafilifcus arena. Lucat. 270. 4 lian. Gyllii Acceffio, cap. xviii. p. 247. “Fonftont Hifforia Naturals Serpe P- 34> 35- 6 73 80 A NATURAL HISTORY A Creature of a more exalted kind Was wanting yet; and then was Man defign'd, Confcious of Thought, of more capacious Breaft.—— 2. AND partly as an Enfign of Royalty, fome Characters where- of Naturalifts have obferved in fome other petty Principalities ; fuch as the Crown on the Dolphin, Diadem on the Bafilifk, the Lion’s ftately Mane, which ferves as a Collar of Honour.— But Man, being vefted with an univerfal Monarchy, walks upon the Earth, like a Mafter in his own Houfe. XIU. Tue Cacia or Typhiinus, the blind Worm, as the Greek word imports ; not that it wants Eyes, but becaufe they are fo little, that he muft be furnifh’d with good Optics that can dif- cern them: And the Ear alfo is as remarkably dull, therefore call’d by the Greeks «Pixs *; of a brown Colour, full of Spots, varie- gated: The Belly is blackifh, the Neck fky-colour’d, garnifh’d with certain black Spots: Head like a Lamprey, and is as free from Poifon: Little Teeth, a forked Tongue, and may be handled without hurt +. _ Tuts Serpent feems to refemble thofe People which we call Myops, z.e. Moufe-eyed, or purblind, which happens when the Bye is fo convex, that the Rays of Light unite, before they come to the Retina, which makes the Eye alfo look fmall, whence the Name f. T HE Cacilian Serpent is about a Foot long, and diftinguifhable from our common Serpents by the Form of its Body, which is al- moft of the fame Craffitude, excepting two or three Inches at the extremity of the Tail. Conradus Gefner tells us, his Wife ftruck one of thefe Serpents on the Head, when ’twas pregnant, and it immediately caft forth its young |]. XIV. Tue Cencris, ot Cencrina isa {potted Serpent, and very venemous; denominated from Mi/ium, a {mall Grain call’d Muil- let-feed ; to which Hiftorians compare the Spots wherewith this Serpent * Quafi furdafter, quod hebetis fit auditus. ; + Nicand r calls it.@eyuevror, quod nullam noxam inferat. You/fomus, p. 19. t From ra.» excxco, xwPow, exfurdo. || Gefzer, p.36. Elian. O Fs) ER UP ENVY, s: Serpent is adorn’d : For the fame reafon, a certain Species of the Herpes, that is, a cutaneous Diftemper, which is a kind of {pread- ing Inflammation, (and is like Millet-feed on the Skin) is called Miliary: And by fome, this is called the Miliary Serpent *. T urs Serpent is compared by Nicander to a Lion; either for Cruelty in thirfting after Blood, or for its Courage, which ap- pears in all its Attacks. How furious in all its Wars, oftenfive and defenfive! always fighting, Lion-like, with an ereéted Tail: Which leads me to a Digreffion about the Turki/h Standard, which is a Horfe-Tail erected: The Original of that Cuftom was this, viz. One of the Turkifh Generals having his Standard taken ina Battle with the Chrifzans, and perceiving his Men difcouraged by the lofs of it, he cut off a Hor/e-Tail, and faftening it to the top of a Ha/f-pike, advanced it on high, crying out, This zs the great Standard, let thofe that love me follow it : Upon which his Men rallied, fought like Lzons, and obtained the Victory -f. Bu T to return to the Serpent, which moving in a dire@ Line, goes faft, but being of great Buik, can’t fuddenly wind about ft: Circumvolution is the way to avoid its Menaces. ’Tis commouly found in the Ifland of Lemos (the old Dipolis, and now the Sta- limene of the Turks) and alfo in Samotbracia, an Wand in the Archipelago, a Province antiently famous for the Diz Cadiri, that is, certain Gods worfhipped by the Samothracians and Pheniczans, and had in fuch high Veneration, that it was a Crime to mention Names fo facred among the People|]. Some fay they were God’s Minifters, others think they were Devils. XV. THE Acontia**, called by the Latins, Serpens facularis, and by fome, the Flying Serpent, becaufe 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 +. A certain Perfon in Cato’s Army call’d Paulus, was flain, *® Ab aliquibus Miliaris appellatur. Jonftonus, p. 20. t Taveruier. { Ex femper recto lapfurus limite cencris. Lucan. Pharfal. p. 26g. | Bochart Geogr. Sacra, lib. i. cap. 12 ** Axo re auovres, quod jaculi inftar, fe vibret. Tt Rumpat & Serpens iter infticutum Si per obliquum fimilis fagittas erruit Mannos. M 8x 82 A NATURAL HISTORY flain, not by the Poifon, but the Violence of its Blow *: Pro- bably on the lateral part of the Scull. Av THORS are not agreed about its Dimenfions. Ambrofzus {peaking of one he had feen in the Bononian Mujeum, fays, ’tis about the thicknefs 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 Fleth. Tuat which Bellomus faw, was three Palms long, or fixteen Inches and a Finger’s Breadth. N. B. Palmus ftands for two dif- ferent Meafures; Palnus major contains twelve Fingers; Palmus minor, four Inches: Ir lies in wait under Bufhes, from whence it rufhes out una- wares, and flies like an Arrow at Paflengers: Before it leaps at the Prey, it lies on the Ground, and turns itfelf round, to give the greater fpring to the Motion, by which fhe’ll do execution at twenty Cubits diftance +. THeEse nimble Leapers are found among the Weft-Indians, efpecially in Hi/paniola, where there are little Serpents in green Apparel, that hang by the Tail on the Branches, from whence they fuddenly leap upon their Prey. Among the Sab@ans are fome cloathed in red, four Inches long, that thus leap upon Men unawares; and hurt, not only by ftriking, but touching. Tuts Serpent refembles the Afh in Colour, inclining to the white. It traverfes the Lydian Provinces, where it makes travel- ling dangerous: It is alfo found in the Ifland of Rhodes; an Ifland on which, the Poets tell us, Golden Showers are rain'd, and where the Air is never fo clouded, as to hinder the Light of the Sun. It appears alfo in Norway, according to Olaus Magnus, One tells us, that he was inform’d by one ‘fobn Vitus, a learned Hungarian, that there were in that Country /7tz/le Serpents about fix Inches long, and without a Tail, therefore called by the Vulgar, the curtail’d Serpent, the whole Body is much of an equal Thicknefs; and thefe, upon View of their Prey, leap upon it with the Swiftnefs of an Arrow f. XVI. * ——immifit (jaculum wocat Africa,) ferpens Perque caput Pauli cranfaéta tempora fugit Nil ibi virus egit: rapuit cum vulnere tatum. Lucani Pharfalia, \ib. ix. p. 27 + Fonftonus, p. 20, 21. t Conrad. Gefner. in Veroum. OF SERPENTS. XVI. Tue Druina Serpent from %s, an Oak, by Scalegcr called Querculus; it takes its Name from the Oak, in whofe ho!- low places it feems to refide ; and to which, it retires for Refuge, when aflaulted by Hornets. Some credulous Authors have faid, that thefe Serpents take up their hybernal Lodgings about the Roots of the Beach-frees, and by Virtue of the Warmth, which thofe Roots derive from them, that Tree, fo enhappy’d, flourifhes all Winter. Tuts Serpent is of the amphibious kind, and a moft venemous Creature, therefore rang’d with the firft Order of the ferpentine Race. ’Tis of monftrous bulk *, guarded by a rough fquamma- tick Armour, in the Cavities of which, ’tis faid, little Flies build their Nefts. Whether it appears in white or blue Habit, is not material, nor do I fee what Honour it gets by wearing a Coronet on its Head. In the Language of Tradition, to tread upon it, will caufe an Excoriation in the Foot, (tho no Wound be given) and a Tumor in the Leg; yea, adds the Traditionift, the Hands that attend the Patient, will be in danger of lofing their Skin: But he who believes all the Fables of Antiquity, is in more danger of lofing his Reafon. THe Druinical Serpent goes under various Denominations. Tis faid to follow the Acontia in Authors, becaute its Figure exactly quadrates with Bellonius’s dart Serpent; and Scaliger was in the fame Sentiment -f. Bur I fhall only mention that of Cherfpdrus, from Nicander in ‘Fonftonus, p.28. or Cheldrus, called by fome a Sea-Snazl; which the learned Sir Hans Sloane detcribes thus-——‘‘ That it is ** more flat than moft of the cochlean Marines, confifting only ** of Circumvolutions, round the Axis of the Shell; of a fine pur- *‘ ple Colour.” He calls it Cochlea Marina {, and not without reafon, becau(fe of their difference in Magnitude. Tue terreftrial Druina lives upon Frogs, and other Infects ; many of them are found in Africa-Interior, and the Hellefpont by Confiantinople. It is a fetid Animal, and fends forth an ill Scent, efpecially when its Body is wounded |. 2 THIs * Ir is a Load for a Porter. + Fonjto.us, Articul. xiii, p. 21. t His Voyage to Famaica, vol.i. p. 34. | lian, Gyllins, Gefner. 83 BA. A NATURAL HISTORY Turs Serpent exceeds moft in bulk, and loudnefs in hiffing, which refembles the Cry of Sheep and Goats, ibid. Gyllius makes the Druina to be the Chelydrus, defcribed by the Poet, who makes it a Calabrian *: Of which, more in another place. XVII. Tut Elops or Elaphis of the Antients, which fome confound with the Czczla, as ‘fonftonus obferves: It is of the amphibious Sort, and known at Lemnos, where ’tis call'd Laphiati by the Natives. In A/drovandus’s Study, Ambrofinus faw the Pic- ture of this Serpent, which was about three Foot long ; the Belly is of a yellow Colour, the Back is brown, and diftinguifhable by three black Lines --. THERE is a marine Elope, an. Animal counted facred by the Poets, a Set of merry Mortals, famous for turning every thing into a God, or Ridicule. The Hiftorian mentions a certain Fifh fo called, that upon any loud Noife made on Land near the Shore,, would immediately haften towards the Place, as if it would fee who durft rival Triton in Sound; Trton, Herald of Neptune, So- vereign of the Sea.. XVIIL..Tue Pareas or Parvas, is a Serpent of a fiery Co- Your, fharp Eyes, wide Mouth, two Feet fituated near the Tail, by which its Motion is guided }: It is called the Serpent of E/cu- fapius, being of a gentle, innocent, friendly Nature. In Jtaly they frequent Houfes, and are no more dangerous than common Fels ; and if provoked to exercife their Teeth, there is nothing ve- nemous in the Bite. This is fuppofed by fome to be the Jtalan Baron: One of its commendable Properties is, that it devours poifonous Serpents; and therefore is facred to the Myfteries, and highly efteem’d in the Temple of Dzonyfus. Gejner ||, from Albertus fays, it goes as it were upright, on its Tail, not perpendicularly upon the fharp End, but on that Part of the Body joined to the Tail: It is bred in Syria, Alexandria, and.in the Eaft, &c. Thefe Serpents are known alfo in Spain and. * Nidore chelydvos Ef? etiam ille malus colubris in faltibus anguis Poftquam exbaxfta palus—Virg. Georg. |. iii. This is applied alfo to the Hydrzs. > Ray. t Et contentus, iter cauda fulcare Pareas. Lucan. Pharf. 270. ] Quali totus erectus graditur fuper candams 1. v. p. 65. OF SERPENTS. and ether temperate Regions, and every where efteemed Enemies to hurtful Serpents, and Friends to Mankind ; therefore were confecrated to the divine E/cu/apzus, that great and glorious Exem- plar of Humanity. XIX. Tue Dipfas or Diffacus is a little venemous Reptile of the Afpick-kind *, lefs than a Viper, but kills fooner ; and is moft remarkable in this, that when it bites, the Poifon brings an: unquenchable Thirft on the Perfon affected, who finding no Re- lief, runs to the Water, and drinks till he burfts afunder -. Tue Poetick Hiftorian obferves, how ulus, an Enfign- bearer in the Roman Army in Africa, was flain by this Serpent ; at firft he felt little or no Pain from the Bite, but as foon as it be- gan to operate, he was immediately fcorch’d to death}. Gaz calls this Serpent Dzabetes, and £gineta Dipfacus, from the in- curable Fhirft that accompanies its Bite: By others ’tis called 5z- tula, becaufe of the burning Heat caufed by the Wound. Ir is about a Cubit in Length, lives in falt Marfhes and fhal- low Waters; it dwells in Arabia, Rhodes, Africa, efpecially in Lybia, where fome Branches of the venemous Family live on Ca= mel’s Flefh, and Locufts dried in the Sun. The more hot the Climate, the more terrible the Wound, as it is in that hot Coun- try, where they have no Springs, but a few falt Wells, which en- creafe the animal Appetite of Thirft. Fhe learned Venetian makes the Serpent Drp/asan Hieroglyphick of tllicit Love,. the Poi- fon of which will, without timely Repentance, excite the Thirft of Dives, who wanted a Drop of Water to cool his fcorched: ‘Fongue ||. XX. Common Snake. Thefe Serpents in their Summer-rambles: haunt among Bufhes, mofly Grounds, uliginous and unfrequent- ed Situations. Ina fultry Day they may be feen basking them- ielves. in the Sun, near their Apartments: The Sight of a Perfon puts * Some make it of te viperine Sort. One callsit, Vipera fiticulof2. Vipera fiten- facentes. Avicenna. Conrad. Gefner, p. 42. Inter a/pidem G- viperam, fays ano-- ther. did. + Acceffio Gyllii, cap. 4.7. {ju Sanguinis Aulam Torta caput retro Dipfas calcata momordit. Vix 40} —_—-————__——p, 270. | Foannis Pierii Valeriani Bellunenfis Hieroglyphicay inter ColleLanen, pi 34. Tita dus, Amoris ignes.- vi 85 86 A NATURAL HISTORY puts them to flight; and upon a clofe Purfuit of them, they make a Stand, raife up their Heads to a confiderable Height, and oppofe the Enemy with a loud and angry Hifs. No Danger is apprehended from their Bite, and they are handled with Impunity. Tus Species of Serpents refembles the E/culapian, that has been fed in fome Families; and when provoked to ufe the Teeth, the Danger is no more than that from a Bee, whofe Weapons are defenfive, and not employed without Provocation: In Winter they retire into {ubterraneous Spaces, where they lie dormant, till the vernal Sun invites them out. T HouGH they propagate as Vipers, it does not appear that they fit on their Eggs, as moft oviparous Animals do ; for we often finda Brood of young Serpents in old Hedges and Dunghils, and no vifible Sign of a common Pafiage to and from the Neft. XXI. Tuer Elephantia Serpents are thofe whofe Wounds caft People into a Leprofy or Roughnefs of Skin, like that of an Ele- phant: Hence Leprofy proceeding from inward Diforders, is call’d Elephantia or Elephantiafis, which isa cutaneous Difeafe, makes the Skin fcurfy and rough, in Colour refembling that of an Ani- mal, that in Bulk and Intelligence is fuperior to all four-footed Beatts. ELEPHANTS in India are faid to be about 12 Foot high, and of a Moufe-colour, the Skin not only rough, but hard, fo hard, that it is not penetrable by a Sword ; their Eyes ijike thofe of Swine; two Teeth hang out beyond the reft, which are Ivory. A MEMORABLE Inftance of this gigantick Creature’s Un- derftanding, we had a few Years ago at Newca/tle in Staford/hire, where a Man travellmg with an Elephant for a Show, one Morn- ing conducting that Creature to water, happened to pafs bya Taylor’s Shop, that was working at an open Window, and fo near it, that the Taylor had the Courage to prick him with his Needle: The Beaft did not then feem to refent 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, fpouted it in his Face, which very much difobliged a Piece of Scarlet-cloth on his Table. Tuat Elephants are fubjec&t to Wrath and Revenge, is evi- dent from other Inftances: e.g. We read of an Elephant, that 6 when } i) MT TERT nee Hl | i Hl, {I YE: g HG HK 4 NIN Hi i! TH alum f OF SERPENTS. when he was brought into a certain Theatre, faw, as. he pafs'd along, a Keeper of wild Beafts, fitting in the Market-place, whom he fuddenly killed: And that the occafion of this Revenge was, becaufe the faid Keeper about ten Years before had ftruck him with a Sword in that fame Place *. Anp 4Acofta writes, that a Soldier in the Town of Cochine,. had thrown the Kernel of a Nut at an Elephant, which the Ani- mal took up and carefully hid: Some Days after, the Elephant feeing the faid Soldier pafs by, threw it in his Face, and went away leapingand dancing. Ibid. In that fame Town, another Soldier, meeting an Elephant and his Keeper, wou’d not give way to them: Whereupon the Keeper complained to the Elephant of the Affront, who fome days after, ftanding on the River Mangata, which runs through the Town, and feeing that fturdy Soldier ftand idle, ran haftily towards him, lifted him upon his Trunk, and plunged him feve- ral Times in the River ; after which, he drew him out, and lefé. him where he found him. ézd. XXII. Tue Scorpion is one of the Inhabitants of the World in Miniature; though a little Infe@, yet is reckoned to be one of the chiefeft among ftinging Animals, whofe Poifon in different Re- gions is lefs or more dangerous, as it is exalted by various Degrees of Heat. It has eight Legs, and two large Claws, refembling: thofe ofa Lobfter, and a Body like a Crab or Craw-fith: They are of various Colours, as red, white, yellow, black: They differ alfo in their Size and Kinds, as the marine, terreftrial, reptile,. winged, hurtful and innocent. Some are of the Bignefs and Length of a Man’s Finger, not much longer than a Beetle or a black Fly: Thofe known to us are of a brown Colour, the Back compofed of Joints refembling: ‘thofe of a Crab, but more cruftaceous. AuTuoRs differ about the Tail, whether it be knotty or not; but all agree, that it is furnifhed with a terrible Sting, worfe- than the knotted Whip. Many Places produce Scorpions of the minute Sort, not much exceeding the Length of a large Bean. OTHERS * Michael Glycas’s Ancal. par..1. in the Memoirs of the Royal Society, vol. v5 vis. P- 282) 281. ibid, p.281, i : 84 88 A NATURAL SGIIS BOR Y OrueErRs are more bulky, as thofe at Serufalem, and all about Syria, not unlike our little fluvial Crabs for Bignefs, which they call Gambarz. In the Eaf-Indies are large Scorpions of the winged Kind; fo in Egypt, where it is reported they are armed with two Stings *. Ir is obfervable, thefe large Scorpions taking their Flight againft the Wind, fometimes drop down, and fo are taken by the Country People, and perhaps fent to fcorpionize other King- doms. ; Tue Sea-fcorpion is a flying Animal, and of a red Colour, whofe Flefh is good, and much better than what they call Scor- pena, that affcéts muddy Water and moorith Habitations. THERE isa vaft Spread of thefe venemous Animals over the World, both of the winged and creeping Kind, in the Eaftern and Southern Climates. Some of them move with Tails fome- what erected, others trailing on the ground ; and are thought to be more dangerous than the former: The Coal-black Scorpion is accounted the moft hurtful; ‘tis faid, that in many Placesin Pere fia, the Inhabitants dare not fleep in Ground-rooms, for fear of thefe little plaguy Creatures, the moft terrible of all Night- walkers ; Of which more elfewhere. A CERTAIN Hiftorian informs us of ftimulating Scorpions that infeft Ca/han in Parthia: They are of fmall Size, not ftrong in Body, but very terrible in their Wounds, there being the greateft Malignity in their Stings; upon which is grafted this pro« verbial Curfe in that Nation, May a Scorpion of Cathan /ting thee +: But Chardin, Tavernier, and others, place Ca/han in Per- fia, “where they are very much infefted with Scorpions at all ‘* Seafons, but efpecially when the Sun isin that Sign, which is «© one of the twelve Signs in the Zodiack; fo that ’tis become, “* fays another Hiftorian, a Curfe, May the Scorpions of Cafhan “¢ fing thy Gulls.” This occafions every one to be provided with fovercign Remedies againft them, which isa Piece ot Copper-money they put upon the Wound, take it off 24 Hoursafter, and apply a Plaifter of Honey and Vinegar. The Holftein Ambafiadors fay they are very black, of the Length and Thicknefs of a Man’s Finger, Conradus Gefner in Verbum, p. 4. Herbert’s Travels, Bookii. p. 13- OF SERPENTS Finger, and run fafter than Crab-fithes, with their Tails always erected *, W e read of a certain Emperor of Perfiz, who defigning to make a Tour into Media, durft not undertake the Journey, for the vaft Quantity of Scorpzons lying in the Road: So that he was obliged to detach a great Number of ftout Fellows to deftroy thofe peftiferous Animals, promifing a fuperior Reward to them that kill’d moft: Till this Execution was over, he durft not ven- ture his dignified Carcafs abroad. The Scythian Scorpions are of the large Size, and terrible when they fhoot their Stings. In Madagafcar, a large African Wand, are feveral Sorts of Scorpions, particularly Water-Scorpions, that lie in the Marthes and {tanding Waters, which are very mifchievous, killing Dogs and Beafts, and then fucking their Blood. There is another Sort of Scorpions with a great round black Belly, that are very dan- gerous; for thofe whom they ftrike immediately fwoon, and fome for two Days are weak, and cold as Ice. The only Reme- dy they have, is that ufed againft Serpent's Wounds, wz. to fet the Patient by a great Fire, and giving him Antidotes to expel the Poifon, which proves a Cure +. In Italy, Land-Scorpions are call’d Scurtificio, becaufe they have their Poifon nel-pizzo, in the Extremity of their Tail. Among the Germans, pizzo is fharp, as /pits als cen naalde, point- ed as a Needle: The Country-people bring them in Sack-fuls to Florence, and take them out with naked Hands, as if they were fo many Eels, which fuppofes them to be of the innocent Kind, like thofe white Scorpions in Pharos, a little Ifland in the Mouth of Nilus, where there is plenty of thefe pacifick Animals, who of- fer no Violence to their Neighbours. Mention is made of other Provinces where they live and hurt no body f. By the Spaniards the Scorpion is call’d Alazcran, from an Ifland in America, called the Ifand of Scorpions, for the numerous Multitude that ravage the Place. In Bra/fl is a vaft Number of Scorpions, and fome four or five Foot long, in Shape like thofe of Europe; but not fo venemous: Some of them chufe to kill them- felves rather than die by the Hands of an Enemy. A certain Gentleman who, made the Trial obferves, that a Scorpion being N furrounded * Duke of Holffein’s Ambaffadors Travels into Perfia, [parfim.s t Atlas Geograph. Afia, from La Croix. + Fra. Redi opufculorum, pars prior. 5 8g 99 A NATURAL HISTORY farrounded with a Circle of burning Coals, chofe to fting itfelf to Death rather than be burnt. In Ceylon in the Eaft-Indies, they have many Species of Ser- pents; as, XXII. Tue Pimbera Serpent, whofe Body is faid to be as big as a Man’s Middle, and in Length proportionable. The Creatures of this Kind fecure their Prey, even horned Beafts (which fometimes are pretty large) by a fort of a Peg, or poznted Hook, that grows upon the Extremity of the Tail: They are flow in Motion, and therefore fkulk in hollow Places; and when they have taken the Spoil, tho’ horned, they {wallow it alive, and whole ; which often proves fatal, becaufe the Horns may gore the Belly. More, further on. XXIV. THe Noya Serpent is another ill-natur’d Indian, about four Foot long, will ftand with its Body half upright two or three Hours together, thereby difplaying an Air of Majefty: The In- habitants call it the AK7ng’s Snake. Tuer Poifon in that Part of the Country operates va- rioufly: Some after they are bitten, fall into a profound Sleep, and without fpeedy Help die in about fix Hours time: Others grow diftracted, and if negleted die in twenty-four Hours, and bleed at all the Pores of the Body, and are irrecoverable: Of which before *. XXV. Tue Polonga Serpent is five or fix Foot long, anda moft venemous Creature, deftroying all manner of Animals that fall within its Circuit, as well as Men, Women and Children. When the Noya and Pofonga Serpents happen to meet, a bloody. Battle enfues; they fight till one be kill’d, and then the Conque- ror eats up the flain. XXV. Tue Cobres Capellos, Sea-ferpents from eight to. ten Yards long, are moft dangerous Beafts and frequently kill People in that Country +. WHEN Alexander was in the Eaff-Indies, he and his Mace- donians were {trangely alarm’d by an Army of Serpents that fallied upon ® Atlas Geogr. Afia. + Ilid. from. Baldeus. 5 OPES £ RIPE NTs. upon ’em from the Woods, which would foon have deftroy’d them, but for the Humanity of a Native, who directed them to a certain Herb that cured their Wounds, and faved them from Ruin*, The fame Hiftorian adds, that in thofe great Deferts, frequent and terrible Scuffles happened between Elephants and Serpents about Water, when they met at a Spring, and it fo fell out fome time, that both perifh’d ; for the Serpent roll’d it felf about the Elephant’s Leg by feveral Folds, who finding himfelf wounded, falls down, and in falling often crufhes his Enemy te death. Ibid. In America is a vatt variety of Serpents, and fome of prodi- gious Dimenfions; in particular, they are very numerous and large in Cordillera, i.e. Andes, or high Mountains of Chile, which Mountains, Antonio de Herrera callsa 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 fpacious Re- gion are Adders red as blood, feven or eight Foot long, which in the Night appear like burning Coals, but not fo dangerous as other Serpents, that are Imps of Darknefs. Acoffa and other Writers tell us, that the Devil appear’d among the Americans in the fhape of a Serpent. THERE are fo many Sorts, fays Néeuhoff, that the Brafilians reckon up no le{s than thirty-two, moft of which are here ac- counted for. XXVIII. Tue Caudifonant, or Rattle-/nake, is a large Species of the Viper, and in its exterior Form every way fimilar, the ruftling Tail excepted ; it moves with as much Agility as if fup- ply’d with Wings, called therefore the Flyzng-/nake: It has fmall Eyes, and four Teeth longer than the reft, of white Colour, and fharp, like Thorns; the Head is guarded with {mall Scales, the Back with larger and thicker Armour ; the Tail is compofed of feveral loofe bony Articulaments that make a roaring Sound, loud enough to be heard at a diftance; and therefore called the Bel/- Snake. IT is common in Virginia, where it appears to be from three to four Foot long, and reckoned to be very poifonous; but {carce- ly hurts any, unlefs provoked; and when offended, like the Pas N2 ) * Diodor. Siculus. Q2 A NATURAL HISTORY of War, makes directly at the Enemy, without dread of Confe- quences. In the Hiftory of Peru, an Account is given of a young Wo- man who was wounded by a Rattle-fnake, and died on the Spot, before any Relief could be had; and when they came to take up the Corpfe, the Flefh came off her Bones; fo fpeedily did the violence of the Poifon diflolve the {tructure of the Body. Tue 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, fays he, and having faften’d them at the end of a cloven Stick, we held it to the Nofe of the Rattle-/nake, who by turning and wriggling, labour’d hard to avoid it; but was kill’d with it in lefs than half an Hour’s time, and as. is fuppofed by the meer Scent of that Vegetable *. This was done A, D. 1657, in Fuly, at which Seafon thofe Creatures are re- puted to be in the greateft Vigour for their Poifon: It is alfo re- markable, that in thofe Places where this wild Penny-royal grows, none of thefe Snakes are obferved to come +. Tu £ bruifed Leaves of the Vzrgznian Dittany are very hot, and biting upon the Tongue: Probably the ftrong Smell of it might ftop the Paflages of Refpiration in thofe Animals, or ferment with the Blood, fo as to fuffocate them. In Gre/ham College at London may be feen fifteen Skins of Rattle-{nakes checker’d Some appear in Afh-colour: Several Rattles of thofe Snakes, moft of them compofed of above ten Joints. XXVIII. THe Salamander is an amphibious Serpent, very much fpotted; fuperior in Bulk to common Lizards. Tue Land-Salamander is a little poifonous Reptile, that re- « fembles the green Lizard, but more grofs in Body ; and is found in Germany and other Places. . CONRADUS Gefner, fays he faw one of ’em on the dips perfectly black, with a fhort Tail: When wounded, a kind of milky Liquid runs out. In Germany are feveral great Woods, where black Salamanders have been feen; Te/te Matthiolt. THIs * Regnault, vol. ii. from Fourn. de: Scav. 1666. p. 113. Lowthorp’s Abridg. of Philof, Tranfact. vol. ii. p. 817. + Ibid. t Fonftonus de Quadrupedibus, p. 137. OFF or E R/P EN WS: Tuts little ftrange Animal affects moift, cold and folitary Habitations. In fome 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 Infeéts. Tuey are Enemies to Frogs and the Tortoife, and feed on little {mall Infeéts; and when they have Accefs to Honey and Milk, they never want a Feaft. Ir is of a poifonous Nature, and many have fuffer’d by its Biting ; fo fays Pliny, with whom agree Nicander, Aétius, and Abenfine. GESNER is ina contrary Sentiment, and fays he had do- meftick Salamanders, that offered no violence with their Teeth without Provocation. ‘fon/fonus adds, that in Germany there ap- peared no ill Effects of its Bite; but in France its Wounds were of a moft deadly Nature, as appears by a Saying in that Kingdom. viz. That a Man bit by a Salamander, fhould bave as many Phy- ficians to cure him, as the Salamander has Spots, which are numerous *. THe Aquatic Salamander is not very unlike the former, un- lefs it be in Colour and Figure; fome with a Tail turn’d up,, others with a flat Tail, prominent in the middle: There are va- rious forts of them ; one of which appears in the form of a Tur-- bot, whofe Eggs are as large as Garden-pears. _ Wu EN upon Land their Mouth will not open, unlefs it be by Force, or they be caft into a Veffel of Water: When put upon Salt, they move the Tail and die; their Skin is clofe com- pacted, and not penetrable by a Sword; and ’tis faid that Swine’s Fleth is Poifon to them +. THE common Report is, that the Sa/amander is able to live in the Fire, which is.a vulgar Error :. The Hieroglyphick Hifto- tian obferves, that upon Trial made, it was fo far from quench- ing it, that it confum’d immediately. It is true, that Newts (or Water-lizards) Frogs, Snails, and fuch icy Animals,. will endure the Fire for a longer time than others will, by reafon of: an. * —_. tot medicis indigere quot macielas beftia habet, proverbio jattant. Jonftonus: de Quadrupedibus, p. 137. + Fonftonus de Quadruped. p. 138. 1 Foannis Pierii Hierogl. cap. 21~26. p. 195-6, 7.- , 93 Of A NATURAL HISTORY an extraordinary degree of Coldnefs, which diffipates and fcatters the Flame for a little time. I Have read an Experiment made upon a Salamander, that was thrown into the Fire, and there came from it a fort of gelid, moift, vifcous Humour, which refifted the Power of Fire for a little time ; but thofe Exhalations being dried up, was foon con- fum’d. In the Phils/o ofophical Tranfactions, we have another In- ftance, which feems to carry the matter further. M. STEN O writes from Rome, that a Knight called Corvinz, had affured him, that having caft a Salamander (brought to him out of the Indies) into the Fire, the Animal thereupon {welled prefently, and then vomited ftore of thick flimy Matter, which did put out the neighbouring Coals, to which the Salamander retired immediately, putting them out alfo in the fame manner as they rekindled; and by this means faved 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 firft was cover’d with a thick Moifture, but being dried afterwards, the Urine of the Animal ferved to moiften the fame: Being put upon Italian Earth, it died within three days after *. As to the Poffibility of the thing ; I make no doubt but ee who made Water the Habitation of Fifh, can make Fire tobe ‘the ‘Refidence of another fort of Beings. The Sun, which is the Centre-of our planetary Syftem; for aught-we-kadw, maybe the Seat of glorious Inhabitants’; or, as others conjecture, the Place of fiture Mifery. Upon the whole, the Salamander being of a mucous, flimy, < and cold Body, will, like Ice, foon extinguifh a little Fire, but - will be as foon confum’d by a great Fire; therefore it was no Ab- furdity in Galen, when, as a /ceptical Medicine, he recommended the djbes of a Salamander. THE like Frees, is obfervablein Water-Lizards, efpecially af their Skins be prick’d: Yea, Frogs, Snails, White of Eggs, will foon quench a leffer Coal. We read of incombuftible Cloth, (Linnen .Paper,) made from a Flaxen-Mineral, called Askices tby the Greeks, and Linum vivum by the Latins. aE aS Se * Lowthorp’s Abridgement, vy. ii..p. 816. * ARS Ny *® 4 ad 4 y * 4 = sigan Asie ay cena as Mos ER PEN T4. Turs Asbeffos, or Matter out of which this wonderful Cloth... is made, is a Foffil, a mineral {tony Subftance, of a whitifh Co- lour, and woolly Texture (call’d Salamander’s-Wool) the downy Fibres, feparable into fhort Filaments of Threads, capable of be- ing fpun, and move into a fort of Cloth, which will endure the Fire without confuming. When foul, inftead of wafhing, they throw it into the Fire, which cleanfes without burning it. Whole Webs and Coats, Napkins, Handkerchiefs, Towels, have been made of it; which were fo far from being confumed by Fire, that they were only cleanfed from their Drofs, and came out purified into a greater Luftre than if wafh’d with Warer. Irs principal ufe,*according to Pliny *, was for making of Shrouds, in which the Corps of their Kings were ufually burnt, left their royal Afhes fhould be blended with common Dutt. The Princes of Yartary ufe it to this day in burning the Dead +. Nero had a Napkin or Towel made of it. The Brachmans a- mong the Indians, are faid to make Clothes of it. The Wicks for their perpetual Candles were made of it {; and fome to this. day ufe it for Lamp-Wicks. Tue Emperor Conftantine ordered an incombuftible fort 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. Augu/fin fays, that he faw feveral Lamps at Paris, which would never be confumed : and at a Feaft at Louvain, there was a Napkin thrown into the Fire, which was. re{tored to the Owner clearer and brighter than if it had been tinfed in Water |]. THe incombuffible Paper is made of this lanuginous Mineral, viz. Asheftine-Stone, which will bear burning without being in- jured. Whoever would be further informed about this wonderful: incombuftible Stone, may perufe Dr. Bruckman, Profeflor at Brunfwick, who has publith’d a natural Hiftory of the Asbeftos, or incombuftible Paper ; and what is moft remarkable, has printed. four Copies of his Book on ¢his Paper, which are depofited in the: Library of Wolfembuttle. ‘The manner of making this extraor- Sinenaeest is defcribed by Mr. Lloyd, in Phzlofoph. Tranfaétions, . 166. IN. B: * Book xix. cap 1. + Philof: Tranfadt. } Dr. Lifter. |, LudovicusVives, in his Scholia—de Civitate Dei. Pancirol. Hiftoria rerum deperdit. O53 96 A NATURAL HISTORY N. B. Tue Salamander is faid to live in the Fire, and has power to extinguifh it: “ From which Conjundcture was taken the “© Device of Great King Francis, the firft of the Name, (Father “ of Arts and Sciences) Nutrifco @ Extinguo, 1 Feed and Ex- uishovereyy bey.” XXIX. THE Cameleon belongs to the Clafsof Quadrupedes, and is a little Animal refembling a Lizard, but of a larger and longer Head: Its Eyes ftand out of its Head above one half of their Globe, which he turns fo obliquely, that he fees every thing behind him: Nature perhaps has given it this Advantage, becaufe its Legs (by the flownefs of its motion) are of no ufe to avoid his Enemy, by running away. There is yet fomething more ex- traordinary, 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 +. Tue length of thefe Creatures does not exceed twelve Inches, and they have a proportionable bignefs. The Skin is plaited and very fine, tranfparent, jagged like a Saw, and thin; and mutt be very compact and hard, fince, according to the Hiftorian f, 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 faftens itfelf to the Branches of Trees: its Nofe long, and ends in an obtufe point: In other refpects it is made like a Fifth; that is to fay, it has no Neck | : Reckoned by Mofes, among the unclean—Numb. xi. 30. THE Cameleon is {aid to transform itfelf into variety of Colours; perhaps this change may arife from the different reflections of the Rays of Light: Thus they may put on a brown or whitifh Ha- bit, from Trees of that Colour, on which they fit. Ozhers ob- ferve, that its Colour is changeable, according to the various Paf- fions 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 dufky Colour: Fear makes it pale, and like faded yellow**. All thefe Colours com- pofe fuch a pretty Medley of Shadow and Light, that Nature does not * Pedro Mexia and M. Francefto Sazfovino, the famous Italian. + A Journal of the Philofopb. Mathematical and Botanic Obferv. by L2=-s Peville, A.D. 1725. t Bhan. iv. 33. || Calmet. p. 351. ** Le Compte’s Memoirs; p- 502. OF SERPENTS. not afford a finer Variety of Shadowing, nor our fineft Pictures more lively, fweet, and proportionable Drawing. Fo rthe further Illuftration of this Subject, I thall add fome- thing from the Philofophical T'ranfactions about a female Came- leon, the Skin of which appear’d mixt of fevera] Colours, like a Medley-cloth. The Colours difcernable are green, a fandy yel- low: And indeed one may difcern, or at leaft fancy, fome mix- ture of all, or moft Colours in the Skin, whereof fome are more predominant, at different times: There are fome permanent black Spots on the Head, and Ridge of the Back. But our modern Naturalifts affure us, that its common Colour, when it is at reft, and in the Shade, is a bluifh grey ; when ‘tis expofed 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, fhe becomes fuddenly full of little black Spots, equally difperfed on the fides, with {mall black Streaks on the Eyelids; all which afterward do vanith. The Skin is grain’d with globular Inequalities, like the Leather call’d Shagreen, The groffeft Grain is about the Back and Head, then on the Legs; on the Sides and Belly, fineft ; which, per- haps, in feveral Poftures, may fhew feveral Colours; and when this Animal is in full Vigour, may alfo have in fome fort, Ra- tionem Speculi, and reflect the Colours of Bodies adjacent; which, together with the mixture of Colours in the Skin, may have given occafion to the old Tradition, of changing into all Colours *. A CERTAIN curious Gentleman, made the following Ex- periment, when he lived at Smyrna, in Afia-minor: He bought fome Cameleons, to try how long they could be preferved alive under Confinement ; he kept them in a large Cage, and allowed them the Liberty to take the frefh Air, which they fuck’d in with Pleafure, and made them brifker than ordinary. He never faw them either eat or drink, but feem’d to live on the Fluid in which we breathe. Tue Antients were perfuaded that Cameleons fed upon the Air, for which reafon one of the Fathers calls it a Huing Skin +; but now it appears by Experience, that they feed upon different Infects, as Palmer-worms, Locufts, Beetles, Flies, and alfo ae O ol * Lowthorp’s Abridg. yo). ii. p.$16. + Pelicula vivit. Tertull, de Pallio, cap. 3. O77 A NATURALHISTORY of Vegetables. Father Feuzllee*, in a Journey into Afa-minor, opened one of thefe Animals, and found in its Belly Peach-Leaves, which were not then digefted, N. B. Digeftion is very flow in Cameleons, which is the reafon why they take fo little Nou~ rifhment. Tue fame Father mentions a fmall Lizard, which he faw in. Peru, that was not above an Inch thick, which he calls Chame= leontides, becaufe he changed his Colour, like the Camelcons; _ being in a certain Situation, he faw it of a dun Colour; in ano- ther, ’twas green. .... This little Creature, he fays, had the fame Figure and Proportion as the Great Lizard; nam’d by the Sa- niards, 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 Fader, Lynceus, which may be feen in Mexzco. Tuer Tongue is fomewhat peculiar, it being as long as their Body, with which they catch Flies, and other Infe¢ts, which fettle on their Tongues, to fuck the vifcous flimy Matter, adhe- renttothem. The Cameleon puts out his Tongue to draw them: upon it, and when ’tis full of thefe Infeéts, he pulls it in with wonderful Agility. Others think, it enclofes its Prey with the tip of its Tongue, which is made in a form proper for that purpofe, Tre Cameleon isan oviparous Animal. ‘Ff. Fonffonus fays,. it has above a hundred Eggs, from Pzereskzus, who nurfed a Fe-. male on purpofe to make Obfervations upon the Subje& +. Af- ter 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, faften’d one to another in the form of a. Chain, bid. fupra. Tue Atlas t calls the Cameleon, the Indian: Salamander || ; that goes there by the Name of Geko, from the Noife it makes. - after hiffing, and is thus defcrib’d, wz. ’tis about a Foot long and fpotted; has large Eyes ftarting out, the Fail has feveral white Rings. round it, and its Teeth fharp, and {trong enough to pene- trate. an Armour of Steel: it has a flow Motion, but where it faftens, ® Feuillee’s Fournal. Franckf.ic97. p. 3. + Fonftonus de Animalib, inter Qua- arypedes, Pp. E41 } Africa. Kor Aymerica. OF 49°F RAP EIN TS. faftens, “tis not eafily difengaged. This Creaturé is fouhd in Arabia, Egypt, Madagafcar, “fava, and other parts of India. Bellonius {aw feveral of them among the Shrubs of Africa *: He fays it frequents Cazro, and other Places, is found arnong Hedges and Bufhes ; mutes like a Hawk; fwallows every thing whole. It moves the Feet of each fide alternately, but runs up Trees very fatt, and lays hold on the Boughs with its Tail. Leo and Sandys fay, the Neck is inflexible, and it can’t turn without moving its whole Body: the Back is crooked, the Skin is {potted with lit- tle Tumours: the Tail long and flender, like that of a Rat, when it fucks in the Air, its Belly fwells, whence fome think that the Air is part of its Food. One Author fays, it fubfifts only upon Air ; another fays, ’tis a vulgar Error. ’T 1s faid, that if a Serpent lurks near the Tree, where it fits, it throws a Thread out of its Mouth, with a little fhining Drop at the end, which falls upon the Serpent’s Head, and kills it +, In America are Serpents, fome of whom are fo poifonous, that if touch’d but with a little Stick, the Venom runs up the Hand ; and fuch as are touch’d with the Blood of dead Serpents, die a lingring Death: This is Tradition: I hall begin with the firft of them, viz. XXX. KUKURUKTI, a Serpent of Brafilin South-America, which is under the torrid Zone, where their Winter begins in March and ends in Augu/?; and is like our Summer. This Ser- pent is of an afh Colour, and in its Scales refembles the Bocinga, or Rattle-Snake, but is more grofs; on the Back, variegated with yellow, and large black Spots. ’Tis reprefented as a very vene- mous Animal, eight or nine Foot long{; and when prepared, the Inhabitants feed upon it. XXXI. Tue Jbiara is a Brafilian Adder, about a Foot and half long; an Inch and half in thicknefs. Serpents of this kind are very numerous in that Country, and nothing more poifonous than their Wounds, tho’ not incurable, if proper Remedies be applied in time. Or7Z In * Fonftonus de Quadrupedibus. + Atl. Afric. p. 495 50. t 9 & interdum 12 pedes longus eft. Ray. 100 A NATURAL HISTORY In Seafons of Danger, they fhelter themfelves in Cavities un- der Ground, and feed upon Pifmires, which are very large in that Country, and in fuch prodigious Quantities, that the the Portu- guefe callthem, Kings of Bra/fil. XXXII. In Chapa, in Old-Mexico, now call’d New-Spain, is a noxious Animal call’d Teuthlacokauqui, or Fortrefs of the Ser- pents, whofe Head is like an Adder, thick Belly, glittering Scales, the Ridge of the Body black, with an Interfperfion of white Croffes ; the Teeth poifonous, and the biting kills in twenty-four hours, unlefs the wounded part be held in the Earth fo long, till the Pain be over. Ir has a frightful Afpe&; when it moves it makes a Noife with its Tail, that founds an Alarm of Danger. The Ameri- cans, 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 fubfift a whole Year without any vifible Food. FONSTONUS calls this Serpent the Bocininga, and deferibes it from Marcgravius and Pifo. The former fays, ’tis four Foot and three Fingers long, Belly {mooth, {mall Eyes, forked Tongue, rat- tling Tail. The other obferves, the Spaniards call it Ca/cavel, and Tangedor, becaufe its Tail emits the found of a Ball; in thicknefs, asa Man’s Arm; in length, about five Foot; a cloven Tongue, long and fharp Teeth; of a dark Colour, inclining to the yellow *. AccorDING to Nierembergius, this Serpent is called the Queen of Serpents, which they {uppofe to be like the Viper, in its Poifon, and Shape of the Head-+. By the Definitions.of feveral Authors, this Serpent feems to be the Caudi/onant ; and the Dutch in America call it, the Ratel-Stange, 7.e. Rattle-Snake. Now we are in Mexico, excufe me in giving you two In- ftances of monftrous Cruelty ; one in the Natives, the other in the Spaniards. Wuen the Mexicans were difpofed to do fignal Honour to their Idols, they fent out Armies to bring in Prifoners for a Sa~- crifice, whofe Flefh they did afterwards eat ; and Montezuma the Emperor, commonly facrificed 20000 Men, one year with ano- ther, * Fonftonus, Articulus xvii. p. 23. + Hifforia Nature Maxime Peregrine, p. 268, —9. OF SERPENTS. ther, and no lefsthan 50000 fome years. The Priefts thought it difhonourable to facrifice lefs than 40 or 50 Captives at a time to one Jdo/. At acertain Feftival, they ript up the Breaft of a manumitted Slave, pull’d out his Heart, which they offer’d to the Sun, and then eat up his Body. THEIR Priefts were bloody Men, a Brood of Vipers, and had fuch an Afcendant over their Princes, that they made them believe thezr Gods were angry, and not to be appeafed without 4000 or 5000 Men to facrifice ina day ; fo that, right or wrong, they muft make War on their Neighbours, to procure thofe Victims to keep their Priefts in Humour. Tue next, is an Inftance of Spani/h Cruelty, in this Country, that could have no Original but Hell, the Seat of the old Serpent. It runs thus, wz. Barthol. de las Cafas Bithop of Chiapa, in a Letter to the Emperor Charles V. gives this account of the Bar- barity of the Spaniards towards the poor Inhabitants, Natives of the Land. .... “ FuerR Kings and Princes, fays the Bifhop, the Spa- “‘ mards fcorch’d to death, or tore in pieces with Dogs: The “< poor People they burnt in their Houfes, and dafh’d out the “* Brains of their Children: Thofe that were fpared, they forced ““ to carry greater Burdens than they were able to bear, by which “ thoufands of them were deftroy’d: Others who efcap’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 {paring thofe of “< Quality, who had civilly entertain’d them. They tortured the “* Natives with the moft hellifh Inventions, to make them difcover “their Gold. Dvyego de Valefco, in particular, {pared none that * fell into his hands, fo that ina Month’s time he murder’d ten “‘ thoufand: He hang’d thirteen Noblemen. «* Some they ftarved to death, by thrufting their Heads betwixt *« Pieces of cloven Timber: Others they buried alive, leaving “their Heads above Ground, at which they bowl’d with large ‘* Tron-Bullets: They alfo forced them to eat one another. Befides other hellifh Cruelties too dreadful to be related *.” N. B. This Barth. de las Cafas had been a Friar, and afterwards made * Acofta, Gage—The Civil and Mosal Hiltory of the Spani/h Weft-Indies, in Silas Geogr. America, IOL ve 102 A NATURAL HISTORY made Bifhop of Chiapa, wasa Man of more Piety and Juftice 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, fo that they are paid for what they do, about half a Crown a Week. XXXII. Tuer Ditobaca is a Serpent of Chapa, near four Foot long, and of a crimfon Colour, adorn’d with a pleafing Diverfity of black and white Specks; wearing its Bones as a Necklace, or the Ruff in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, who deftroy’d the Invincible Armada, and made good old England.a Terror to Spaniards. XXXIV. Tue Iguanna is the Birth of Mexico, a Serpent like the Pope’s Anathema, of a terrible Front, but harmlefs ; a glittering Comb on the Head, with a Bag under the Chin; a long Tail, and {harp Bones on its Back, ftanding up in the form of a Saw. T urs Iquannatick Serpent is of the amphibious kind, equally fitted to live by Land or Water; a Privilege which no Son of Adam can boaft of. It is of the oviparous Tribe, and a great Breeder, laying about fifty Eggs at the Seafon as big as Acorns, which are of a very good Tafte, and good Food when boiled, and fo is the Serpent itfelf; but the Land-Jguanna is a more plea- fant Food, and preferable to Spanz/b Ragous *. XXXV. Tue Ibiboboca isa Serpent beautiful to the Eye, but of a venemous Nature; ’tis about three Foot long. The Icon of it in Gre/ham College is above three Yards +, white as Snow, de- corated with Particles of various Colours, efpecially black and red. The Wound it gives operates gradually, and if neglected, proves fatal. XXXVI. Tx & Guaku or Lyboya Serpent, is one of the largeft of all the ferpentine Brood, fome of which being from eighteen to thirty Foot long, call’d by the Portuguefe, Hobre de Hado, or the Rocbuck Serpent, becaufe it can {wallow a whole Buck at once. After * Nierembergii Hiftoria Naturalis, p. 271. t Carzon’s Catalogue of Rarities, p. 445. OAR) Ss: EPROP TE NT, & After fwallowing it down, it generally fallsafleep, and in that Pofture is frequently taken, while digefting its Supper. My Au- thor fays, he faw one of this kind, which was 30 Foot long, of a greyifh Colour, but others incline more to the brown*, A ravenous Animal, and fo voracious, that it leaps out of the Woods to feize its Prey ; and, if difturb’d, will fight, or wreftle, with Man or Beaft, ftanding upright upon the Butt-end of his Tail. XXXVI. Tue Fararaka Serpent, is another Brafilian, no longer than a Man’s Arm to the Elbow ; it has {welling Veins on its Head; the Skin is covered with red and black Spots; the reft is of an Earth Colour: Its Wounds are dangerous, and attend- ed with the ufual Symptoms. There are three Sorts of thefe vee nemous Snakes befides this, wz. Ove fort is about ten Spans long, with two terrible Tufks, or great Teeth, which they ftretch out toa great length, and ftrike them into their Prey. The vene- mous Liquid, which is very yellow, works with a Violence, that &ills in a few Hours. The /2cond fort refembles the Spani/h Viper in Colour and Form, and is equally dangerous, The third and. worft fort very much refembles the /i7/?. XXXVIII. Tue Bzobi, called Gabro Verde by the Portuguefe in Brafil, i.e. the Green Serpent, becaufe its Colour is porraceous, , a fhining Green like the Leek ; it is between three and four Foot long, and about the Thicknefs of a Man’s Thumb; a large Mouth, and black Tongue, and has this good Property, that it hurts nobody unlefs irritated; but when provoked,. no Poifon. more dangerous. We read of a Soldier, who accidentally. tread=. ing on this Serpent, was wounded by it in the Thigh, and died a few Hours after, tho’ the Remedies that proved. fuccefsful on the. like occafions, had been diligently applied -f-. AXXIX. Tue Caninana Serpent, is another Inhabitant of | Brafil, green on the back, and yellow on the Belly, about two Foot long, and reckoned not to:be fo venemous, as the reft of that mifchievous Tribe. It feeds upon Eggs and Birds, at laft be- comes the common Entertainment of the American and African Tables, . * Nieuhoff. ia Atl. America. p. 263. +, Raii Synopfis, p. 328. 103 104 A NATURAL HISTORY Tables *. We read of other green Serpents in the Indies, that are indulged with little Cottages made of Straw, where they {pend their folitary Hours, till the time of eating invites them out, then they repair to the Houfe, where they fawn upon their Mafters, and eat what is fet before them, and then retire to the Huts of Indulgence. XL. Tue Tetzawhcoatl, is another Produdtion of Bra/il, a Serpent of about three Foot long, and flender Body, whofe Strokes are peftilent: The Head is black, nether Part of the Tail red- difh, and the Belly dafh’d with black Spots. The Cure is by Suc- tion. - Now we are travelling among the Inhabitants of Bra/fil, we may be allowed to take notice of Prince Maurzce’s Rational Par- rot, mentioned by Sir Wilam Temple and Mr. Locke, which the former had from the Prince’s own Mouth. His Words were, wees “ TuatT he had heard of fuch an o/d Parrot, when << he came to Bra/fil, and tho’ he believed nothing of it, and it ** was a good way off; yet he had fo much Curiofity as to fend for it: that it wasa very great and a very old one; and when “* it came firft into the Room, where the Prince was with a great _ « many Dutchmen about him, it faid prefently, What a Company “© of White-men are here! They ask’d it, what he thought that «© Man was, pointing at the Prince? it anfwered, Some General ‘© or other. The Prince asked it, Whencecome ye+? The Par- ‘< rot anfwered, From Marinnan. 'To whom do you belong, “«< faid the Prince? it anfwered, Zo a Portuguefe Prince. The «© Prince ask’d, What do you there? Parrot anfwered, J sook ‘ after the Chickens. The Prince laugh’d, and faid, You look « after the Chickens! The Parrot anfwered, Yes, f; and I ¢ know well enough bow to do it, and made the Chuck four or five *¢ times, that People ufe to make to Chickens, when they call “Tithems.: cir .»+» “I could not but tell thisodd Story, becaufe it is fo much ** out of the way, and from the firft hand, and what may pais for ~ “a good one; for I dare fay, this Prince at leaft believed himfelf ec in _ * Raitt Synopfis, p. 328. + D’ou venes vous? De Marinnan. A qui eftes vous? A un Portugais. Que fais tu-la >? Je garde les poulles. Vous gardez les poulies? Ouy moy, & je {cai bien faire. —Sér William Temple's Memoirs, azd Mr. Locke's Effay, Book Il. chap. 27. OF SER PEN TS. in all he told me, having ever paft for a very honeft and pious ‘© Man. I leave it to Naturalifts to reafon, and to other Men to ** believe as they pleafe upon it; however, it is not perhaps amifs ** to relieve or enliven a bufy Scene fometimes with fuch Digref- ‘< fions, whether to the purpofe or no.” So far Sir William Temple. WoNDER not then, if you meet in this Hiftory with fome romantick Sentiments entertained by learned Men concerning Ser- pents, when two fuch illuftrious Pillars of the Commonwealth of Letters, give way toa Relation that has fo much of the Marvel- lous in it. XLI. Tuese Hiftorians inform us of many more Serpents, and fome of great bulk, that infeft thofe American Regions; whofe Looks are ruddy, of blood-red Colour, that fhine in the Night, like fo many glittering Stars. A MODERN Author writes, that in America are fome Snakes that were eight Foot long, and as red as Blood, which in the Night look’d like Fire *, Tue former black, and thefe fhining Serpents, remind me of the Ob/dian Stones, that are very black and tranfparent; they have their Names from one Odfdius, who firft found them in LEthiopia. THERE isa fort of natural Ob/dzan Glafs, which is rather to be ranked among Stones than Metals; ’tis as paflive as the former, enduring the Graving-Tool, is diaphanous and pellucid, receiving Images, and, like artificial Glafs, tran{mitting all Forms and Shapes. Tuts is found in ¢hiopia, where the Sepulchres of the No- bles are ufually 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 preferved, but, as if entomb’d in Glafs, is apparently vifible to Spectators, and fends forth no un- grateful Scent. Our of thefe Odfdian Stones, Looking-Glafies are wont to be made, and are alfo found on the Coafts of Arabia. Thefe fhining Stones were inferted into Rings, and in one of them was cut the entire Image of Auguffus, who being much taken with thefe * Anton. Herrera’s Hiltory of America, Vol. If. in his Account of Dariex, p. 72- 105 106 A NATURAL HISTORY thefe Stones of Glafs, caufed four Elephants to be made of them: ——See the Commentary upon Pancirollus, B. 1. of fet; and Pling, B, xxxvi.c. 26. XLII. BOIGUA CU, another venemous Produétion of Bra- zil, thick in the middle, and declining towards the Extremities of the Body; ’tis covered with large Scales on the Back, and leffer ones on the Belly, which is common in all Serpents. Tue whole is adorned with elegant Variegations. ..... The Back and Sides fet off with black Spots, inclining to the round ; about three Inches diftant from each other, and in the Centre a round white Spot. Thefe beautiful Appearances, fays Fonftonus, have a Grandeur in them more than rivals Imperial Majefty. He faw feveral Serpents of this kind: On Auguft 7th, 1638,. one that was eight Foot long. Another, Augu/? 13th, 1638, above five Foot long, its Flefh fat, and very white; the Heart- being taken out, lived about 15 Minutes. Ogfober 16th, 1638, he faw another, that was near nine Foot long, and he was a Wit- nefs to its {wallowing a She-Goat whole*. By the Defcription, . this Serpent muft be the Lydoza,.fo famous for the Knack of De- glutition of Animals, XLIVW. Tue Brafilian Serpent; called the Ibiracoan, makes: its Appearance in a Habit of various Colours, trimmed with red, black and white Spots. Under this fine Drefs, is a poifonous- Spring ; the Wound it gives, infallibly kills without immediate Affiftance. BeForR FE the Poifon reaches the Heart, the common Prattice is, to fecure that Serpent, and boil the Flefh-of it with certain Roots, and give it the Patient:in Wine, or anyother proper Liquid, and it will.anfwer the Intention. XLIV. Tue Tarciboya, and Kakaboya, are two Serpents much of the fame Nature, and therefore I put them together : They are occafional Inhabitants-of the Water and Land; in Colour black, and about fix. Hands in Length. If they hurt any Creature, it is only in Defence of. themfelves, and the Wound ts eafily cured by Remedies *® Fonftoni Hiftoria Naturalis, p. 25; 26. O7).F gS *EvR /PaE NaS. Remedies well known in thofe Countries. They are great De- vourers of Birds. Here the Learned Ray, from Pf, mentions ten other Ser- pents, whofe particular Characters he confiders in his Defcription of Fifhes; then refers his Reader to thofe defcribed by Yoan. de Laet.* XLV. Tue Bibera is a venemous Lizard of Brazi/. If you afk, What are thefe Brafian Lizards? I an{wer, They are creep- ing Serpents, of various Colours, and different Sizes : Some are the length of a Finger, others many Feet; have fparkling Eyes. There is only one fort of them that is venemous, among which is this Bibera: they are like the others, but leffer, and are moft mifchievous. They are of an afh Colour, inclining to the white ; the Body and Limbs feem thick, but the Tail is fhort and broad. Tue Wounds given by thefe Serpents, are full of a thin ftink~ ing Matter, attended with blue Swellings, and Pain in the Heart and Bowels. WN. B. Great Things have been frequently done by little Things. XLVI. Tue Ambua, fo the Natives of Brazil call the Mi//e- pedes and the Centzpedes Serpents. Thofe Reptiles of thoufand Legs bend as they craul along, and are reckoned very poifonous. Thofe Lizards of hundred Legs are commonly found in the ‘Woods, where they deftroy the Fruit, and alfo do mifchief both to Men and Cattle. In thefe Multzpedes, the Mechanifm of the Body is very cu- rious; in their going, it is obfervable, that on each fide of their Bodies, every Leg has its Motion, one regularly after another ; fo that their Legs, being numerous, form a kind of Undulation, and thereby communicate to the Body a fwifter Progreffion than one could imagine, where fo many {hort Feet are to take fo many fhort Steps, that follow one another, rolling on, like the Waves of the Sea. Tue Palmer-Worm is alfo called Millepes, becaufe of its many Feet, which are as Briftles under its Body: It is about fix Inches long, and moves with incredible Swiftnefs. The upper part of the Body is cover’d with hard fwarthy Scales, and it has a fort of R2 Claws * Raii Synopfis Animal, p. 329. Leondini 1693. 107 108 A NATURAL HISTORY Claws both in its Head and Tail, of rank Poifon, as the Hifto- rian fays. XLVIL Tue Febeya is another Brazilian, and a Serpent very ravenous and deftrudctive: It has four Legs, anda long Tail like a Crocodile; it lies flat and clofe on the Ground, artfully conceal- ing itfelf, ’till the Prey comes within reach, and then darts out a couple of fharp Fins from its Fore-quarters, and kills what- ever it ftrikes. XLVIII. THe Giraupiagara is an American Serpent, fo calld, becaufe of its being a great Devourer of Eggs. ’Tis of a Negro- Colour, but a yellow Breaft, and of great Length and Agility. It glides (as if {wimming) on the tops of Trees, fafter than any Man can run on the Ground.*. . Ir lives upon Birds, whofe Nefts it conftantly plunders, ’Tis obfervable, 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, thefe being fome of thofe, whofe Houfes it plundered. There is another Charge preferred againft the Cuckow, wz. The Contempt it puts upon our Ve- getables, by {pitting upon them; whereas in thofe Dobs of frothy Dew, we find little Green Infeéts, that are Grafhoppers in the Embryo. XLIX. Tue Caminana is another Brazzlian Serpent, of a great'length. The Body is all over:green,; and very beautiful in profpect. This alfo runs up the Trees, not fo much becaufe of the green Leaves, as in purfuit of Birds of all Colours; and hay- ing devoured the Contents of the Neft, feizes the Dam, and drinks her Blood. Tue pleafing Appearance made by this Serpent in Green, puts me in mind of the' Turks, who’ have fo great a Superftition for the green Colour (becaufe it was confecrated to Mahomet) that they forbid Chriftians to wear it on pain of Death; but the Perfans (who are Mahometans as well as the Turks) allow it to every body, and laugh at this Superftition; fo that when Sultan Amurath fent an Am)aflador to Sha-Abbas of Perfiz, to complain that be fuffer’é * Mieuboff in Atlas, America OUR WS: E R PEON F's. 109 fuffer’d that venerable Colour to be prophaned by Chriftians, he {coffingly faid, that he would forbid the green Colour to be pro- phaned by Chriftians, as foon as Amurath could hinder the greex Meadows to be prophaned by his Turki/h Cattle*. The Eaftern Turks abhor the 4/ue Colour, becaufe the ‘fews, they fay, threw Indigo into ‘fordan to hinder the Baptifm of Chri/?, but the An- gels brought Water from ‘fordan to baptize him, before it was polluted. _4¢/as. L. BOYTI APU A, isa Serpent fo called by the Brazilans for its long Snout, though I don’t find it exceeds others in fmel- ling, by the extenfion of its Nofe; it is of a long flender Body, and feeds upon Frogs, amphibious Animals and Infeéts. T u1s Serpent isin high Efteem among the Natives of Brazz/, who practife the Art of Conjuration by it; and if any of them have a barren Wife, and are defirous of Children, they lath this Serpent over her Hips, pretending that fuch Exercife will make her fruitful: And if this Device fhould take effeGt, muft not we conclude the Offspring to be a Generation of Vipers ? LI. Ty £ Gaytiepua is a large Snake, fmells rank like a Fox, and, according to a learned Author, the Smell is intolerable +, as is that of the Serpent Boyana, which is very long and flender, and of black Colour; of which one of the Latzn Poets takes notice t. Ir the loathfome Smell of thefe Creatures offend the Nofe, it ferves asa friendly Alarm of Danger, to thofe who have the ufe of a Nofe, that they may avoid a more terrible Stroke. NoTuHING fo conftituted in Nature, but a fuperficial Obfer- ver may con{true as a Blemifh to the Creation ; but to a more pe- netrating Eye, thofe imaginary Blemifhes have their Convenience and Ufe, and appear to be the Product of perfect Intelligence and Wifdom. LIL Tue Bom-Snake, is another Brazilian Reptile, call’d Bom from the Noife it makes in its Motion, It is of a prodigious large Size, but is clafs\d among the Innocent, that do no manner of * Holftein Amaffadors.—Berbert.— Atl. Afia. + Favor illius nullatenus—poffit tolerari. Raii Synophe. $ Quod vulpis fuga, vipere cubile Mallem: quam quod oles, olere, Baffa. Martial. 110 A NATURAL BIS TORY of hurt to Perfons, wiz. that can endure a little Sound, arifing from a Propagation of the Pulfe of the Air. Aw innocent Serpent, no Contradiction. There is good among the bad in the moral World. Virtue. needs no Defence ; The fureft Guard 1s Innocence : None knew, till Guilt created Fear, What Darts and poifon'd Arrows were. Integrity undaunted goes Thro’ Lybian Sands, and Scythian Suows. ‘In Paraguay,orLa Plata in America, is a famous white Bird, ‘which, though it has a very fmall Body, has a Voice like a Bel/, and therefore the Natives.call it Guzrapo, that is, the Sounding- Bird. How many Animals of the fame kind in the moral Creation, that wear gaudy Feathers and Plumes, whofe Sound, in the Af femblies of Saints and Sinners, proves to be vox © preterea nihil, ‘LIN. THe ‘Boicupecanga is a Serpent, fo called becaufe its ‘Back looks as if it were overgrown with Briers and Thorns, the Ridge being fharp pointed, which makes the Beaft look as if he were guarded’ by little Spears: This prickle-back’d Serpent is of a monftrous Extenfion, .very frightful, and venemous, the very fight of which.ftrikes Terror into Man and Beaft. OLIV. Tue Cucurijuba is a Water-Snake of twenty-five or thirty Foot long, and three Foot in Compafs, will fwallow a Hog -er-a Stag at once; has Teeth like thofe of Dogs, but makes no ufe of them as Inftruments of Maftication. HARRIS.in the Atlas America, mentions one kill’d when afleep, that was twelve Yards and a half long, and proportionably big, in whofe Belly they found two wild Boars. This Creature I take to be the Lydoya, (ora near Relative) a gigantick Serpent, already defcribed, therefore I difmifs the Monfter, and proceed ta the LY. 5 OOF PSE RiP RON aS) LV. MANIJIM A, another Water-Snake, of the fame Pro- portion with the former, if not more bulky: The fight is terri- ble ; the Monftrofity of Dimenfions is fufficient to render it fo; but we are told, the Terror vanifhes in fome Degree upon a view of the Skin, which js exquifitely painted, and the Brazilians not only love to fee fo fpruce an Animal, but reckon it an Omen of a long Life. Ig? Ir you afk, What a long Life is? I anfwer, ’Tis nothing but> a lingering, flow Confumption : Life itfelf, what is it, but a meer practical Tautology, a Repetition of the fame things over and’ over, and looks more.like a Penance impofed upon Mankind than - Pleafure. \ \ LVI. Tue Terpomongo is another Serpent, which in the Bra-- zilian Diale&, fignifies to fick clofe, fo clofe to whatever it touches, . that it is not tobe parted. It is about the bignefs of a Cable-- Rope, which being faften’d to the Anchor, holds the Ship faft. when it rides; . Tis Property in the Serpent, may be an Hieroglyphick, or: Symbol of true Friendfhip, which is a facred Mixture: My Friend and I are as two Rivers joined in one, not to be feparated; we ftick clofe and faft, traverfing the Wildernefs hand-in-hand: He. who ftrikes one, wounds the other—No Schifm in true Friendfhip, LVII. fACORE Lizard; fome of thefe Serpents are as big. as Dogs, and refemble them in the Nofe; 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 Noife, by which their Haunts are difcovered, and- their Liberty hazarded. Tuey lay Eggs as large as thofe of a Goofe, of an elaftick: Nature, fo hard, that when one is ftruck again{t another, they ring like Iron: they frequent both Land and Water. I-r’s obfervable here, that this Animal is obftreporous, and by its Noife invites Danger ; whereas Silence would be his Security : yea, its Eggs are as fo many roaring Bells. This may ferve for a Document to the unruly Member: Yéerftes, in Homer, was counted a Fool for babbling. A talkative Tongue is the Spring, Ringleader, and Head of Faction in all places. *i 112 A NATURAL HISTORY THE firft Rudiments in Pythagoras’s School, was Quinquennia, 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 worfhipped in Egypt with Jfs and Serapis. ANGERONA was the Goddefs of Silence at Rome, and painted with a Cloth about her Mouth. Nor is it lefs venerable at Venice, where after they come out of the Senate-houfe, they are as filent about what was faid and done, as if they had power to forget all that was faid and done. To the above-mention’d Serpents, the learned Mr. Ray dds by way of Supplement, a Catalogue of fifteen Ea/ft-Indian Ser- pents, which he had from the Learned Dr. Tancred Robinjon, whole Defcriptions he had from the College at Leyden, which I fhall annex to the foregoing *. LVI. 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 Dropfy of the Mind; to yield to its Thirft, is to Eralllag the Bait, that turned the Seraph into a Devil. Tut Remedy ufed by the Indians for its Wounds, is what they call the Serpent-Stone, which, according to Thevenot and others, is an artificial Compofition, 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 macults eleganter variegata, a Serpent elegantly garnifhed with a Variety of charming Colours: It is an Inhabitant of Cey/on, an Ifland in the Ea/f-Indies, called by the Inhabitants Tenerz/ain, that is the Land of Delights, and not without teafon.is this Ifland fo called, fince it is the moft fruitful place in India, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, plenty of Rice, Ananas, 'Cocoas, beft Oranges, Lemons, Figs, Pome- * Ray’s Syxopfis Animaltum, p. 230. OF SERPENTS. Pomegranates, Ginger, Grapes, Pepper, Cardamum, Tobacco, Nutmegs, Sugar; Mulberry, which yield much Silk ; Palm-trees, which afford a Liquor for their conftant Drink, @c. But in midft of thefe pleafing Varieties, they are haunted with various forts of venemous Serpents; an Emblem of our prefent State, which is a Compound of Pleafure and Pain. The Gods will frown, wherever they do [mile ; The Crocodile infefts the fertile Nile. CEYLON is an Emblem of Man, to whom Plea/ure is asa delightful Situation ; but in it dwells a Serpent, called Paix. Plea- fure is the principal Intendment of Nature, and the great Object of our Inclination, without which Life would be no Bleffing, but a Mortification: Yea, ’tis Pleafure reconciles us to Pain ; for who would fubmit to naufeous Medicines, and Tortures of the Surgeon’s Knife, but for hope of the Pleafure of Eafe that fucceeds it. No Serpent fo terrible as Pain, which is a ftrange domineer- ing Perception, that keeps off Eafe when wanted, and deftroys Eafe when we are in poflefiion of it. LXI. Tu & Malcarabeta of Ceylon is a Serpent painted by Na- ture ina Garb blue and white ; the laft of thefe two Colours fhew beft 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 Purpofes. LXII. Tue Ethetulla is a Ceylonick Serpent ; of a little flender Body, and fharp-pointed Head. This is a kind of Ranger, de- lights in Groves and Forefts, and may be known by a white and green Vefture, in which it rambles among the Trees. LX. MAL POLON isanother Serpent of that celebrated Ifland, and of a vermilion Hue, imbroider’d with curious fine red Spots, which fhine like fo many Stars. LXIV. SERPENS Putorius, fo denominated, probably be- caufe of its filthy Smell; by which it refembles the Putorius, a Qs: . little 113 114 A NATURAL HISTORY little Animal call’d Frtchet, that fmells ill, efpecially when en- raged *. “fonflonus and Ge/ner make it tobe the Druinus, which has been already defcrib’d. LXV. Tue Anacandia, a Ceylonick Serpent, of monftrous Corpulence, being in longitude about 25 Foot. D.Cleyerus, who accounts for this gigantick Serpent, fays, he faw one of them open’d, in whofe Belly was found a whole Stag, with all his in- tegral Parts: In another they found a wild Goat ; and in a third, a Porcupine arm’d with all its Darts and Prickles-. Serpents of this nature have often fallen in our way, by which we may imagine, that there is a vaft fpread of them over the Earth, Mr. Ray from Cleyerus gives this account of the Montfter Tho’ the Throat feems narrow, yet ’tis very extenfible, and the Faéts have been confirm’d by Experience. When the Prey is catch’d, he wraps himéelf about it, takes it by the Nofe, fucksthe Blood, and foon reduces it to a Hodge-podge ; after he has broken the Bones in pieces, that emits a Sound like a Gun, zdid. And in doing all this he {pends two days.. LXVI. Tue Ghalghulawa is another Ceylonite, that goes by. the Name of Serpens Indicus Saxatilis, defcrib’d by whitifh Lines, that run acrofs one another: Whether the Poet refers to this, as a Serpent affecting ftony and gravelly Situations, or to a certain Fith, I determine not f.. LXVIl. Tue Manballa is another Indian, and from its Name we may conclude it has fomething of the canine Nature, for it flies with great Fury at Pafflengers, as fome Dogs ufually do. ’Tis ofa light red (or bright bay, as we call it in Horfes) {potted with white.. LXVII. Tue Nintipolonga, an Indian Serpent, whofe Skin is checker’d with white and black Spots. Its Bite is accompanied with mortiferous Sleep, therefore call’d Serpens hbypnoticus, Jopori- serous * A patorio, quia valde fetet. ; + De oiiavo genere merentur legi, que D. Cleyerus in Ephemer. German. Anno 12. Obferv. 7. cul titulas, De Serpente magno Indie Oriextalis. Urobubalum deglutiente Natrat, Raii Synopfis: Animglium,—p. 333) 334- $ Lum viridis {quamis, parvo. faxatilis ore. Ovid. OF SERPENTS. Fereus Serpent, whofe Wounds are as an Opiate, or Medicines that induce fleep, in which they die. 2. Why may not we fuppofe this narcotick Poifon to be the fame with that, which Cleopatra ufed in executing the Sentence that Heroine paft upon herfelf ? LXIX. Tut Wepelon Serpent: Nothing is faid of it, but that it refembles an Jzdzan Reed or Cane in form. LXX. SERPENS Fluviatilis, feems to be the Water-Snaeke. LXXI. SERPENS Spadiceus, a Serpent of light red Colour. LXXII. Tuewn follows the Ceylontc Hotambeia. Dr. Ro- binfon's Account of this Serpent, he had from the learned Her- mannus’s Library. N. B. Some of thefe Eaftern Serpents may coincide and agree in Character with thofe in America, and other Regions, Where there is fuch an infinite Variety of them, and delineated by fo many different hands, ’tis difficult to give an exact Defcription of every individual Serpent. OTHER parts of the Ea/-Indies (Continent and Hlands) are infefted with Serpents of various kinds and fizes, and he muft be more than a Conjurer in Hiftory, that can charm them to make their Appearance in one Place, and all in their proper Habiliments. LXXIII. Tu £ hooded or Monk Serpent, found in an land near Batavia (a Dutch Settlement in the Ea/f-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 imme- diately advances towards it, with terrible Rage and Hifling. WueEn the Szeur de la Café was hunting one day in the Woods adjacent to Batavia, he faw one of thefe Serpents defcending from a Tree, making a fearful Noife: It was about the thicknefs of a Man’s Arm, and in length about eight Foot. TuH1s venemous Creature was no fooner on the Ground, but it made towards him with the greateft Fury ; but having a Gua ready charg’d, he very happily thot it dead, and made off hattily for fear of a fecond Attack *, ON LEGUAT ' * Fr, Leguat’s Voyages, in Atl. for Afia. IIs 116 A NATURAL HISTORY LEGUAT, who gives this Account, and was in Batavia, A. D. 1697, fays, he faw a Serpent in that Country about fifty Foot long. NV. B. The Skin of one that was 20 Foot long, is fhewn in Batavia, that {wallow’d an Infant. zdzd. LXXIV. Tue Musk Serpent, fo term’d from its mufky or {weet Scent. Thefe fweet-fcented Animals are Inhabitants of the Eaft, between Calicut, the fecond Kingdom of Malabar, and Candahor. In Ceylon are Mufk-Rats, where the Inhabitants eat all Rats, but this kind. Tuese Mufk-Rats are in all things fhaped like our Water- Rats, only fomething larger; and in other refpeéts differ only in that mufky Scent. A Gentleman, who kept one of them in a wooden Cheft, obferved that two days before it died, *twas moft odoriferous, and fcented the Room above what was common *. In Mu/fcovy is a Water-Rat, which fmells like Mufk; and alfo a great number of Musk-Cats, which look like young Bucks with- out Horns, and therefore call’d Musk-Harts by the Chinefe, be- caufe they refemble thofe Creatures. The Mufk is contain’d in a little Excrefcence near the Navel --. In America alfo, are found Woods abounding with Mufk- Rats, that are as big as Rabbits, and have Burrows in the Ground. Their Skins are black, Bellies white, and fmell exceeding ftrong of Mufk t. The vegetable World alfo, entertains us with Mufk- Pears, Mufk-Rofes, fingle and double, and the Ever-green, Gc. N. B. Mufk-Rats frequent frefh Streams, and no other.. THe word Musk comes from the Arabic, Mofcha, a Perfume of {trong Scent, only agreeable when moderated by the Mixture of fome other Perfume, by which it becomes an agiceable artifi- cial Odour..... Mufk is found in a little Swelling, like a pra- ternatural Tumor, or Bag growing (about the Bignefs of a Hen’s Egg) under the Belly of a wild Beaft, of the fame Name ; and appears to be nothing elfe, but a kind of bilious Blood there congeal’d. “ Tais Musk-Anmal is common in the Ea/f-Indies, as in the Kingdoms of Boutan, Cochin-China, but the moft efteem’d are thofe * Lowrhorp’s Abridg. vol. ili. p. 594 ~~ This Animal is defcribed by Ph:Gp ‘Martiaus in bis Chinefe Atlas. t Hiffory of the Anrilies. OF SERPENTS. thofe of Tidet. When the Bladder under the Belly is taken out, they feparate the congeal’d Blood, and dry it in the Sun. Sir ‘fobn Chardin * fays, Musk is alfo produced in Perfia from an Impoftume in the Body of a Beaft, that refembles a Goat, and grows near the Navel, and is better than that of Chima. The Scent of it, adds he, is fo ftrong, that it many times kills thofe who hunt the Beaft, when they firft open the Bag, except they ftop their Mouths and Nofes with Linnen: ’Tis eafily counter- feited, and the beft 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 lofes itsScent, the Mufk is good. A¢/. 397. LXXV. Tue Boitzapo (that fhould have been mention’d be- fore with its Rrazilian Relatives) is a large Serpent, about feven Foot long, not quite fo thick asa Man’s Arm, of an olive Colour, yellow Belly, in Body round, cloath’d with Scales that make an elegant Appearance in a fort of triangular form. °Tis very ve nemous, and its Wounds not curable without timely and proper Applications. THe Lacertan Snakes or Lizards come next under Confidera- tion, and in the fame order as laid down by the learned Mr, Ray+. Previousto that, I beg leave to obferve, that AZo/es places two forts of Ezzards among unclean Creatures, the S¢e//o and La- certa. Thefe Lizards differ vaftly in Bulk; fome a Finger’s length ; in Arabia, fome of aCubit long; in the Indies, twenty- four Feet in length. Several forts of Lzzards are mention’d in Scripture, Lev. xi. 30. the two former are tranflated Stellio and Lacerta; the third is tranflated a Mole, but Bochart maintains, it is a Cameleon; the fourth is defcrib’d Prov. xxx. 28. and there, Spider is render’d Stelfio, a Lizard. Mr. Ray begins with LXXVI. Tu & Crocodile, the largeft of the Lacertan Race, a Name which is fuppofed to come from a word {} that fignifies: afraid of Saffron, becaufe this Creature abhors the Smell of Saffron, as a learned Author obferves ||. It is an amphibious Beaft, noi- fome and voracious, and one of the Wonders of Nature ; for, from an Ege no bigger than that of a Goofe, proceeds an Animal. which increafes to eight or ten Yards in length, Fis * His Travels. + Synopfis Animal. de Lacertis. t Bpoxodsiros deads> Greecis timidus. || Calmet. 5 117 118 A NATURAL HISTORY His Mouth is very wide, and is extended to the Ears; his Snout and Eyes like thofe of Swine; the Teeth, which are in- grail’d, are white, acute, ftrong and numerous ; the Feet arm’d with fharp Claws; the Skin of the Belly is tender and may be eafily penetrated, but the other parts of the Body are not pene- trable by Swords and Arrows: It defies even the Wheels of a loaded Cart, as well as Darts and Spears: It is of a yellow Co- ‘lour, fay fome; but Wormius in Mr. Ray’s Synopfis fays, that thofe he had feen, were inclin’d to the grey or afh Colour. THE Tail is near as long as the Body, upon which are Fins of a Fifh, whereby he is capacitated to fwim. When he ftrikes 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 Suftenance is of the animal kind, but is moft fond of human Flefh; and as he is an amphi- bious Creature, plunders both Elements *. THE Crocodile, when preft with Hunger, fwallows Stones, which have been found worn round about, and the wafted parts reduced to fuch minute Particles, as were fit to circulate with the Mats of Blood +. In Egypt the Crocodile is made the Objeét of religious Adora- tion, but not by all the Nation; for the Inhabitants of Tentyra (an Ifland form’d by the River Ni/us) were fo far from worthip- ping that hateful Monfter, that they defpifed it, and often brought them to the Roman Shews for Diverfion———This Averfion to Crocodiles caufed a War between the Tentyrians and the other Egyptians, who worthip’d thofe Creatures; of which People “04 feems to fpeak in the following Words: Let them curfe it that curfé the day, who are ready to raifeup their Mourning, Job ii.8. Some read it, toraife up the Leviathan, or toawake the Crocodile; of which ‘fod gives an admirable Defcription, under the Name of Leviathan, “fob xii. 1, 2, 3, 4.... So the Pflalmift, Thou breakeft the Heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gaveft him to be Meat to the People inhabiting the Wilderne/s. W HEN I think of the fuperftitious Egyptians warring againit the People of Tentyra, I can’t but obferve how the fame kind of Spirit (the more the pity) too often reigns among Chriftians: Thofe who have riugul’d Superftition, and endeavourd to pro- 6 pegaie * Fonftonus, 141. + Néerembcrgins. ORE OaE LR OPAE NV S pagate Truth, have always had Vengeance and Wrath breath’d out againit them, and have been expofed to the fame Fate as the Tentyrians . T u £ Habitations of Crocodiles are generally in great Rivers, as the Ganges in Afia, one of the greateft Rivers in the World, and which is accounted facred: Irs Water is clear and {weet, weighs an Ounce in a Pint lighter than any other Water in the Country: The Great Mogul’s Court drink none elfe with their Wine. Thefe monftrous Animals are alfo found in the Nile and Niger, two of the greateft Rivers in 4frica; and alfo in the great Rivers of America, efpecially thofe of the Amazons, which abound. with Crocodiles of vaft Bignefs, that very much annoy the Inha~- bitants. GEMELLT inthe Atlas, fays the Crocodile is hatch’d of an Egg no bigger than that of a Turky, but grows to thirty Foot long, the Back arm’d with impenetrable Scales, the Mouth wide enough to fwallow an Heifer, and only moves the upper Jaw ; it fees better by Water than Land, is cowardly, and generally flies frony thofe that attack it, but daring enough otherwife ; for which reafon the Egyptians made it the Hieroglyphick of Impu- dence.—They have no Tongue, and eat nothing in all the autum- nal Quarter *. Tuis Animal has a great Dexterity in catching Wild-fowl, which always abound in thofe great Rivers, and along Sea-fhores,. as Ducks, Teals, and other Water-fowls: When in want of Food, he goes into the Sea, where he lies in {uch a manner, that the upper Part of his Back appears above the Water, and. looks like a piece of Timber floating ; the wild Fowls miftrufting no- thing, come fonear it, that he immediately devours them :. They lurk among Reeds and Bufhes, on the Banks of Rivers and great Poolsy from whence they fuddenly leap out, and eat up their Prey, which fometimes happens to be People that come to. drink or fetch Water. Tue Inhabitants of Madagajcar, an African Iland, look. upen: Crocodiles as Devils, and fwear by them: When Differences. happen among them, they go to a River, where he that is to: fwear throws himfelf into the Water, and conjures the Crocodiles to be Arbitrators betwixt him and his Adverfary, and: to let him ea live: * For Africa, p. 47. Lig 120 A NATURAL HISTORY live if he fpeaks Truth, but if otherwife, to deftroy him *. Among the Rarities in Grefham-College, London, is a Crocodile about two Yards and a half long. Crocodiles are little known in Europe, but common in the Indies. Tue Land Crocodile, call’d Seincus, is varioufly defcribed. In the Molucca Mflands they are accounted the fierceft of Montfters, contrary to thofe of the Nie, according to fome Writers +. Har- ris ¢ fays, that they are very harmlefs, and in fome places fo tame, that Children play with them. Le Comte fays, what are called fmall Crocodiles, are huge Lizards, found all over the Woods in Siam, asalfo in Houfes and Fields |}. Turis Land Crocodile is indeed an amphibious Animal, lives partly in the Water and partly upon dry Ground: It has four {lender Legs like a Lizard; its Snout is fharp, and its Tail fhort, cover’'d with fmall Scales of a filver 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 Crocodz/e, in the Hebrew called Choled, which the Septuagint tranflates ugoxodeiAGP xepoaioc, a land Crocodile, which is a kind of Lizard, that feeds upon the fweeteft Flowers it can find; this makes its Intrails to be very much valued for their agreeable Smell. Be/- lonius fays, it has four Feet, and a round knotty Tail, and is as big as the Salamander. THERE’s fcarce any way to manage him by Land, unlefs it be by a Wile, as they do on the Bank of Nzlus, where little Huts are erected, from whence the Watchmen, upon the Approach of a Crocodile, {pring out with long Branches in their Hands, which they, with great Dexterity, thruft into its Throat ; and not being able to extricate itfelf, it falls down, upon which others of them difcharge their Arrows at his Belly, which being.a tender part, he is foon killed ; but in Water he is quickly noofed, becaufe for want ofa Tongue, he can’t fafely open his wide Mouth, without being fuffocated. Tuis terreftrial Crocodile comes to us by way of Alexandria and Venice, and is very ufeful in phyfical Pretcriptions. LXXVII. * Dellow ou Madagafcar, in Atl. Afr. ifr + Barth. Leonardo de Argenfola’s Dilcovery of the Molacea and Philippine Iflands. t Atlas Amer. 263. || Afemoirs, 2d Edit. p. 502. OFe SE RAP EN ADS. LXXVII. Tue Cordylus is a little noxious Reptile, fuppofed by fome to be the Land Crocodile, becaufe upon firft fight it looks like the N7lotic; but upon a ftricter view, the Fallacy appears. ‘The Back is cover’d with clofe compacted Scales, as a Houle with Tiles, by which ’tis diftinguifh’d. Irs Tail is rough, and like a Club, wherewith it ftrikes what- ever it meets, therefore is called Caudiverbera, that is, one that ftrikes with the Tail; a Tail prominent with War *. LXXVIII. Tue Yapayaxis is a Lizard of New Spain, and of a round form; and, Spanzard-like, is flow in Motion, and as loth to change its Seat, as the Spamards their old Fafhions and Cu- ftoms. This little Creeper is of the northern Tribe, being ge- nerally found in the Mountains of cold Regions. It is obfervable, that if its Head be compreft or f{queezed, it will throw out drops of Blood with a Force that will carry them feveral Yards off--. LXXIX. Tue Lacertus Viridis, or green Lizard, is found in Italy, &c. lives in Meadows, and being of the harmlefs kind, little is faid of it. There are many Lizards of other Colours, but none fo beautiful as the green ones; tho’ very fimall, they are pretty: Many make themfelves very familiar with them, and put them in their Bofom {. LXXX. Tue Tejuguacu is a Brazilian Lizard, of black Co- lour, beautified with elegant white Spots, which renders it plea- fing to the Kye: Its Tongue is long and cloven, {mooth and red. ’Tis a little Creature, and moves its little Body with great Cele- rity; is patient in Want, and will for fix or feven Moons, live without any kind of Suftenance, but Air, the Fluid in which we all breathe. LXXXI. Tue Taraguira is another Brazilian, of about a Foot long, whofe Body is {mooth, and naturally guarded by an Armour of a ftrong {quamatick Skin, and the Scales fituated in a R kind * Raii Synopfis Animalium Quadrupedumy fs 263- + See Dr. Plot’s Hiftory of Stafford/h. p. 252. t Nat. Hiftory of Caroliza, 131, 2. N. B. Thele are found in Ireland. E2t 122 A NATURAL HISTORY kind of triangular form: It affects to refide in Underwoods, and: Places inclofed, and near to Houfes, LXXXII. Tue Ameiva 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 feems to differ from all other fanguineous Animals, among whom, fays the learned Ray, I have never heard of any elfe furnifh’d with two Tails :. This looks like fomething anomalous in Nature, and contrary to: its common Rules, if the Defcription be true. LXXXIII. Tue Taraquico Aycuraba is another venemous Off- fpring of Brazil, a Species of the former, but differs from it in: the Tail, which is fingle. This Animal is covered with little rough triangulated Scales, the Extremity of which is decked with brown Spots, and the Back with various.dufky Specks, ranged in the form of Waves. LXXXIV. THE , by the learned Dr. Cliftoz. + Of Hippocrates ’tis faid, Qui tam fallere quam falli nefcit. Macrobii Opera, p. 27. 129 130 A NATURAL HISTORY has itany Rattles. They are frequently found in Corn-fields, from whence, I prefume, they have their Appellation. In their Qua- lities they refemble the Green-Snakes, that are innocent by Na- ture, and in form admirably pretty, if 1 may be allow’d by the Ladies, to call a Serpent fo. CIV. Tue Blowing-Serpent, which is a Species of the Viper, but larger than the Ewropean, is fo called, becaufe it feems to blow, to fpread its Head, and {well very much, before it bites ; which Bite is very poifonous, and feems to receive fome additional Malignity from the Enlargement of its Head beyond the common Proportion. CV. Tue Brimftone-Snake, fo denominated from the Simi- litude of Colour: They might as well call it, the Gla/s-Snake, for if any Credit be given to the Hiftorian, ’tis as brittle as a Glafs-Tube, or a Tobacco-Pipe, fo that upon the touch of a Twig, it immediately breaks into feveral Pieces, which fome fay, and nobody believes, are capable of Re-union. Its component Parts may be weak and frail, but it is queftion- able, whether fo brittle as reprefented: ’Tis true indeed there are hard Bodies, that would not be affected with a Twig, yet are very brittle. Thus Jroz, which is one of the hardeft Metals and yet moft brittle, and by fufing, it becomes harder and more brit- tle. Now this great Brittlenefs of Iron, arifes from the great quantity of Sulphur-Brimftone intermixed with it. The abun- dance of Su/phur in Iron, is apparent from the Sparks it emits from under the Smith’s Hammer; thofe fiery Sparks being only the Sulphur of the heated Iron, nothing of which is feen in any other Metal *. N.B. Roll-Brimftone fold in the Shops comes from the native Sulphur, which He/mont always preferred to that purified. CVI. Tut Yellow-Snake is in length about feven or eight Foot; the Neck is fmall, rather lefs than its Body, which grows bigger, till it be as big as one’s Wrift, and continues fo large to the nus; from whence it diminifhes by degrees to the Tail. Its Head (which is not very large) is of a dark Colour, and {fo are the * Boerhaave’s Method of Chemiftry. OF SERPENTS. the Scales all over the Body, with fome yellow Streaks here and there. The Belly is all yellow, like Marygold, whofe Flowers are cordial. , Tuese Serpents are for the moft 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, unlefs irritated; they feed on Birds, Rats, &c. which they {wallow whole, and therefore Na- ture has given them fuch a folded, rugous, inward Tunicle of the Stomach, that it may extend, and receive things of large Dimen- fions. Many of them have been killed with thirteen or fourteen Rats in their Bellies *. Ir has been obferved, that the Heart of this Serpent was beat- ing an Hour after the Head was cut off, and that it would turn and twift its Body ftrangely in its Diffeétion, for a long time after the Bowels were out: The Lungs were very membranaceous, be- ing nothing but Blood-Vefiels and Air-Bladders. Soa very learned Author. zbed. CVII. Tur Chicken-Snake, fo called becaufe of its Executions in the Poultry-yard, where it devours all Eggs, and leffer Birds that come in its way. ‘Thefe Serpents are of a footy Colour, and will very readily roll themfelves round a fmooth-bark’d Pine-tree, eighteen or twenty Foot high, where there is no manner of hold, and there fun themfelves, and fleep all the pleafurable part of the Day, referving the hours of Darknefs for rambling +. There is no great matter of Poifon in them. Here the Hiftorian mentions the EHe/-Snake, improperly focalled, I think, becaufe it is nothing but a Leach, that only fucks, and can’t fting nor bite, fo as to do any Damage. CVI. Tue Veétis, whofe Head, ftrictly {peaking, is neither round, flat, nor pointed, but looks like a Swelling on both fides, one ftretching tranfverfly, like a Bar that guards a Door, or, if you pleafe, a Bettee, an Engine to break open Doors. Though this Senfe 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. S2 CIX. * Sir Hans Sloan's Voyages to Madcira, Barbad. vol. ii. Lond. 1725. {+ Natural Hiftory of Carolina, p. 134- 131 132 A NATURAL HISTORY CIX. THe Tzicatlnan Serpent, called the Mother of Ants, becaufe it lodges in their Apartments, and other warm Situations. We read of Ants in the Ea/t-Indies that build their Houfes above Ground, and with the fief Clay, of which the People make their Idols ; their little Houfes are like ftrong Butts, hollow with- in, where they dwell, and breed in Nefts like Honey-combs. Tue Butts prefent to my view the Bow and Arrows in the Hands of the Parthians, who were efteemed the beft Archers in the world, and very defervedly, having the Art of fhooting backwards, and making their Retreat more terrible than their Charge: Whence that of Seneca*, The Parthians Flight does moft affright. The manner of their Fight is defcrib’d by the Poet, who fays, They were better Soldiers when they run away, and fought beft when fur- theft off, trufting moft to the Bow +. M. CRASSUS, in his Expedition againft them, being told by an Affrologer it would be unprofperous, becaufe of fome ill Afpect in Scorpio: Hufh 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 flender, adorn’d with red and white Streaks. Another Author fays, tis of a red Colour, diftinguifh’d by black Lines, intermix’d with white Spots: The Indians play with this Serpent (as Ladies with their Lap-dogs) and for Diverfion, wear this little innocent and pretty Animal (as a Necklace of Pearls) about their Necks f. CX. Tue Macacoatl, or Anguis Cervinus, fo called from its horned Head, which refembles that of a Deer, as thick asa Man’s Thigh, in length about twenty Foot, f{prinkled with dufky Spots inclining to the black and yellow.—This feems to be a Member of the gigantick Family, already defcribed. Jdzd. 273. There- fore I difmifs it, and proceed to the CXI. AQUASEN Serpent, which feems to be the Birth of the Philappines, and very venemous: Its Wound proves fatal in a few Minutes, which ts preceded by the Putrefaction of the Flefh, next to * Terga converfi metuenda Parthi. + Pugna levis, bellumgue fugax, turmzeque fugaces, Et melior céfi:fle loco quam pellere miles. Lucan. t Foam, Exfeb, Nieremiergii Hiftoria Nature, p.272,—3. OF SERPENTS. to the affected part. It is about two Spans long, of a brown Colour, and a large Head *. CXiI. Tue Serpent Ofws is one of the Plagues of America, and very poifonous, there being but few hours diftance between the Wound it gives and Death. It isabout an Inch thick, and three Foot long, a little Head and whitifh Belly, and may be far~ ther diftinguifh’d from others, by white and black Spots, and three red Lines running acrofs; flow in Motion, and fond of Shade; found in Cuba, a famous Ifland, where the antient Inha- bitants went naked, tho’ they might have been cloath’d in Gold. The Hiftorian {peaking of Spanifb Cruelty, obferves, that a cer- tain 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 Prie/? told him if he would embrace the Spani/b Religion, he fhould go to Heaven ; but if not, he muft burn for ever in Hell. Upon this, the poor diftrefied Prince afk’d him, if there were any Spaniards in Heaven, and the Prieft anfwering, Yes; Hathuey the Prince replied, vzz. THAT if it be fo, Pll rather go to the Devils in Hell, than go with the Spaniards to Heaven ; for their Cruelty is fuch, that none can be more miferable than where they are. N.B. This ac- count is given by one of their own Bithops +. CXIIl. Tuer Dopon is reckoned to be a moft dangerous Ser- pent; ‘tis about an Inch round, and four or five Foot long. The vulgar Opinion is, that the whole Body is all over tinged with Poifon, the Tail excepted, Its: Head is very large, and of an octangular form, fo far as the Eyes, from which it grows lefs and lefs to the Mouth, which is oblong and flat, arm’d with fix Teeth in the upper Jaws, and fix in the lower, befides leffer ones: The Tongue is flender, and of a black Colour. Irs Wounds are terrible, allowing the Patient only about twenty-four hours to live. No fooner is the Wound given, but all parts of the Body begin to {well, and foon extend beyond their due Proportion ; that they are foon difabled from perform- ing their Operations f. Tuu s * Nafcitur in Philippicis. ibid. p.273. Nierembergius. i + Barthol. de las Cafas, Bifhop of Chiapa. Hilt. of Antilles. . { Remedia eft Alexiterinm gangagaufen, Nierembergii Hiftoriay cap. xiii. p. 274. B33 £34 A NATURAL HISTORY Tuvs Pride, the malignant Tumour of the Mind, was the fatal Wound, by which the Angelic Serpent, the firft in Dignity among created Beings, was transformed into a Devil. Sin, a Poi- fon fo ftrong, that by the firft tafte of it, the whole human Nature was infeéted. Adam and Eve tafted the forbidden Fruit, and lo! we muft all die for it, at the diftance of fo many thoufand Years. CXIV. Tue Aftalegatus isa {mall flender Serpent, not ex- ceeding the Quill of a Goofe in proportion ; not poifonous in its Nature, yet very mifchievous ; for thefe little Creatures are an united Body, and live in community, and never feparate : they are a Society without Schifm, which is more than can be affirmed of all human Societies, civil or ecclefiaftick. W uEN thefe {mall harmonious Reptiles go abroad, they travel in Company, a hundred {trong or more, and where they find any afleep, they immediately feize the Body, and with a Force united and irrefiftable, they devour it*, Behold! a Conqueft by an Army of Worms! Tuus 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 rot- ten Wood-+. Of the Executions done by Worms, we have di- vers Inftances in the human World. No part of Man’s Body, whether inward or outward, but is fubject to Worms, and have been tormented with them. Man’s Body, if rightly underftood, 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 {warms of Vermin, fapping the Foundation of the animal Structure. We have Inftances of Worms bred in the human Brains, and were difcovered in the Brain of the Paris-Gir/ when opened—probably laid, by fome Infeé, in the Lamine of the Noftrils, from whence it gnawed its way into the Brain?. So in the outer parts. GALEN * Nierembergii Hifforia, cap. xiii. p. 274. fF yevousv0s exwaynoBpwros, ACK. xii. } Derbam trom Barcholinus. OF SERPENTS. GALEN in ‘fonftonusfays, that in Ethiopia, India, and the mountainous part of Egvpt, the Inhabitants were tormented with Worms, that bred in their Legs and Arms, called Dracuncult, whofe Motion in the Flefh was confpicuous to the Eye. LUCIUS CORNELIUS SYLLA, Conful and Diéator of Rome, (the Glories of whofe Valour were obfcured by barba~- rous Cruelties) died of a ®3:pse1s a wormy or loufy Difeafe: Thus Aliman *, a renowned Greek Poet, and Pherecydes the Philofo- pher, and Mafter to Pythagoras, died of the fame loathfome Diftemper. In Perfia there are very long flender Worms bred in the Legs and other Parts of Men’s Bodies, fix or feven Yards long. Thofe who live upon the Red-Sea, and feed upon Locufts, are, in the laft Stage of Life, fubject to a fort of Flying-Worms, like what is called a Tyke, fpread over all the Body, arifing at firft from a Scab, by fcratching of which they tear their Fleth. Nieremberg. Some relate divers Examples of Worms taken out of the Tongue, Gums, Nofe, and other Parts by a Woman at Lercefter, which they were Eye-witnefles of. N.B. Mr. Dent and Mr. Lewis, 2 the Philofoph. Tranf. zz Lowthorp’s Abridg. where thefe and divers others may be fen. IF it did not extend the Digreffion too far, I might add here, That there are no Animals, as Sheep, Wolves, Goats, Deers, Cows, Horfes, Swine; yea, no Vegetables, as Trees, Herbs, Plants, Flowers, but abound with Worms; and all thefe have Worms peculiar to themfelves. By the help of microfcopical Glafies, we may difcover Legions of Worms in Vinegar, human Blood, and other Liquids. CXV. Tue Ecatotl, Anguis-Venti, Serpent-of-the-Wind, and very innocent, and perhaps the Name may be borrowed from a gentle falutary Gale; it is about fix Spans long, and two Inches in Craflitude ; the Eyes are black, Teeth {mall, the Belly bright, like * Phy, Part. i. Sed quis non paveat pherecydos fata tragcedi : Qui nimio fudore fluens, animalia tetra, Eduxit turpi miferum qua morte tulerunt. Sylla quoque infelix tali languore perefus Corruit, & foedo fe yidit ab agmine vinci. Sic teftatur Serenus medicus. rro3) 136 A NATURAL HISTORY like Silver. The Back and Sides illuftrated with white Streaks, alternately painted with Yellow and Azure: the Tongue is ofa black Colour, {mall, long, and cloven, and moft nimble in its Vibrations *. CXVI. DE Angue-Laqueo, the Enfnaring-Serpent. In the Province of Vera-Pas, weft of the Honduras; they are much in- fected with feveral Infects, as Muskettoes, Fire-Flies, and Serpents. Among the laft is one Serpent of great Bulk, and excels in Craf- tinefs, being very {fubtle and fharp in laying hold of its Prey. The Method is furprizing; for it wraps up itfelf in the Form of a Ginn, and fo decoys the Game into the Snare: It bites like a Dog, and is very mifchievous, tho’ not of the venemous Order. bd. CXVII. Tue ftupid Serpent, which they call Canaucoatl, in Character is contradictious; for, as reprefented in Hiftory, ’tis dull and in a manner deftitute of Senfation, 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 ftrong, and fears no Affault. In Dimenfion, monftrous; for Thicknefs, equal to a Man’s Body, and twice the Length. ’Tis faid, fome have fatupon it, apprehending it to be only the Trunk of an old Tree. Some other fabulous Things are reported of it. Ir lives in the Shadow of Woods, often concealing itfelf un- der Branches and Leaves of Trees, where it furprizes the Prey, which, to {peak with the Vulgar, .it draws to him, by the Force of its Breath, as a Loadftone does Iron. The Authors of the Atlas mention a Serpent of this attra@ive Power in the Phzip- pine Ilands; Birds and other Animals are drawn into the Trap by the Charms of the Breath; yea, Partridges, Weafels——are made to run into its devouring Jaws. Loz. Ir this Serpent be indued with this magnetic Property, it isa living Loadfione, and more extenfive in its Attra¢tions than the real one; for this draws all animal Bodies to it, whereas the real Loadftone only attracts Iron. Attraction in the grofs, is fo com- plex a thing, that it may folve a thoufand different things alike. Tus Creature is called Jbztin in America; and probably the fame with the following, though diftin@ly confidered by the Hiftorian. 4. CXVIII. * Nierembergius, cap. XV. p. 274. OMFS IST EIR. PLEIN & CXVIII. Tue Serpent Bite, an Inhabitant of the Mountains and Woods in the Ifland of Cuba, &c. of great Bulk, and Length about four Ells; and in Shape terrible to the Eye. The Head, which refembles that of a Calf, grows large to the Eyes, which fparkle with the bright and black, and are incircled with Rays of Green; it has wide Jaws, armed with many tharp Teeth, a- mong which are four of the canine fort. CANINT Dentes, that is Dog’s-Teeth, are two Teeth in each Jaw, fo called, becaufe they end like thofe of a Dog in a fharp Point, whofe particular Office is to pierce the Aliments, there- fore are buried in their Sockets, by which they are more able to refift all lateral Preflures, than the Mo/ares, or the common Grinders. THis Bitinian Serpent hangs by the Tail on Trees, devour- ing Men and Beafts that pafs by, and come within its Reach, by the dint of halituous Attraction, as the //wpid, and fome of the Philippine Serpents are {aid to do; but if it be fo, the Philofophy of it is not yet accounted for. CXIX. Tue Monoxillo, or Mucronated-Serpent, fo called be- caufe its Termination is fharp-pointed. It has fomething of the Fierce and Terrible in its Appearance, but is more dreadful in Afpect than Nature ; for its Wounds, though painful, are not mortal. *Tis of the Lacertan Kind and Colour ; the Tail long, and Legs of {mall length; the Body about two Spans long, the Tongue large and forked and of red Colour. “Tis tedious in Motion; the whole Compound is cruftaceous, like Shell-Fifhes, adorned with white and yellow Spots, refembling little Pearls, or Seed of Grum- mel or Gray-Mile. N. B. Tue Seed of Vegetables confifts of an Embryo, in which is contained the whole Plant in Miniature. A compleat Oak 1s vifible in an Acorn by a Microfcope. CXX. Tue Tapayaxin, a little wonderful Serpent; fome fay of the Lacertan Kind, others fay of an orbicular Form, not above four Inches Long. The Body is cartilaginous, or griftly, {mooth and folid. This kind of Coverture is harder than a Ligament, and fofter than a Bone, but is not covered over with any Mem- brane to make it capable of Senfation. Loy "13 138 A NATURAL HISTORY Ir moves flowly, and recommends itfelf by Diverfity of Co- lours: when touched, the Body appears to be cold. Now, Bodies are faid to be cold or hot, as their Particles are in a greater or leffer Motion, than thofe of the fenfitory Organs. All Changes in the created Globe, are the Effe@ts of Motion, without which all Bodies would become unattive Maffes *- Tuts little Animal, is faid to be pleafed, or rather uncon- cerned, when taken up by human Hands; called on that ac- count, the Friend of Man; that is, he qwho is not againft us, is for us; therefore merits our Smiles. His Situation correfponds with his natural Difpofition, for it is an Inhabitant of cold Regions. When its Head is compreft, Drops of Blood guth out of his Eyes, which he cafts to a great diftance from him; which agrees with a former Defcription, Ge. CXXI. DE Haro coloti genere. The Serpent Harus, accord- ing to the Hiftorian +, isa Native of the Péilippines, and of the Lacertan Tribe: a very long Head (like the Philippine Queen) on a bulky Body, terminating in a fharp Point. It refembles the Quaquetzall, is in Mexico, and agrees therewith in moft things, and of which it feems to be a Species. Ir chufes its Habitation among Shrubs adjacent to clear Streams, and never defiles a Body, fo prettily coloured, with muddy Wa- ter, till conftrained to make the Bulrufh its Shelter againft the exceflive Heat of the Sun f. ~CXXIH. Tue Tamacolin, or a Serpent called Rubeta, of the Lineage of the red Toad: This kind is made up of Variety, dif- fering only one from another in Magnitude, Colour, and Poifon. The leffer kind not fo venemous as the larger. Some are green, fome are brown, and others black. In fhowery Weather they make an open Appearance, and in fuch Numbers, that none walk abroad without running the rifk of a poifonous Touch. NEW-S P AIN abounds with them, where they affect watry Habitations. In Peru are Toads as large almoft as. Cats or Dogs, but not fo poifonous as thofe of Brazil, where they have a Fifh called * Newton’s Optisks, p. 375- 2 } Nierembergins, cap. xxiv. p. 276. Nafcitur in Philippicic. } Ibid. p. 276. OFOS-E R PEN(‘T S. called Amyacu, i.e. Toad-Fifb; ’tis about a Span long, and oddly 19 painted ; its Eyesare fine and fair: It {wells and fnorts when taken ° out of the Water, which was the reafon of giving it that Name: When flayed it may be eaten, but is otherwife poifonous; the Poifon is drawn out by Application of Fire to the Part affected *. CXXII. TETZAUCOATL, or the rare Serpent; fo cal- led, becaufe the /ea/? of Serpents; and though very little, fcarce four Inches long, or in Bulk fo big as a Goofe-quill, yet its Wounds are moft deadly. The Belly is red, and diftinguifhable by black Stains; the Back yellow, interlaid with divers Spots. It is an Inhabitant of the North, and delights in cold Apartments. This (though diftinétly defcribed by the Hiftorian) feems to be the fame with the Tetzaucoat]+-. N. B. Little Things, greatly dangerous. Tue Poet weeps for a Perfon killed by the Fall of an Icicle, which is a little Drop of Water congealed +. -Anacreon, the ce- lebrated Lyrick Poet among the Greeks, was choaked with a /ittle Kernel of a Grape. Little Things do great Executions, Little Worms deftroy floating ‘Caftles. “Tarantula, a little Spider, poi- fons a Giant. In Barbadoes is what they call the Poz/on-Tree, a { little Drop of its Sap flying into a Workman’s Eyes, makes him blind ; therefore Workmen cover them with Cyprefs. PLINY, from M.Varro fays, there was a Town in Spain undermined by Comes, and another in Theffaly by Mold-Warps, and another in France, from which they were driven out by Frogs. .... In fome parts of Africa, People were conftrained by Locufts to leave their Habitations. Out of Gyaros (one of the Iflands of the Cyclades in the Egean Sea, moft of which are now under the Zurks) the Inhabitants were forced away by Rats and Mice, little Things: And if it be true, that Theophrajtus the Philofopher reports, the Treriens were chafed away by an Army of little Worms, called Scolopendra||. All thefe mighty Conquefts were made by little contemptible Infeéts. Wuar fays the Laconian, when wounded witha Dart? [I am not, quoth he, concerned at my Death, but at my Fall by a fiz Wound * Harris in Atlas for Brazil in General. + Nreremb. Oh! ubi non eft fi jugulatis aqua. Mart, l| Pliny’s Natural Hiftory, Part. B. viii. Cap. 29. 2) om r4.0 A NATURAL HISTORY Wound from a little feeble Archer. For ’tis Satisfaction to the Vanquith’d to die by the Hand of heroic Valour; hence that of Virgil ; fEnee Magni dextra cadis, .... Lis by the Great Fineas’ Hand you fall, ‘The reafon was, becaufe 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 Philofophy, we read of Atoms, that are Minima Nature, the ultimate Particles into which Matter is divifible, and are conceived as the firft Rudiments, or component Parts of all phy- fical Magnitude, or the pre-exiftent and incomprehenfible Mat ter, 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 con- quered by the Sword, the other by his Pen, and has made all the Regions of Fame tributary to him. CXXIV. Tue tame and traétable Serpent, is of the Indiax Race, about an Inch long, when brought firft from the Field for domeftick Education ; and when at its full Growth, is not much fhort of a Man’s Thigh. Its Habitation is in fome little Hutch ere€ted on purpofe, (zadulgentie gratia) where it idles away its time, till Hunger brings it out. Upon its Approach to the Mafter of the Houfe, it creeps up to his Shoulders, where the Embraces of that terrible Creature (being made tame) are re- ceived with Delight *. CXXV. Tue Tieoa, or Letloa, that is,a little fiery Serpent, and very common in the new World, and defcribed by the Hiftorian thus +f, v/z. Tis about a Finger broad, and five or fix Foot long, and differenced from others by a Medley of Spots, compounded of white, black, yellow, and dun Colours. The Head is like that * Nierembergius, cap. xl. p. 283.—Humeros heri amicé confcendunt, beneyolé terrific animalis amplexus tolerantis. + Nierembergius, from Francifcus Hernandus. OFISER PEN TS. that of our Vipers, and the Tail, which feems to have a touch of the Rattle, ends acutely, Irs Wounds are deadly, and burn like Fire; hence the Name it bears: Though fiery in Nature, is flow and winding in Mo- tion, and may be avoided by the Traveller, if he has Eyes and Ears. Its ufual Refidence is in Mountains, and the higher Moun- tains are, the greater the Cold, (becaufe they only receive direét, and but little of the reflected Rays of the Sun) yet are the Habi- tations of fiery Animals. Tue Learned obferve, there are Mountains a Mile and an half high, to the tops of which, no Vapour, and confequently no Clouds, can ever reach: And hence it is that in very high Mountains, as the Pico de Therde in Bohemia, though the middle part be always invefted with Snow, and the bottom {corched with intolerable Heat; yet on the top you will find yourfelf in a pure, thin, fe- rene Air, and view the Clouds hovering at a confiderable diftance below you*. Hence it is that all Thunder is confined within lefs than a Mile’s Height. The Air is coldeft in the higheft places, and hotteft in the loweft; but in the intermediate Atmofphere, where we live, very unequal: but no Climates, however fituated, are privileged with Exemption from venemous Creatures, and where they are lefs peftered with them, “tis owing to the Cultivation of the Land. Tue Wounds given by this Serpent are dangerous, and cured by an Herb called Ancola, by “fonftonus, p. 26, 27. but Anola, by Nierembergius, p. 277, 283. CXXVI. Tur Hydrus, or Natrix, an acquatic Serpent: The former word from id., Water, of which ’tis an Inhabitant; the other word denotes its Skill in the Art of Navigation; it goes un- der various Denominations, as ‘appears in fon/ffonus ; who, from Pliny obferves, that this Serpent is /uperior to moft in Beauty, and inferior to none in Poifon-. NICANDER, who calls the terreftrial Hydrus, a foul co- loured Beaft, vindicates the beautiful Character of the Marine ; who yet is not very nice in its Choice of Water, for muddy and e clear * BMontibus Tepextlanicis. $ Fonftoni Hiftoria Nat. p. 28. I4¥ I 4.2 A NAPURAL HIS F ORY clear is equally the fame to this beautiful Slut*. In its Nature “tis very poifonous, fays one; Cardan is in the Negative. The truth is, there are feveral forts of them, fome of which are harmlefs, and others hurtful, and their Wounds attended with very terrible Effeéts, defcribed by the poetick Phyfician +. In fome parts of Perfia they are very numerous, defcribed by white Heads and black Body, four Cubits long, and dangerous to thofe who dabble in the Water by Night, as they often do in that hot Country ; where thefe Animals feed upon Fifh and Frogs j ; and breed upon Land, according to Ariffotle |}. Irs common Habitation is in the Myclean Lake, in Corcina or Corcyra, now Corfou, (a little rich Ifland in the Venetian Do- minion) and alfo about Zaracina (a City of the. Volfecans in Cam- -pama, in Italy, not far from Amycle) where the People, not daring to kill Serpents, were overthrown by them ; to mention no more. Ibid. | CXXVII. T ue Natrix-Torquata, ‘fonfton makes different from the former, and defcribes it thus ——Called Zorguata from its beau- tiful Neck, which looks as if incircled witha ftrong Collar of Pearls.....On the hinder part of the Head 1s a little narrow Space in the form of two Scales, where the Spots on both fides end acutely in a triangular form. The Scholiaff upon Nieander, compliments thofe pretty Spots with the Title of Uttle Crowns **. Ir goes under various Appellations. The Greeks called it Guardian of their Houfes +, it being of the innocent fort:. Some of the [talians call it Carbonarium, a Collier, becaufe its Colour inclined to Coal-black, or Iron. Mr. Ray calls it, the common Snake. It is larger thana Viper, and more grofs in Body; brings forth its Young by Eggs, hatch’d by foreign Heat; feeds on Mice = * °Tis fometimes called Luzra, ex Luto; becaufe it delights moft in foul Wa- ter; or the Word may fignify, to wath and make clean. + Peffima quas fecit plagas hec figna fequantur 5 Arida tota cutis circum putret horribileraque Elevat afpectum, magni ignitique dolores Tandem hominem interimunt. — Nicander. + Stagna colit, ripifque habitans hic pifcibus atram Improbus Ingluviem ranifque loquacibus explet) Exhaufta palus—Exilic in ficcum— Vrg. Georg, lib. iii. {| Fonftonz Hif?. Nat. p. 28, 29. ** Ibid. p.29. tH Odes cixspore \ i) NY YN ANN iH y i WY \\ i \s \ Serpe He AA ae A; es ; eK, U2 /49 a di gis ced ant | h) EA OF SERPENTS. Mice ; fucks Cows, upon which follows Blood. “The Reader is referred to a former. CXXVIIL. Tue Marine-Dragon, as Pliny calls it, or the true Marine-Serpent, in the Dialect of ‘fonffenus, who, in his Defcrip- tion of Fifhes, gives a particular account of it. We have already accounted for monftrous Serpents in the Indies, where fome have Teeth in the form of a Saw, with which they do more hurt than with their Poifon, fays the Greek Hiftorian *. In Africa, are {ome large and {trong enough to contend with Oxen by Land, and to overturn a three-oar’d Galley by Water; which agrees in Character with thofe of Norway already defcribed : There we found fome of 2co Foot long, winding themfelves about Ships, according to Olaus Magnus, Archbifhop of Upjal. In- feveral of the Perfian Iflands are fome of twenty Cubits long, and very terrifying to Sailors. Such alfo are feen in the Promontory of Carmania, the Refidence of the Ichthyophagi, a People that feed wholly upon Fifh; a fine Country for fuch who are inclin’d to keep a perpetual Lent. ‘Tho’ thefe Monfters are born in the Deep, yet are they found in frefh Waters, and fome- time {porting upon Land, where they fleep +. Tue fame Author tells us, of a terribie Battle that happen’d in Turkey, in the time of Bajazet, between the Jand and marine Serpents, that continued from Morning to Night, when after a great Deftruction on both fides, the Marines fled. Ibid. CXXIX. Tue Rubetarian- Serpent is a very noify Animal, who for its croaking Noife is refembled toa land Toad. It alfo engages the Attention of the Eye, for it excels in Beauty: It’s known among Country-People by thefe two Characterifticks, wiz. Loud and Pretty. Here we fee, what is an Offence to the Ear may be a pleafing Entertainment to the Eye; thus the Five Senfes agree to differ in their feveral Perceptions, and to meet in feveral diftine Apartments of the capital Temple, in the pacifick Empire. But to return to the deautiful Padalica of the Polonians: Ir is faid of this Serpent, that when it wounds any in the Foot, the Remedy is to put the wounded part into the next Earth, that * ZEiani Hift. lib. xvi. cap. 3. + Faonfton. de Pifcib. p. 9. Arweculus v. 143 144 A NATURAL IJHISTORY that is inclined to the moift, for twenty-four hours. This feems to differ from the American Rubeta. CXXX. Tue Serpent de Boa is another of the monfirous 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 nourifhed by fucking the Cow. In the Emperor Claudius’s time, in one of them that was killed, they found a Child that was whole. In Ca/géria are fome monftrous Animals, not unlike thefe, fays the Hiftorian ; who adds, that not many Years ago a certain Bifhop {peaks of a large mifchievous Serpent, that was fhot near St. Archangel, whofe Jaws were almoft two Palms long, the Portraiture of which is yet feen in a certain Temple there *. CXXXI. I Am informed by fome Perfons, who had it by Tradi- tion from ancient People, that formerly there was in this Country a monftrous Serpent of four or five Yards long, and thicker than a common Axle-tree of a Cart, and very mifchievous, preying upon Lambs, &c. Its chief Refidence was in a Wood, near Pzchop- bank, a few Miles from Blackburn, in Lancafhire, called Ou/e- Caffle, wherein there is yet a little Spot of Ground, called Grzom’s- Ark, which is a deep Cavern, fituated among Rocks, in a Wood, from whence it was feen to come out, and bafk itfelf on a funny Bank. Tue Picture of this Serpent is drawn with Wings, two Legs, and Talons like an Eagle, which is feen in fome ancient Houfes, {and particularly at Clayton-hall, near Dunkin-hall) by which it appears to be very large and furious. It’s faid, one Grimfhaw Efq; Proprietor of that Hall, thot the Monfter with Arrows, and had an Eftate offer’d him for that good Service done to his Country, which he generoutly re- fufed, and only defired he might have a Paflage thro’ that Wood to a Townfhip he had on tother fide 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 fuppofed to be a Grijim, which is * M. Antonius Cuccinus Epifcopus Anglonenfis ad ThomaGum—in Agro S. Archangeli. In Fonflonus , in Verb. OF) S-E\R PEN Ts. isa Bird of Prey, and of the Eagle kind, which, I take to be the Offifrage of Mofes, and mentioned Levit. xi. THERE is alfo a fabulous Grzfin, reprefented 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 Treafures. This Bird was confecrated to the Sun, there- fore the Chariot of the Sun was reprefented as drawn by a Set of Griffins. Tuts poetick Griffin is frequently feen in antient Medals, and is {till bore in Coat-Armor. The antient and honourable Family of the Guz/lims blazons it rampant, alledging any very fierce Animal may be io blazon’d as well as a Lion. It is obfervable, fays my Author, that in the Front of Clayton-hall are two Figures drawn in Plaifter in the form of a Coat of Arms; on the right fide of the Efcutcheon is a Figure with Wings, four Feet, and a Tail twifted in the Form of a Serpent. The like Figure is drawn in Plaifter in feveral antient Houfes in that Neighbourhood, which go under the Name of the Griffin's Picture, and the Sign is ufed at Publick-houfes: There is a Place in that Wood called the Griffin s- Ark. N.B. Tuts feems to carry fome Probability with it, fince Eagles are voracious Creatures, and very deftruétive to Fawns and Lambs, efpecially the black Eagle, which is of a lefler Size than the other, In fome of the Scots I/lands, the Natives obferve, that this Eagle fixes its Talons between the Deer’s Horns, and beats its Wings conftantly about its Eves ; feveral other Eagles flying at the fame time on both fides, which puts the Deer upon a continual Run, till it fall into a Pit, or down a Precipice, where it dies, and fo becomes a Prey to the Enemy *. CXXXII. In fome of the Weftern Iflands of Scotland are fe- veral Serpents: There is one that is ye/ow with brown Spots, and another with drown Spots; but that which is the moft poifonous, is the black and white /potted, three or four Foot long. Tue Remedies are fuch as thefe: The Natives cut off the Head of the Serpent that gives the Wound, and apply it to the Place as the beft Remedy: Others, by the Application of new U Cheefe, * Martin's Defcription of the Wefter2 Iflands of Scotland, Edit. il. p. 7. f 145 14.6 A NATURAL HISTORY Cheefe, extract the Poifon ; and fome make ufe of the Rump of a Cock ftript of its Feathers, which they apply to the Wound with Succefs, according to the Hiftorian *. In the Library at Manchefter, 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, fcaly Skin, yellow Colour. CXXXIII MARTINIUS in his Atlas relates, that in the Province of Quangfi in China, there are Serpents thirty Foot long. The Phra Sinenfis reports of the Serpent call’d Geuto, that it devours whole Stags, but is not very venemous, ’Tis of an afh: Colour, from eighteen to twenty-four Foot long ; will often feize on a Man, by leaping from a Tree, and kill him, by its violent windings about him.—The Chine/e preferve his Gall to cure the Difeafes of the Eyes —Marcus Paulus Venetus teftifes the fame of the Serpents of Carrajam.—Some are in length ten Paces, in thicknefs ten Palms, and able to fwallowa 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 fandy in the Track it goes along: Here the Huntfmen fix ftrong Stakes pointed with Iron, covered with Sand; and as the Serpent travels along, the Spikes gore its Entrails, and are faften’d therein, by which ’tis kil?d; and the Huntfmen fell the Ga// at a great Price for Me- dicine, and the Fle/h for Meat. Thefe, continues he, may be reckon’d among Dragons, but are without Poifon: Inftead of Feet, they haveClaws like thofe of a Lion or Falcon —There are other Serpents in China full of rank Poifon, efpecially the Aazry- beaded Serpent. So far Martin. N. B. Tuts Province of Quamfi or Quangfi is able to raife a Million of fighting Men. It is not fo much frequented as the Province of Quantung or Canton, where they have two Harvetts a year. One fays, there is a Mountain here with a Pool in it, which makes a Noife like Thunder, if a Stone be caft into it, and caufes Showers from the Sky --. Their Winter is warm, and their Fields always verdant, producing great Quantities of Gold, Pearl, Silk, Copper, Steel, Iron, Salt,—and odoriferous Woods.— They + Martin's Defiription of ibe Ile of Skies &c. p. 236. + Pancirollus. OF SERPENTS. They hatch their Ducks Eggs and thofe of other Fowls in Ovens, or Dunghills. CXXXIV. TuHere isa kind of Tefudo (I don’t mean the common Tortoife) which is a certain fort of Snake, {mall in Body and of white Colour, found in Lydia, Arabia,—cafed over with a white colour’d Shell, which thines like a {parkling Margarite *, - ISuHact clofe this Part with an Experiment made by the noble Roman before-mentioned, who (being follicitous to take a compleat View of a Serpent) after he had diffe€ted one, preferved the Flefh and Bones, and having, /ecundum artem, reduced them to Afhes,—extracted Aqua Fontana,—whofe Virtues were equal to thofe drawn from the Afhes of other Animals, and of Plants. - To this venemous Tribe, I fhall annex a few Reptiles, in whofe Veins I find fomething of the Serpent’s Blood; and clofe the variegated Lift with a large Account of the Tarantula, its Wound, and Cure by Mufick ; then inquire into the Reafons of that {trange Operation; the Nature and Force of Sounds, not only on the Animal Paffions, but Inanimate Matter. I fhall be- gin with, i: HE Bee, called the Honey-Fly, a little Animal that has four Feet, which it carries clofe to the Belly, and not eafily feparated: It has four Wings, fmall Teeth, and a long Tongue, which ufually it carries out of the Mouth. Its Sting cleaves to the Belly, which, when it ftrikes, it parts with, and becomes unca- pable of wounding a fecond time; which, I think can’t be faid of any other Member of the ftinging Race, unlefs it be the Wafp and Hornet. , TuHeE Sting, inthe Defign of it, feems to be only a Weapon of Defence ; it looks like a Tube or Pipe, hollow, with a little Bag of fharp penetrating Liquid (which is its Poifon) joined to the Extremity of it within rhe Body, which, in ftinging, is in- jected into the Wound thro’ the Tube ; and tho’ venemous and painful, is not ftrong enough to corrupt the Mafs of Blood. U2 ® ONE * Pancirollus. 147 148 A NATURAL HISTORY One may, with the naked Eye, fometimes fee this little In- fect difcharge its Venom, in which, fays the ingenious Dr. Mead, by the help of a Glafs, I can eafily difcover a great Number of minute Salts floating. In Brazil, Bees are diftinguith’d into twelve kinds, among which are fome that fting in a moft furious and fatal manner, called Mateecas by the Indians. In Ceylon inthe Eaft Indies, are feveral Bees, the largeft are of a brighter Colour than ours; they make their Combs on the Boughs of Trees: At proper Seafons, the Inhabitants hold Torches under them, till they drop down, which they carefully gather, boil and eat, and are accounted excellent Food. In Quvatemala are Bees and Honey of a white Colour, and fome without a Sting, fays the Hiftorian *, II. To the Bee, I add the Wafp, which, as it is fomething larger, makes a deeper Wound; it differs alfo from it in its Food, which 1s Flefh and Carrion, when it can be got; whereas the Bee regales itfelf with delicious Entertainments, and enriches its Fa- mily with all the Glories of the vegetable Kingdom. From whence is the Honey? I anfwer, That in Flowers is found a vifcid {weet Juice, and accordingly we fee Children gather Cowflips, Honey- fuckles, and fuck the Honey from them. The Bees vifit all Flowers within their Reach, and putting it in their Trunks, fuck out the Honey, with which they load their Stomachs, to be dif- charg’d, and laid up in their Combs. Among the Antients, Ho- ney was taken for a Dew that fell on Flowers; but this is a mi- ftake, becaufe the Bees only gather it after the Sun is up, when there is no Dew left, or very little. Ill. Tue Hornet is yet more dangerous, and has been known to purfue a Sparrow, and kill it, and then fuck its Blood. The Hornet and Wafp have ftrong Jaws tooth’d, by which they can dig into Fruits, for Suftenance; yea, and into harder Subftances, for Quarters. iy you take a Bee, a Wafp, or Hornet, and gently fqueeze the Tail, fo that you can {ee the Sting, you may perceive a Drop of tranfparent Liquor at the very end of it; which if wiped off, you fhall foon fee it renew’d, that Liquid pafling down the Ca- 4 vity * Nierembergius, p. 286. OF SERPENTS. vity into the end thereof: ’Tis faid the Decoétion of Hornets dropt on the Skin, makes is {well. IV. I Proceep tothe Spider, another little venemous Infed, whofe forked ‘Tongue or Sting, is very fine and {harp ; by this he pierces Flies—and at the fame time, inftils a poifonous Juice into the Wound, by which the Prey being kill'd, it fucks out the Moifture, and leaves nothing but a hufky dry Carcafe: Tradition fays, it poifons by fpitting, or breathing, becaufe it dare not ap- proach {fo near to a large Fly as toa little one; but keeps at fome diftance, and ufes a kind of fhoving Motion, upon which the Fly has done ftruggling. T HERE are various forts of thefe little ftrange Creatures, whofe Stings are hurtful, as the 4forius, (fo called from its re- femblance to a Star) whofe Wound produces Heavinefs, and Re- Jaxation of the Nerves. The Ceruleus, or blue Spider, whofe Sting is attended with Vomiting and Pain at the Heart. The Lycos, the leaft of the kind, that caufesan 4/fhma, and Swelling about the wounded Part. In the Philofophical Tranfactions, we have a Table of thirty-three kinds of Spiders found in Exgland, by Dr. Lifer *. THERE is fomething very curious and admirable in thofe long Threads they make in the Air, during fome part of Summer, efpe- cially towards September, fo much wonder’d at, in fuch Quantities every where. The Method of Operation, I take to be as fol- lows, vz. Aut Spiders that fpin in a Thread, are the Makers of thofe Threads, moft vifible in the Autumn. In all the ways of weav- ing, they ftill let down the Thread they make ufe of, and draw it after them. Attending on one that wrought a Net, I faw it, fays a very nice Obferver, fuddenly in the Mid-work defift, and turning his Tail into the Wind, to dart out a Thread, with the Violence we fee Water {pout out of a Spring: This Thread taken up by the Wind, was in a Moment emitted fome Fathoms long, ftill iffuing out of his Belly ; by and by the Spider leapt into the Air, and the Thread mounted her up {wiftly.——And I found the Air fill’d with young and old, failing on their Threads, and un- doubtedly, fays the Relator, {eizing Gnats and other Infects in their * Lowthorp, vol.ii. p. 793. 149 150 A NATURAL HISTORY their Pafflage; there being often manifeft Signs of Slaughter, as Legs, and Wings of Flies.... on thefe Lines, as in their Webs below *. SprpeERs have been obferved to get to the Top of a Branch or fuch like thing, where they exercife this darting of Threads into the Air. After the firft Flight, all the time of their failing on thofe Threads, they make Locks, ftill darting forth frefh Sup- plies of Thread to {port and fail by. WN. B. Thofe called Shep- herds, or long-legg’d Spiders, are no Spinners. I Have feen Spiders, fays the Learned Dr. Hul/e+-, fhoot their Webs three Yards long before they begin to fail upon them. So the Learned Derham obferves, that with pleafure he had often feen Spiders dart out their Webs, and fail away by the Help thereof. AMERICA turns out diverfe kinds of thefe araneous In- fects: In Peru are Spiders as large as a Man’s Hand, and have Eyes as big as thofe of Sparrows. In Brafi there is one kind of Spider, whofe Skin is rough and black, and whofe Sting proves incurable, without immediate Relief. On the other hand, we read of monftrous Spiders in the Axfzlles, whofe Eyes are fo {mall and deep in the Head, that they are fcarcely vifible: They feed on flying Infects, and their Webs are {trong enough to catch {mall Birds f. CEYLON in the Eaf-Indies produces a long, glittering, and hairy Spider, called Democulo, whofe Wound is not mortal, but fometimes deprives People of their Senfes, There is an Experi- ment made by Mr. Leewenhoeck, who put a Frog and Spider to- gether into a Glafs, and having made the Spider fting the Frog diverfe times, the Frog died in about an hour’s time |}. THERE is another Inftance of the Poifon of fome of them (for all are not poifonous) given by the Learned Scaliger, who relates, that in Ga/cony in France, there are Spiders of that Viru- lency, that if a Man treads upon them to crufh them, their Poi- fon will pais thro’ the very Soles of his Shoe ||. Vv. * Lowrhorg, vol.ii. p-794- + Ibid. vol-i. p. 363. t Arl. Geog. Amer. p. 179, 2655 § 19. || Scaliger Exercit. in Boyle's Subti!. Efflu. Philof. Tranfattious. Where there is a curious Account how Spiders lay and guard their Eggs. Derbam. OF SERPENTS. V. Tue Scolpendra is a little venemous Worm, and amphi- bious. When it wounds any, there follows a Bluenefs about the affeéted Part, and an Itch over all the Body, like that caufed by Nettles. Its Weapons of Mifchief are much the fame with thofe of the Spider, only larger; its Bite is very tormenting, and pro- duces not only pruriginous Pain in the Flefh, but very often Diftraction of Mind. Thefe 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 Rbytium, a City of Crete, were conftrained to leave their Quarters for them *, There isa minute Scolopendra, accounted for by Dr. Molyneux. ’ VI. Tue Shrew-Serpent in Norway, is a Creature of admira- ble Beauty ; {mall in Body, and flow in Motion, but of fiery Ve- nom, and its Wounds moft dangerous. VI. Tre Lacertus Facetanus, or Tarantula, whofe Bite gives Name to a new Difeafe. Thofe who are wounded by it are de- nominated Tarantati: It is a kind of an overgrown Spider, about the Size of a common Acorn: ern Ir borrows its Name from Tarentum in Apulia, a City in the Kingdom of Naples, built by a Band of Lacedemonian Baftards, who having no Inheritance at home, were fent thither to feek their Fortunes, where they built that Town, and made it the Capital of Magna Gracia. ’ Tuts little Animal is furnith’d with eight Eyes, and eight Legs: Its Skin is tender and foft, of various Colours, and always hairy: ’Tis of the oviparous kind, and propagates its Species by Eggs, and fometimes a hundred Eggs have been found in one Female. In the Opinion of fome, ’tis not only an Inhabitant of Apulia, but peculiar to that Province, a Situation that may be called, 4 Garden of Rarities; Plenty of generous Wine, delicate Honey and Oil, an early Spring, a foft Winter—render it a moft delight- ful Habitation, efpecially to old Perfons, according to the Poet -} 5 and * Elian, \ib.xv. cap. 26. $ —llle terrarum mihi prater omnes— (Hora?. lib. ii. ode 6.) Angulus.— 151 ANATURAL HISTORY and yet in that moft-agreeable.Region, this little Tyrant reigns and {preads Terror. Ir’s found in other Parts of Italy, and even in the Ifle of Cor- fica; but thofe of Apulia, ‘tis faid, are only dangerous; though I. think to have read fomething like it-in Perfiz, where there is an Infeét like a Spider, about two Inches round, which the Hol/fein Ambafiadors fuppofe to be the Latin Stellio, and the Italian Ta- rantula: Xt lets its Poifon fall ikea Drop of Water, which caufes an infupportable Pain in that Part.... immediately caufes a pro- found Sleep, from which the Patient is not to be recovered, but by crufhing one of the fame 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 viclent Agitation, his Sto- mach difcharges the Milk, which appears greenifh, becaufe of the Poifon. ‘Thofe who are cured thus, have fome Remnant of the Pain once a Year, about the fame Seafon *. Bu 7 to return to /taly; ’tis obfervable, that it hurts no where but in Apulia, and that only in Summer, efpecially in the Camz- cular-Days, {fo called from Canicula, that fignifiesa Dog; hence Dog-Star, which rifes cofmically with the Sun the 19th of Fu/y, and is fuppofed to be the brighteft, as well as the largeft Star in the Firmament. Tu £ Dog-Days denote certain Days before and after the Rifing of this Star, to whofe Appearance the Antients afcrib’d terrible Effects: the very firft Day it appears, they fay (but without Rea- fon) the Sea becomes boifterous and boils like a Cauldron, pro- duces Variety of Diftempers, fours Wine, and Dogs grow mad. .... Lhe Romans, dreading the Indignation of this Star, facri- ficed a Dog every Year to it, (viz. at its firft Appearance in our Hemifphere) to appeafe its Rage againft Mortals. In Winter, this ¢a/ian Spider lurks in Caverns, and folitary Places; and if it happens to bite, hurts not: There it lives in a drowfy Pofture, and keeps Len till Summer; when the whole Tribe creeps out, and difperfe themfelves over that pleafant Land ; and Wo to the Body afleep, and bare Legs, in Corn-Fields. T Hose on the Plains are much to be feared, the Air being hotter there than on the Mountains, where their Bite is not dan- gerous, * Voyages and Travels of the Ambaff. of Freder. Duke of Holfteiz. i fth Hid iad aff Hil ae . RUAN HUN AN ah A ASN en eri CS CR [SSS OF SERPENTS. gerous, the Solar Rays not being fo ftrong in thofe Heights: and what is yet more furprizing, is, that if they wound any out of Apulia, though in places not remote from it, the Wounded re- ceive no deadly Hurt *. WueEwn it bites, the Pain refembles that given by the Sting of a Bee, and is attended with various Symptoms, according to their different Natures: The Northern Tarantula is the moft terrible; thofe that are inclin’d to the whzte Colour are not fo dangerous ; the {potted differs from both. Tue Wound given by any of them is dangerous, and has dif. ferent Indications. In fome that are bitten, an univerfal Stupor follows; others weep: Some tremble and vomit ; others laugh, fancying themfelves to be Kings. This perhaps made Dr. Cornelio reprefent this as an imaginary Difeafe; that thofe who imagine themfelves hurt, are moft of our young wanton Girls, who, fal- ling from fome particular Indifpofition into Melancholy and Mad- ne{s, perfuade themfelves that they have been ftung by a Taran- tula +. SOME grow pale, fick and faint, and die in a fhort time, un- lefs relieved by Mufick, which alone, without the Help of Me- dicine, performs the Cure. Tue Wounded are as Men half dead, but at the firft Sound of a mufical Inftrument, though they are very weak, and feem- ingly unable to ftir, they begin by degrees to move their Hands and Feet, till at laft they get up, and then fall to dancing with wonderful Vigour, for two or three Hours, their Strength and AGtivity {till encreafing. Some will continue the Dance, without Intermiffion for fix Hours; and when tired they are put to Bed, and after they are fufficiently recruited by Reft, they are called up again by the fame Tune,-and renew the Dance with great Violence, the Mufick ftill playing ; and when the Patients grow weary, they are put into Bed again, and kept warm to encourage Perfpiration. Thefe Exercifes being continued fix or feven Days, the Patient finds himfelf fatigued and unable to dance any longer, which is the Charaéteriftic of a Cure. THE vy ufually {pend ten or twelve Hours a-day in this violent Exercife, and continue it for three or four, or fix Days; by which time * Baglivti de Anatome, Morfu G& Effect. Tarantule Differtatio i. p.27. & cap. v. p. 20. t Philof. Tranfad. 133 wah A NATURAL HISTORY time they are generally freed from all their Symptoms, tho’ not always, fays the learned Baghvi, who obferves, that about the fame time next Year, the Diftemper returns, and will prove fa- tal, if not prevented by the fame mufical Application. In Apulia is a Scorpion, whofe Wounds are accompanied with the fame Effects as thofe produced by the Zarantula, and are only curable by Mujfick and Motion. Thefe Apulian Scorpions, are lets violent than thofe of Africa, but more virulent than thofe in other Parts of Italy. I fhall only offer two Remarks here. 1. THAT different Patients muft be entertain’d with different Tunes, according tothe different Symptoms of the Difea/e; in which the great Art of curing them feems to confift. e.g. Some are roufed by a Pipe, others by a Timbrel: Some are roufed by a Violin, others by the Harp; and all muft be entertain’d with different Airs. The Mbuficians therefore make Trial before they can accom- modate the Sound to the Venom; which requires the moft brifk and lively Tunes, to produce a powerful Vibration in the Body ; and till this be done, the miferable Patients ftand ftill, fighing and fobbing. The Vibrations muft be quick and frequent. 2. DURING the Time of Cure, the wounded People throw them- Jelves into a Varsety of ftrange Forms, and behave like Drunkards and Madmen.... talking foolifhly .... diverting themfelves with naked Swords, red Cloth, Ge. but the Sight of any Object that appears black is terrible tothem. did. To this Account of the Tarantula, I have (by way of Illuftra- tion) added the Remarks of another learned Foreigner, who fays .... The venemous Bite of the Tarantula is quickly follow’d with a very acute Pain, and foon after, with Numbnefs, profound Sadnefs, difficult Refpiration: The Pulfe grows weak, the Sight difturbed ; Perfons lofe their Knowledge, Senfe, and Motion ; and if deftitute of Help, they die..... The moft effectual and certain Remedy is Mufick: When the Perfon becomes deftitute of Knowledge and Motion, a Mu/ician tries a Variety of Airs: Shou’d he hit on that whofe Harmony is fuited to the Patient, he begins to move by fucceflive Degrees, and keeps Time with his Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c. he raifes himfelf, and dances about fix Hours without Intermiffion..... Wren the Mufick ceafes, the fick Perfon gives over dancing, and is put to Bed: The fame Air brings him out of Bed fora new Dance, OF SERPENTS. Dance, an Exercife that lafts fix or feven Days.——-=V. B. Every fick Perfon muft have his particular and fpecific Tune, and al- ways one that is very fprightly and moving. Tue Poifon of the Tarantula, adds he, thickens the Blood, and ftops feveral of its Paflages; thence the Numbnefs: The Blood being thick, furnifhes but a fmall Quantity of animal Spi- rits, their Canals are fhrunk up in the Brain: The Nerves being deftitute of Spirits, relax; thence proceed the Inaétivity, and De- fe&t of Knowledge and Motion : But the Vibrations of the quick Airs which are play’d, agitate the Blood and the reft of the ani- mal Spirits, which are foon increafed by the Agitation of the Blood: Being agitated and multiply’d, they run into the Fibres and Nerves, which being put into Unz/ox with the fonorous Strings, receive their Vibrations, and are fhorten’d or extended fucceflively ; whence proceeds the fucceffive Motion of the Fingers, Arms, Legs, &c.* Tu £ Action of Dancing augments the Agitation of the Blood, and makes the Patient fweat. The Poifon being agitated and at- tenuated, is exhaled by Tranfpiration ; in proportion as the Poi- ‘fon is exhaled, the fick Perfon perceives himfelf eafed; this Eafe continually inclines him to dance: When all the Poifon is diffi- pated by Agitation and Sweat, the Blood recovers its Fluidity and ufual Courfe. I SHatt conclude this hiftorical Account, with a Paflage taken out of a formed Hiffory of the Tarantula +, writ by a learned Author, who having defcribed the Difeafe, proceeds to the man- ner of Cure, wz. The falivous Poifon of that Spider feizes prin- cipally on the Nerves and Mufcles—the manner of Cure thus—— Tue Air moved by the mufical Motion of Inftruments, moves the next, and fo onwards (as we fee in the circular increafing Motion of the Water, when a Stone is caft into it) till the like be produced in the Spirits of the Body, to which the Air is im- pelled.——Now, adds he, the Commotion of the Paflions depends upon the Spirits, and the vifcous Humour of the Tarantula is a very capable Subject of Sound: Hence the next Air being moved by a mufical Tone fuitable to the Patient, the lurking Poifon, and ‘ x2 Spirits * Father Reguault, Phil. Conv. or New Sy(tem of Phyfic) vO. ii. Conversation xiv. P: 263,——9. + Printed at Leyden, in 1270. 4, D, 1668. 155 A NATURAL HISTORY Spirits of a Man are put intoa Commotion ; by which Agitation, the Nerves being vellicated, the Spirits vehemently ftirred, and Mufcles moved, the Dancing, or fomething like it, muft of ne- ceflity enfue, by which the Cure is performed: For, by vehe- ment Motion the Blood is heated, the Pores are opened, and the Poifon rarified ; which can’t be done by common Sudorificks, becaufe the Medicines can’t reach, or at leaft can’t ftir thofe little Particles where the Poifon lies, as Motion by Dancing does. ISuaxu add here fome Reflections on the Power of Mujick, and give Inftances of it in the human Mind, in animal, and inant- mate Bodies. MUSICK appears to be one of the moft antient of Arts, and of all other, vocal Mufick muft have been the firft kind, and bor- rowed from the various natural Strains of Birds * ; as ftringed In- ftruments were from Winds whiftling in hollow Reeds, and pul- fatile Inftruments (as Drums and Cymbals) from the hollow Noife of concave Bodies. This is the Conjecture. . Musticx has ever been in the higheft Efteem in all Ages, and among all People. Nor could Authors exprefs their Opinions of it ftrongly enough, but by inculcating, that it was in Heaven, and was one of the principal Entertainments of the Blefled. Tue Effects afcribed to Mufick by the Antients, almoft a- mount to Miracles; by means thereof Difeafes are faid to have. been cured, Unchaftity corrected, Seditions quelled, Paffions raif-. ed and calmed, and even Madnefs occafioned. Mustrecx has been ufed as a Sermon of Morality ....¢he- neus tells us, that the Livesand Actions of illuftrious Men were. Written in Verfe, and publickly fung by a Chorus, to the Sound” of Inftruments, which was found to be the moft effectual means to imprefs Morality, and a right Senfe of Duty on the human Mind +. Tuus the Pythagoreans made ufe of Mufick to cultivate the Mind, and fettle in it a paffionate Love of Virtue. Pythagoras inftituted a moft profitable Corre€tion of Manners by Mufick; which, he fays, conduces very much to Health; and he made ufe of it, not. only againft. Difeafes of the Mind, but thofe of the Body. * At liquidas avium voces imitarier ore, Ante fuit mulro qyam carmiina cantu Concetebrare homines poffent aureifque juvare. Lucretizs. + Chambers’s Cyclopedia, yol. ii, OF SERPENTS. 157 Body. It was the common Cuftom of the Pythagoreans to foften their Minds with Mufick before they went to fleep ; and alfo in the Morning, to excite themfelves to the Bufinefs of the Day *. Tuts Cure of Diftempers by Mufick founds odd, but was a celebrated Medicine among the Antients. We have already con- fidered, how thofe wounded by the Tarantula were healed by. Mufick ; the Evidence of which is too ftrong to be overturned : That which now lies before me, is, to prove this to be the Prac-- tice of Antiquity, which will appear by the following Inftances. ISuHaut begin with Democritus (a Philofopher of the firft Rank, and a moft diligent Inquirer into the Myfteries of Nature) who taught in his Works, that Mu/ick of . Pipes was a Medicine’ for moft Diftempers..... Thales of Crete, being fent for by the Lacedemonians to remove the Plague, came, and by the Help of Mufick he did fo; and he is faid to do it by the Command of Apollo, as appears from the Great Cheronean Moral? +. If any Credit be given to Terpander, it appears he fuppreft an Infurre@tion in their Town by the Ufe of Mufick. Ldzd. WE read of a young Manamong others of Tautomenium, whofe Paffions being inflamed by Mufick in the Phrygian Mood, was going to force open a Matron’s Houfe, but his Rage was foon calmed, when the Piper (by Pythagoras’s Advice) changed his Air into the Spondaic Mood; and he went home quietly, which the Philofopher could not make him do by Perfuafives. This hiftorical Paffage is confirmed by Ammonzus, and Cicero,.and is thus related, vz. WueEn as fome young Men, being drunk, and irritated by’ the Mujfick of Flutes, would have broke into an honeft Woman's: Houfe, but upon hearing one playing a Spondaic Air, their out- ragious Heat was allay’d by the Slownefs of the Mood, and So- lemnefs of the Tune..... : St. Bafil gives another Inftance to the fame purpofe, v/z. That Pythagoras meeting. with fome that came with Mufick from a Feaft, drunk, requefted the Mufician to change his Tune; which he did, and playing a Doric ir, they were fo brought to them-- felves, that they threw away their Garlands, and walked home, afhamed of their Folly. THE O-- * Plutarch de Ofir. & If. + Plutarch’s Morals on Mufick. 5 158 A NATURAL HISTORY THEOPHRASTUS is faid to cure Perfons that had been wounded by Serpents, with various kinds of Mufick.—Probatum eft*. Another Obfervation of his was, that Difeafes were made and mitigated by Mufick. Plato forbids Mufick and Wine to young Perfons, left one Fire fhould kindle another +. Tue Pythagoreans, to appeafe the Troubles of the Mind, lulled themfelves afleep by Tunes upon the Harp: Thus Homer brings in Achilles relieving his Melancholy by playing on his Lute, and mitigating his Anger againft Agamemnon by Mufick, which he had learned of Chiron. BA eRe Gr Containing Six DissERTATIONS.. }. Upon the Primeval Serpent. \\ V. Reafons of that monftrous I]. Fiery Serpent. Worfhip ; Ill. The Brazen Serpent. VI. And for the Adoration of IV. Adoration of Serpents. different Animals. ©) Et AY Ps uk ConTENTs. Various Sentiments about the Primeval Serpent : Some fay, "twas a real Serpent ; others fay, the Paffage 1s alle= gorical. Some make the Serpent to be Pleafure ; others the Devil in the Natural Serpent. Reafons why Adam was not made be- yond a Capacity of Sinning. Our firft Parents arm’d with fuf- ficient Power to fiand: They knew no Enemy. Satan a compleat Orator. The Fatal Surrender. Satan's triumphant Return from Eden. Ser pent’s Head and Subtility. Intercourfe between the Angelick and Human World. A Plea for our firft Mother. Why Mofes 168 A NATURAL HISTORY Mofes zntroduces a fpeaking Serpent. Method of Divine Govern- ment. Satan's View. Reafons why Adam was created in a State of Trial. A ftrong Negative, fufficient to put the Tempter te fight. The Paradifaical Law guarded by the moft powerful Sanction. The Opinion of Pagans and Mahometans about the Fall of Adam, &c. Why Satan punifh’d under a vifible Figure, viz. Serpent. Chrift’s Death publifh’'d, before Sentence of Death paft upon Adam. The Earth, a fecondary Paradife. Moral Reflection. HE Manner of Sin’s firft Entrance into our World, is in- {crutable : The Subject is an Article of Lamentation, an Article that conduéts us to Paradife indeed, but ’tis to Paradi/é oft; whence date the fatal Aira of all human Calamities. There, there in a blifsful Field; Sin, the Plague of Hell, made its firft Appearance on Earth: but as to the Mode of its Introdudtion, there is a Spread of impenetrable Darknefs over the Face of that great Deep; after the moft critical Difquifitions about it, the Dif= ficulty remains unfolvable. Men of Letters may give their Conjectures, but it feems to be one of thofe fecret ‘Things which belongs to him who is unfearch- able, and whofe ways-are paft finding out ; therefore we fhould ra- ther think, how to get Sin out of the World, than bow it came in at jirft: The one would only prove what our Underftandings could do, but the other would declare our Hearts, what they ought to be. Wau AT this Serpent was, that triumph’d in Paradife, has been a Subject of long Debate, and the Learned are not yet agreed in their Verdiét.about it. I fhall firft lay down their various Opi- nions, and then give my own Conjectures. Amone the ‘ews, fome took it for a real, natural Serpent, and did believe, it was endued with the Gift of Speaking ; but be- caufe it deceived the Woman, was condemn’d to lofe its vocal Tongue, to go upon zts Belly, and feed upon Duft *. OTHERS, who, not allowing the Privilege of Speech to a Brute, have turn’d the Mo/aic Hiffory of Paradite into an Allegory, an Afflemblage of Metaphors, or figurative Documents. ‘Thus a certain learned “few fays, the Serpent, that feduced the Woman, was Pleafure; and forbidden Pleafure, when tafted, brought forth Death +. But * Fofeph. Anti. cap. i. + Philo Fud. de Mundi Opif. 4. OF SERPENTS. Bu T if this was the Cafe, could the be fo properly faid to be ‘tempted by another, as to tempt herfelf? He adds, the Curfe of ‘the Serpent is not only to go upon its Breaft, but, and thou halt go upon thy Belly. q.d. ‘* Since Pleafure was thy Defire, let the “« Pleafure of the Earth enter into ir. The Belly, fays the /lego- “ rizer, is the Receptacle of moft Pleafures of the Animal Kind.” Creatures that go upon four Feet, or more, are deem’d impure ; and fuch is he, who is a Lover of terrene Pleafures; fuch a Per- fon may be faid, always to go upon his Belly, becaufe he ftudies nothing more than its Gratification. Pleafure indeed, is attended with a Train of Allurements and Charms. Yarguin’s violent Pur- fuit of forbidden Pleafure, terminated, not only in the Ruin of his Houfe, but Extirpation of Monarchy : Cra/us King of Lydia being conquer’d by Cyrus King of Perfia, gave the Conqueror this Advice, If you would have the Lydanus be your obedient Slaves, make them S/aves to Pleajfire. Nor is Philo alone in making the Serpent a Symbol of Plea- fure, for Maimonides and others expound thofe hiftorical Paffages in the fame manner; afking, Why fhould that Serpent be call’d a fubtle Beaft, if it were not in a figurative Senfe? In favour of this Expofition, he quotes feveral Paffages out of the Prophets, that are allow’d to be intirely allegorical * ; and then adds, that in Mofes’s fournal of the Creation, all things therein are not to be underftood literally --. One of the moft learned Fathers feems inclined to this Philonick Interpretation of Mojes t. It is obferva- ble, that in reality, “twas not the Plea/ure of Eating which tempted the Woman, but an anxious Dejfire of greater Wifdom ; which fhews a more refined Tafte in Eve, and overthrows. the Hypothefis of Phz/o and Clemens. Some Rabbinical Writers fay, the Devil that deluded the Wo- man, came mounted upon a Serpent, in Bulk equal to a Camel, and known by the Name Sammael, an Evil Angel ; called alfo by them, the Angel of the Dead, Prince of the aerial Region, and Chief of the Demons. Other Rabbies look upon him as the 169 Prince of Angels; and believe, he is to prefide at the laft Judg- - ment ; for which Reafon, they make him Offerings on the Day Z of * More Nevochim, cap. xxix. + Ibid. p. 265, & 272. t Clem. Alexandrinus, who flourifh’d in the fecond Age, Obs aarayyorsrrai—ndovy- Edit. col. p. 65. A,B. 4. D. 1688. 5 170 A UNA TURAL IES T ORY of folemn Expiation, to appeafe his Indignation*. Tis faid, this Serpent eat the forbidden Fruit and did not die for it; the Woman inferred fhe might alfo eat, and not die. OTueERs there are, who will not allow the feducing Serpent to be an Animal, but the Devil himfelf in that Shape, who there- fore in the facred Writings is called the great Dragon, old Ser- pent, and Murderer from the Beginning. And fome are of Opi- nion, he borrowed the Body of a real Serpent, which he made ufe of, asa Vehicle, thro’ which he inftilled Poifon into the Wo- man’s Mind: And if fo, what occafion to fay the Serpent was more fubtle than any Beaft ?——Since the grand Enemy in tempting Eve, did not ufe the Craft of the Serpent, but his own Cunning, in the Management of that cruel Stratagem. T 40s £. who are not pleafed with fuch Ratiocinations, fatisfy themfelves with this, vz. That our firft Parents, in whofe Loins we were, tranfgreft, and made a Forfeiture of Paradife for them- felves and Defcendants; but the manner how they fell is not ob- vious, nor to be accounted for, ina State of Imperfection. IF it be afk’d, Why did not the divine Goodnefs put our firft Parents beyond a Capacity of finning? ’tis anfwer’d, Tuat Mutability 7s effential to all Creatures, as fach, in all their Kinds: In this mutable State our firft Parents were created, holy and happy: Life and Death were fet before them ; they had freedom of Choice, a free-will to ufe the Powers of Nature as they pleafed that is, they were made in a State of Liberty, with a Power to determine for themfelves, whether to abide or not in that glorious Situation. So that if there be a Difficulty in account- ing for the Fall, there is as great a one in fuppofing a reafonable moral Creature uncapable of Choice: for where there is no Choice, there can be no Virtue ; and where there is no Virtue, there can be no Happinefs. AGAIN, Adam-and Eve were arm d with a fuficient Power to land, being created after the divine Image pure and upright, without Error in their intelle€tual Powers; therefore if they mif- took the Object, or were impofed upon, ’twas not for want of Light in the Mind, but want of Application of that Light, which was in their power.... Which Light told them, the Tree of Life planted in Paradife, was to perpetuate their Lives; and that the Tree * Calmet inVerbum. Rab. Benach iz Genef. iii. : OF SERPENTS. Tree that had the Marks of Death upon it, would do them no harm, but by doing their own Will, or the Will of any other in ~oppofition to his fovereign Will who had faid, Eat not. Tuey were created pure, and capable of Perfeverance ; and when they fell, God did not withdraw any Gift he had conferred upon them: He did all that was neceflary on his Part for their Pre- fervation, and they had remain’d fafe, if their Liberty had but conduéted itfelf aright : Their Liberty was not tied to any parti- cular Object, as their Faculties were, but refpected every thing that could be done, or left undone, and it might have imploy’d them after another manner. Ir’s faid, Out of the Ground made the Lord God to grow every Tree that is pleafant to the Sight, and good for Food; and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, of which thou fhalt not eat. Gen. u. 9, 17. Now, where lay the Difficulty of xot eating, when they were in no want of Food? And if in want, were not all the Fruits of Paradife prepared for them? Why would none ferve but what was prohibited? And nothing prohibited but what was deadly Poifon, and what Adam knew to be fo, by immediate Revelation from Heaven. Tus furnifh’d with divine Armour, and all the agreeable En- tertainments of Life, ‘tis moft furprizing how they fhould indulge an irregular Turn in the animal Paflions, and give way to fuch Inadvertency. One thing that might lead them to this Overfight, probably was, that they knew of no Enemy, therefore dreaded zo Danger. But this Plea is of no force; for their Bufinefs was ftrictly to regard the Voice of their Creator (who faid, Eat not) and not to give heed to any contrary Infinuations, tho’ propofed by a known Friend, much lefs by a Stranger, one of another Kingdom, and of another Species, without fufficient Atteftation. Here Lucifer play’d the Orator: He gave his Argument all the Rhetorick it would bear, by removing their fear of Death, and gratifying in-them a certain Hope of bezng Gods. The Wo- man had the Threatning of Death in her Thoughts, and there- fore dur{t not eat till fhe was made to believe, /he fhould not die ; (by which it appears, the had dreadful Ideas of dying.) And thus fhe was tempted to Unbelief: Then Satan propofes the glo- rious Advantages of Hating, viz. Ye fhall be as Gods .... be inde- pendent Beings, not fubject to the Controul of a fupsrior Power ; Lin 2 and 171 A NATURAL HISTORY and thus they were tempted to Pride. Unbelief and Pride were the two fatal Rocks, on which their Innocence was wreck’d. Thus our firft Parents fell, not for want of Light, but for extin=- guifhing it; not for want of Power, but for not ufing it in the Hour of Danger. Tue Enemy having made his Conqueft, might probably con- tinue for fome time in Eden, to affift the Woman in feducing her Hufband, and then confirm them in their Apoftacy, directing them, upon the Approach of an Enemy, to hide themfelves a- mong the Trees of the Garden, where he left them; upon which he return’d to his Kingdom in the Air, to publith his fuccefsful Atchievements in Paradife, and was no more heard of, till he was fummon’d to the Bar. Tu £ Devil’s principal Refidence is in the Air, where he keeps his Court, from whence he fends out his Angels to fecure and en- large his Conquefts. Perhaps, he may think it not confiftent with the Dignity of fo great a Prince to traverfe the Earth in Perfon, unlefs it be upon fome extraordinary Occafions, as that of tempting the firft and fecond Adam, &c. T HE next Thing that offers itfelf, is an Attempt to illuftrate the Cafe between the Woman and Serpent: It feems moft appa- rent to me, that under the Name of the Serpent, we are to un= derftand the Devil, who made ufe of a real Serpent in his Defcent upon Paradife, where he decoy’d the firft Woman into the fatal Snare. In the Curfe upon the Serpent, ’tis faid, the Seed of the Wo- man fhould break the Serpent’s Head ; intimating, the Serpent hav- ing its Heart under the Throat, and very near the Head, the rea- dieft way to kill it, is to fqueeze the Head. Some of the Fathers bring four Proofs of the Serpent’s Wifdom ; trite and common. 1. WHEN ’tis old, it has the Secret of growing young again, by ftripping off its old Skin, which is fucceeded by a new Coat; but if it parts with its outward Garments, it retains its Poifon. Herein it is refembled by thofe, who leave the outward Acts of Sin, but not their fecret Regards for it. 2. Tue Serpent aflaults a Man if he fees him naked, but flies if it finds him cloathed. But there is a Fault in this Paffage of Epiphanius, who intends to fay the contrary; for “tis generally afirm’d, OF SERPENTS. affirm’d, that the Serpent is afraid of a naked Man, but attacks him if he has Clothes on. 3. WHEN the Serpent is affaulted, its chief Care is to fecure its Head: ’Tis attefted by many Writers, that to fave the Head,. it will expofe the whole Body to Danger *. 4. WHEN it goes todrink, it vomits up all its Poifon, for fear of poifoning itfelf. Some have defended this, but without any Colour of Reafon +. Tuey relate other Inftances of the Serpent’s Wifdom, as ftop- ping its Ears, that it may not hear the Voice of the Charmer or Inchanter ; of which the P/a/mif takes notice. ’Tis faid, it ap- plies one of its Ears hard to the Ground, and ftops up the other with the end of its Tail, P/a/. lviii. 4. Others fay, its Wifdom confifts in Acutenefs of Sight ; therefore among the Greeks, a Ser- pent’s Eye was a proverbial Speech for one of a quick Underftand- ingf. Thefe are fome of the common Reafons affigned for the Wifdom of the Serpent.. I Now proceed to an Illuftration: of the Debate between the Woman and Serpent in Paradife, under three Heads. I. WHY may not we fuppofe, that in the Infancy of Mankind there was an open Intercourfe between the angelick and human World, and that Angels might appear to our firft Parents in fome vifible Form, as afterwards they did to the Patriarchs? If this be not granted, I would afk how a fallen Angel came to know there was a Paradife, and a certain Tree whofe Fruit was forbidden, and where that Tree was fituated in the Garden ? WHEN a certain Province of Angels rebelled, they were doom’d to the wide Space contiguous to our Globe, and by their daily Rovings from Place to Place, they might indeed difcover that little Spot of Earth, called Paradife ; but how came they to be acquainted with the Laws of that Country, and that there was a forbidden Tree, and where it grew? How, I fay, could they know all this without Revelation, or previous Converfation with the Inhabitants of the Place? i * O dgus Quaarle: xeDaryv. IGodor. Pelufiot.. lib.i. p..126. + Calmet’s Dittion, of the H. Bible, vo). iii. out of Epiphansus. T Odews Gupac 173 174 A NATURALS AIS T ORY Il. 1F there had been no former Acquaintance between Angels and our firft Parents, how came the Woman to converfe fo freely with a Stranger fhe had never feen before, one of another Country, and of a different Species? ’Tis therefore probable, that when the Devil addreft the Woman, and that in her own Language, he might affume the Form of a good Angel, that Form in which Angels had difcourfed with our firft Parents before the Fall. Aw p perhaps when Angels, the Meffengers of Heaven, con- verfed with ddam and Eve, it might be in the Shape of flying fpeaking Serpents. Without allowing this mutual Intercourfe, and former Familiarity, we can’t well fuppofe that our firft Pa- rents, tho’ not furnifh’d with fo much Knowledge as is ufually afcribed to them, would be conquer’d by a Demon in the Shape of a Serpent, which naturally is a Beaft of the Field, and known to be fo by Adam, who, but alittle before, had enrolled it among his Subjects, and given it a fignificant Name. CAN we imagine our firft Parents fo ftupid, as to hold a Con- verfation with a Beaft, without Surprize, Jealoufy, and Sufpicion? Adam, who knew the Properties of inferior Animals, (to whom he had given proper Names a little before) could not but know, that the Serpent was a Beajf, and had no Organs fitted for the Formation of articulate Sounds, much le{s a Power to fix proper Ideas to them, and fupport an Argument by arguing the Cafe ina rational manner. Could 4dam, who was the Image of Ged upon Earth, hear a Brute fpeak and difpute in the Language of Para- dife, without a Sufpicion of Impofture or fomething ominous? Du rine the Woman’s Parley with theSerpent, 4dzm is fup- pofed to be abfent, perhaps thro’ Satan’s Management, and upon her reprefenting to him at their next meeting, the Converfation fhe had with the Serpent, he muft conclude that Serpent to be a grand Cheat, or a good Angel, that {poke to his Wife: and that he took it in the latter Senfe, is plain from the Event; that is, his taking the forbidden Fruit, and eating thereof upon the Serpent’s Recommendation of it to his Wife, who found no ill Effect from her Compliance. Now, the Tempter having affur'd the Woman that her eating that Fruit would not bring Death, and 4dam find- ing it to be true in Faét, that is, that fhe did eat and live after it, concluded he might eat with equal Safety. 8 Upon OF SERPENTS. Upon this Suppofition, we may charitably infer, that fince our firft Mother might converfe with Angels in that ferpentine, or fome other bright Form, fhe now converfes with the Serpent without Scruple or Dread of Impofture. And as fhe apprehended the Serpent to be a good and kind Spirit, fo Adam did, upon her Reprefentation of the Matter, and took the forbidden Fruit, and eat it: And perhaps the Serpent was prefent, giving Atteftation to the Report made by the Woman to her Hufband. Tuts being granted, ’tis conceivable how the Woman might freely converfe with a Creature that aflum’d an Image {fo glorious, efpecially if we confider fhe was in her infantile State, and with- out any experimental Knowledge, or any Apprehenfion of Dan- ger, from an Enemy, of which fhe had no Idea; being no Sin- ner, fhe was without Fear. In the Sentence paft upon Adam, there is one Claufe that feems to corroborate this Hypothefis; for, upon the Exprlfion of our firft Parents...the Gates of Eden were guarded by a Cherub (to prevent their re-entrance) which, by the ews, was efteem’d a Jfecond Angel, and may be aptly imagin’d to be a Seraph, or an Angel in the Form of a flying Serpent, whofe Body vibrated in the Air, with a peculiar Refplendency, and may be fitly defcrib’d by the Image of fuch a Sword. Tis faid,) God drove out the Man, and placed at the Eaft-end of the Garden of Eden, Cherubims and a flaming Sword, which turned every way, “to keep the Way of the Tree of Life, Gen. iii. w/t. God made Angels Guardians of Pa- radife, and a fparkling Fire, like a flaming Sword ; fays the Ara- bick Verfion. BuT why may not this Text bear an Interpretation pregnant with good Tidings, as an Explication of the Promife made to the Woman, that is, an Inftru€tion to our firft Parents how to wor- fhip God after the Fall, namely by Sacrifice, which was to be of- fer’d by them before the Cherudbims (ereted over the Gates of Paradife) as Sacrifices afterwards were before the Cherubims in the Tabernacle and Temple, or, as the Hebrew, before’ the Faces of TF ebovah 2 Tue flaming Sword and the Cherubims, might be Emblems or Figures of fome things to be obferved in the Form of Worfhip de- fign’d for that new Difpenfation. The fiery Sword beinga killing Weapon, might reprefent irritated Juftice; and Cherudims being A. the T7/5 A NATURAL HISTORY the Inhabitation of the Deity in the Tabernacle and Temple, might be an Emblem of Mercy, to which the Sacrifices were of- fer'd : and may not Cherubims be fo conftrued here? N. B. May we not date the firft Inftitution of Sacrifice here, which foon ap- pear'd in the Hiftory of Caz and Abel? Gop might addrefs our firft Parents after this manner; View thefe wonderful Sights over the Gate, behold in them the Scheme of Salvation! The Text thus interpreted, gives the Tempter a frefh Mortification, to fee his bloody Defign defeated, and our firft Parents reftored to Favour at the Gate of Eden, in which he had triumph’d over them ; and that which encreafed his Vexation was, to fee this done by Chrif, the promifed Seed, one of the hu= man Race. - In the Tabernacle and Temple there were no Reprefentations of God, but only emblematical Figures erected over the Mercy- Seat, called the Cherubims; in, or between them, the De7ty is faid to dwell ; and the Law obliged the ews to bring the Blood of the Sacrifice before the Face of God in the Cherubims, that is, within the Vail, on the Day of Expiation: and here God might direct our firft Parents to bring their Sacrifices to him, who was in a f{pecial manner prefent in the Cherubims over the Gate. But fuppofing Adam and Eve had, after their Expulfion, en- ter’d Paradife; I don’t. fee what valuable End it would have an- fwered, for the fpecial ®-omifes made to the firft Inhabitants of Paradife were now null and void. All the Bleffings peculiar to that glorious Situation, were irrecoverably loft. It was not in the power of that once facred Seat to reinftate them in their priftine Happinefs. Oj. Coutp not the Tree of Life reftore their forfeited Com- forts? I prefume not; becaufe the Tree of Life, in the Defign of it, was to perpetuate the happy Life of innocent Man, and not to reftore the Life and Comforts of Criminals under a Sentence of Death ; a Sentence irrepealable, which even the Death of our Bleffed Redeemer does not exempt us from. Upon the whole, I can fcarcely think that thefe ftrange and awful Sights or Figures, over the Eaft Gate of Eden, were only to frighten our firft Parents, whofe diftreffed State ftood in need of Divine Supports. To be caft out of Paradife was a Mortifica- tion that needed not a fuper-added Terror; therefore to make thofe OF SERPENTS. thofe Figures Spectacles of Horror, feems not fo well fuited to Perfons under Circumftances fo inexpreflibly dolorous, tho’ re- {tored to Favour ; but might rather be defign’d to conduct them to God-by Chrz/?, the Tree of Life. Ill. £T's very probable a Converfation had paft between the Wo- man and Serpent before the Narrative publifh'd by Mofes. She might upon the firft Approach of the Serpent afk, How a Beaft acquired the Gift of Speaking, which is the Prerogative of Ra- tionals? The Serpent might anfwer, That it was by Eating the Fruit of that Tree. ve might urge, That God had forbid her to eat that Fruit upon pain of Death. The Serpent might make this Return, viz. What you fay is true; ’tis allow’d to be the Law under the firft Form of Government, but Iam now come from the fupreme Court, to give you Affurance of God’s kind Intentions to advance you to a higher and more noble Station : The Prohibition of this Fruit was only a probationary Reftraint, and temporary. a, Now the End of the firft Inftitution being anfwered, ’tis the Will of our Great Sovereign to take off thofe Reftraints, and make you a free People. Upon the Formation of your Being, he brighten’d your Mind with Rays of great Wifdom; but now the happy Moment is come, in which he purpofes to infpire you with higher Degrees of Wifdom. ... By eating this Fruit, your intelle€tual Powers will be infinitely enlarged; for, ye fhall be as Gods, and then all the Endowments and Accomplifhments of Na- ture will arrive at their full Perfe@tion, which as yet are only in their Embryo. This being only a Suppofition, I difmifs it. Tue Serpent having afcrib’d its Reafon, and Speech to the eating of that Fruit, the Woman might infer, If this Fruit did turn a Serpent into a rational Creature, why may it not tran{- form a rational Creature intoa God, and a Woman into a Godde/s ? The Serpent had no occafion to fay more ; fir’d with the Profpect of fuch Preferment, fhe ‘ook the Fruit and did eat. Gen. iu. 6. And when the Woman faw that the Tree was good for Food, pleafant to the Eye, and a Tree to be defired to make one wife, fhe did eat. N. B. How divine and delightful a Thing is Knowledge, of which Innocency itfelf is ambitious! Eve thirfted after the highett Degrees of Knowledge, and made no doubt of obtaining it by Aa the atid 178 A NATURAL HISTORY the Serpent’s Inftructions; not knowing of any Impoftor, fhe be- lieved what the Tempter faid. Satan, by the Serpent, as a Bait propofed Improvement in Knowledge. Taxus the firft Woman, Head of the human Race, feli a Sa- crifice to her own Ambition, fell a Virgin, and in her Infant- State. Icarus, by flying too near the Sun, his waxen Wings melted, and he fell into the Sea, and was drowned. Juftly was he punifh’d, for not obferving his Father's Will. May Ladd, in favour of our Mother, that the Law forbidding that Fruit, was not immediately publifh’d to Eve, but receiv’d at fecond-hand from Adam; and that it can’t be well fuppofed, that fhe knew the various Capacities and Qualities of Brutes, as her Hufband ~ did. But, why does Mo/fes introduce a Serpent fpeaking, when naturally it was a f{peechlefs Creature? In anfwer to this, may we not obferve, that the Almighty, who has no material Tongue, yet is often introduced, {peaking with human Voice in the Scripture. The Egyptzans made the Cro- codilea Symbol of the Deity, giving this as a Reafon why they worfhipped God fymbolically in that Creature, becaufe it refem- bled God, in that it was the only Animal without a Tongue; for the Divine Ayes ftands in no need of Speech; he governs hu- man Affairs without Words, and without Noife. AGAtN, this Dialogue with the Serpent, a known Beaft, is very agreeable to a Cuftom among the Oriental Writers, who en- chafe their Hiftories with Ornaments taken from familiar Dif- courfes between Beafts ; by which they conyey moral Inftructions to their Readers: Thus; on a Subjeét of Craft, they made the Fox to fpeak. W1iTH what View did the Devil tempt our firft Parents to fin? J anfwer, ’twas out of defpite to God ; z.e. with a defign to rob the Creator of the Glory he propofed to himfelf from the Erection of this new World: He could not attack the Almighty on his Throne, therefore he {trikes at the Foot{tool. Since he could not reach the Perfon of the Almighty, he wreaks his Ma- lice upon his Imege, Man; Man, whofe Happinefs, and that of his Defcendants, he envy’d; and whom, in particular he hated, as his intended Succeflors to the vacant Seats in the blifsful Re- gions above. In OF SERPENTS. Tn his Plot againft Adam, the Deceiver was deceived; for he made no doubt but the Sentence of Death would be immediately executed upon Adam and Eve, and upon the Extinétion of the human Species, God would lofe all his Honour upon Earth. Why did not he appear to our firft Parents in a human Form? pro- bably becaufe he might apprehend, that there was no other Man or Woman, but themfelves, Havinc confidered Adam in his probationary Capacity, I fhall in the next place obferve thefe three Things, by way of Iluftration, I, IT was moft congruous that Man’s firft State fhould be a State of Trial. \\. That bis Trial fhould be by the Laws of his Creator. Ill. That thofe Laws fhould be inforced by a proper Sanétion. I. IT was congruous and fit, our firft Parents fhould begin their Life in a way of Trial, as they were moral Agents: In which Si- tuation I apprehend all the Angels to be at firft, to fee how they would behave towards the Great Author of their Being and Blef- fednefs, before they were eftablifh’d. No Creature, as fuch, is cipable of Immutability, any more than of Omnipotence. To be naturally, and necefiarily immutable, is the fole Prerogative of the Almighty: The perpetual Duration of created Beings, is not from their Nature, but from the Divine Will. Our firft Parents were under a {trong Guard, and not to be difarm’d without their own Confent; tho’ the Devil, as he was a Spirit, excelled in Power, yet he could not by Force fubdue the weaker Vefiel, therefore conducted the bloody Defign by Strata- gems. When the Woman was follicited by the Tempter, one firong Negative would have put him to fizght. A refolute Denial, without any other Means, would have made her victorious, tho’ affaulted by all the Legions of Hell; therefore, no room to com- plain of Deficiency in Divine Goodnedfs. ayy ’T1s beyond all doubt, that the Revelation given to Adam (as © that to Chriftian Churches in After-ages) made it a fundamental part of his Duty, not to attend to any Infinuations contrary to thofe delivered to him by his Creator, tho’ recommended even by an Angel from Heaven: Temptaiions to forbidden Fruit, how- Aa 2 pV ever 180 A NATURAL HISTORY ever pleafant, fhould not be parley’d with, but peremptorily re- jected. IJ. IT was equally proper, that a Creature should be govern'd by the Laws of his Creator ; as it implies a Contradiction for a Creature to be independent, which it muft fuppofe itfelf to be,. when govern’d by its own Laws. The Will of the Creator was furely the fitteft, for the Obedience of Creatures; one part of which was, that they muft not have an Indulgence of all the Trees in Eden. It follows hence, that Self-denial was a Duty in Paradife. Adam was not an abfolute Sovereign to do what he pleafed, but what his Almighty Creator and Patron prefcribed ; tho’ endowed with Reafon, yet was he to govern himfelf by the Will of ano- ther, that is, of him who was the Donor. His Reafon was a bright, but borrowed Light, borrowed from the uncreated Sun, therefore ought to move by its Direction. Tuus we fee that Reftraints on the human Nature, were ne- ceffary even in Man’s Paradifaical State: To deny Self, was one of the Precepts of Religion in the Garden of Innocence; nor is this ftrange, if we confider, that for any rational Creature to live according to his own Will, isto makea Ged of his W7/), Wy did God forbid the Fruit of one Tree? This might be to fignify Adam’s Dependance upon his Maker, and that he had no Claim to any thing without his Leave: The fovereign Lord of the Creation made over to Adam large Dominions, and the Man- nour of Paradife for the Seat of his Empire, referving nothing to himfelf but a fmall Rent of Acknowledgment, which was only the Fruit of one Tree. The Exemption of this Tree from hu- man Ule, notify’d Man’s Subjection, and Gcd’s fupreme Domi- nion. By this Refervation he tried their Obedience, whether they would be content with all the Earth, and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, one Tree only excepted. NN. B. This forbid= den Free might have fornething of a natural Tendency to corrupt the animal Juices, and introduce Difeafes and Death into the hu- man Nature. Ifthe Tree of Life could immortalize our Exiftence in Happinefs, is it not equally rational to fuppofe the Tree of Knowledge .... would deftroy it? ) Nf. OF, SERPENTS. Ill. THE Laws of Paradife were inforced by a very awful Sanétion, viz. Life and Death: The one expreffing fomething moft terrible, the other implying fomewhat vaftly delightful. Threatnings were neceflary Cautions in Paiadife : How furprizing this! The firft day of Man’s Life, Man was put in mind of Death, of which the Tree of Life wasa Memento. If you eat the Fruit of it, you forfeit your Life, die you muf? without Re- medy. This Menace of Death, in the Defign of it, was to guard againft Sin, as that which only could be the Caufe of Death. IN the day thou eateft thereof, dying thou fhalt die; or, die the Death. Behold here! as ina Cloud, the farft Alarm of Mor- tality, the firft Inftitution of Funerals, and the melancholy Office of Grave-diggers. Bells from the Pinnacle of the Temple, pro- claim it aloud to Man, Du/t thou art, and unto Duft thou fhalt return. In this paradifaical Scheme of Government, we find Death to be a near Neighbour to Life: Both the Trees grew near to one another. Some have made this Tree of Life a Reprefentation of Chrift, and if fo, here, asin a Glafs, darkly Man {aw his Saviour before he ftood in need of him: The Tree of Life planted in the midft ef Paradife, was to preferve ddam’s Life, and without doubt had done fo, if he had not rebelled. According toa Learned Few, the Tree of Life reprefents Piety; and that of Knowledge, Pru- dence *. Some of his Countrymen tell us ridiculous Stories about the Tree of Life, wzz. That it was of prodigious Size, and all the Water of the Earth gufh’d out at its Foot, &e. Ir is from the Hiftery of Paradife that pagan Poets took their Neéar and Ambrofia, which were faid to be the Meat and Drink of the Gods; upon which fome put this Conftruction, vz. Near fignifies young ; Ambrofia, Immortality ; intimating, that in a State of Innocency, the Vigor of Youth would have been immortal. Tue Heathen were not without fome Idea of the Mofaic Creation, and Fall of Man, and of a Woman that brought Sor- row into the World; envying, that a Fire, which ts the Light of Knowledge, was hid from them....and alfo of Old-Age, brought in by the Counfel of a Serpent. PARa- * Philo Fudaus. 181 182 A NATURAL HISTORY ParanpiseE, in Plato's Sympofium, is “fupiter’s Garden, and alfo is the Pattern of Alcinouss Orchards, and the He/fperides : The Golden-Apples kept by a Dragon, were the forbidden Fruit in Paradife: The Fable of Hercules’s killing the Serpent of the Iefperides, 1s borrowed from the Szed of the Woman, breaking the Serpent’s Head. Wuart is Ovid's In nova fert animus? but an imperfect Tranfeript of Mo/ess Journal of the Creation, Gc, Tis faid by Mo/fes, Ihe Spirit of God moved on the Face of the Waters; hence Thales, makes Water to be the firft Principle of all natural Bodies: His Reafons are deliver’d by Plutarch. Homer fays, All things are made of the Ocean. The Chaos, whereof all things were made, according to Hefiod, was Water. Orpheus fays, all things were generated of the Ocean*. Plato's Atlanticus, what is it but a Fable? built upon Mofes’s Hiftory of Nozb, and the Flood, and the Caufes that brought it upon the World. W uaArT is the Bacchus of the Heathen, but the Noah of Mo- Jes? formerly called Boachus, for Noachus, as might eafily be, miftaking the Hebrew Letters B and N, which are not very much unlike, By Yanus and Saturn, Noah is meant ; and fome take Fupiter to be faphet, for tho’ “fevis, and the other oblique Cafes are derived from ‘fehovah, yet “fupiter is another. The Fable of Heaven being ftormed by the Gants, arofe from what the Builders of the Tower of Babel faid, viz. Let us build a City and a Tower, whofe Top may reach unto Heaven..... But no Man imitates the Scriptures more than Homer, who was an inquifitive Traveller into all Countries. But to proceed to the Pagan Ac- count of Paradife, and the Fall of Man: A Certain Author relates a Difcourfe between Midas the Phrygian, and Szlenus who was the Son of a Nymph, inferior by Nature to the Gods, fuperior to Men and Death, thus: SILENUS told Midas, that Europe, Afia, and Africa were Tflands, furrounded by Water: that there was but one Continent only, which was beyond this World, in which, among other Rarities, were two great Rzvers, whofe Banks were cover’d with Trees, one of them was called the Rzver of Pleafure, and the other the River of Grief..... He ® wusavos——yevecis TAVELS TETUKTHEe OR SDERPEN TS. _ He who eat the Fruit of the Trees along the River of Plea- fure, was eafed from all his former Defires, and in a fhort time became younger, and lived over again his former Years, caft off Old-Age, and became firft a Young-Man, then a Child, and laftly an Infant, and fo died. Own the other hand, he who eat the Fruit from the Trees by the River of Grief, {pent all his Days in Tears and Troubles, and after many Years of Vexation, dies. How romantick foever this Relation may be, it feems to al- lude to the Trees and Rivers of Paradife, and to give {ome Hints about the Introduction of Death. Tue Indians account for the Fall of Man after this manner : ——Brama, one of their fubaltern Deities, form’d Man out of the Slime of the Earth that was then juft created, and placed him in a certain Situation, which they call Chorcham, which was a Garden of Delights, abounding with all manner of pleafant Fruit, in which was a certain Tree, whofe Fruit would confer Immortality upon any Perfons that were allow’d to eat it. Tue Gods, fay the Indians, tried all forts of Means to obtain the Privilege of this Immortality; and after great Difficulties, did at laft fucceed according to their With, and found out the Way to the Tree of Life, which was in the Chorcham, and by feeding on its Fruit for fome time, they commenced immortal. A Famous Serpent called Cheiew, (probably Guardian of that Tree) perceiving the Secret was difcover’'d by the Gods of the fecond Rank, was fo enraged, that it fcatter’d a Flood of Poifon over the Plain. All the Earth felt the fatal Effects, and no Man efcaped the Infc€tion: But the God Chzven, took pity on the human Nature, appear’d in the Shape of Man, and f{wal- low’d all the mortal Poiion, wherewith the malicious Serpent had infected the Univerfe..... This Fable, as ridiculous as it 1s, muft have fome regard to the terreftrial Paradife, and can have no other Original but the Do€trine of Mofes *. Nor were the more weftern Pagans more happy in their Con- jectures about the firft Entrance of moral Evil. Prometheus, fay they, having form’d Men out of the Earth and Water, ani- mated * Asliani Sopbifte varia Hiftoria, cum Notit, Curante Gronovic. A.D. 173%. Theopompus is quoted for it, whom my Author calls #udercyas. Et bec fi cui fide dignus videtur, ea narrans Chius, tlle credatur, mibi vero egregius effe fabulator. vol. I. cap. xviii. p. 252. 4 183 184 A NATURAL HISTORY mated them with Fire, which he ftole from Heaven. ‘upiter, the Chief of the Pagan Gods, enraged at this, commands Vu/- can to make a Woman out of Clay, upon whom all the Gods, out of their high Regard * to the Fair Sex, beftow’d fome of their Perfe€tions. Venus gave her Beauty ; Pallas, Wifdom ; Mercury, Eloquence ; Apollo, Mufick ; and ‘funo gave her Riches; therefore called Pandora, who was fent by the Gods in revenge to Prometheus, with a Box full of Evilsas a Prefent from them, but he was too cautious to receive it; upon which fhe was to prefent it to his Brother Epimetheus, (f{uppofed by fome to be her Hufband) which he had no fooner open’d, but immediately there flew out all kinds of Evil, that foon {catter’d themfelves over all the Earth ; and at the bottom of the Box, nothing was left but poor Hope. Hope, of all Ills that Men endure, The only cheap and univerfal Cure. Hope, Thou pleafant, honeft Flatterer ; for none Flatter unhappy Men, but thou alone.... Cowl. Tue Mahometan Account of Man's Fall, is equally abfurd, as appears from Mahomet Rabadan, &c. thus: —God made the Crez- tion... the earthly Mafs became an animate Body . . . and was called Adam; God placed him in heavenly Paradife, and left he fhould believe that he had no Superior, God gave him only one Command, the Obfervation of which was very eafy. He forbid him, upon pain of Death, to eat of the Fruit of a certain Tree. Adam wanted a Mate; therefore God made him fall into a profound Sleep, and took out of his left Side a Rib, of which he formed a very beau- tiful Woman, whom he called Eve, ...and order’d Gadriel to go into Paradife, and to celebrate the Wedding of Adam and Eve, being attended with a great many other Angels. LUCIFER envying the Happinefs of Man, ufed his ut- moft Endeavours to deprive him of it. Going one day by the door of Paradife, he faid to the Angel who keot it, Give me lave to goin, for I bave a Matter of Moment to impart to the Servants of thy Lord. ‘The Angel having denied his Requeft, he defired him to call the Serpent, who was then a very fine Creature. . The * Travels of feveral Mifiowaries izto India) p. 7. OF SERPENTS. The Serpent came, and Lucifer earneftly defired Leave to get into his Body ; the Serpent did fo, and placed Lucifer in the Roof of its Mouth, and carried him into Paradife. When he came near the Forbidden Tree, it endeavoured in vain to make Lucifer come out. Lucifer ftuck faft, and forced the Serpent to get upon that Tree, under which Adam and Eve ufed to fitdown. Eve was then alone, near the Tree: She faw the Serpent, who {poke to the Woman in thefe Words, viz. CHARMING Creature, if you would tafte this Fruit, you would be “ke God him/elf in Wifdom and Knowledge: All the Secrets and all the Myfteries you are now ignorant of, will be manifefted to you. Adam came during the Difcourfe, and having told him what the Serpent had faid, propofed to him to eat of the forbidden Fruit, which after a fhort Paufe he comply’d with. The Tree was a large Vine; Eve took twelve Grains oc a Bunch” of Grapes, gave eight to her Hufband, and kept four to herfelf. AT that very moment, Adam heard a very terrible Voice, Wo to thee! haft thou fo foon forgot the only Commandment thou hadft promifed to obferve? how comes tt that thou haft (by thy Greedine/s) polluted the Purity of wy Habitation? Adam being confounded, excufed himfelf by iaying the Fault upon Eve, who endeavour’d to juftify herfelf by accufing the Serpent. Upon which God ordered the Angels immediately to drive Adam and Eve from Paradife, to ftrip them of their Clothes, and take away the Crowns they had on their Heads *. But it is high time to return. SATAN, who imploy’d the Serpent in his Service, is fuppofed to be punith’d here under the Figure of a Serpent: But why in the Prefence of our firft Parents? Perhaps for fuch Reafons as thefe, vz. 1. To reproach their Inadvertency for fuffering them- felves to be impofed upon by a lying Spirit, who, if but refifted by a meer Negation, would have fied. 2. To let them fee that no Creature, tho’ never fo great, can rebel with Impunity ; from whence they might conclude, what to expect from new Provo- cations. 3. They had no other way to fee a Spirit punith’d, but B b under * Mahometifm fully explained, by Mahomet Rabadan, 2 Moor of Arragon iz Spain, for rhe Inftruction of the Moors in that Kingdom, who were then violently perfecuted there. ‘Tranflated out of Spani/h by Mr, Morgan, with a defign to give us a better Notion of the Mabometans, and to place it in the rich Library of the late Farl of Oxford. Printed 4. D, 1724. 186 A NATURAL HISTORY under fome vifible Form. It could not but give them fome fe- cret Satisfaction to fee their cruel Enemy tremble at the Bar. Ir is obfervable here, that the Promi/e of the Mefiah was made to dam, before the Almighty paft upon him the Sentence of Death. How furprizing this! to find the Death of Chrift pud- lifhed, before the Death of Adam was pronounced. The Death of Chrift, the Innocent ; before the Death of Adam, the Criminal. Tue laft Remark I fhall make here is, that the Earth, tho’ curfed for Man’s Sin, ftill puts on the Face of a Paradife, abound- ing with an innumerable Variety of good Things; yea, and thofe fo delicious and pleafant to Mankind, that many wifh to live in it for ever. Thus they confine their Hopes and Fears to the pre- fent State, and are fo far from believing a Life to come, that they can hardly perfuade themfelves to believe, that they fhall leave this prefent Life. As the Bounties of Providence gives us no room to murmur at our prefent Province or Portion, fo on the other hand, the Toils and Troubles of this State fhould caufe us to afpire after the heavenly Paradife, where no Curfe ever found Accefs, where none of the Thorns of Affliction, or the Briers of Sorrow grow. Od g valg cabh lb Conrents. Of ¢he fiery Serpents that annoy'd the Camp of Hiael: The Reafon of that judicial Stroke, i.e. Murmuring un- der a Difgenfation of Miracles. Why punifl’d by Serpents 2 Why called Fiery? The laf Plague in the Defart. Flying Serpents. SE, ©. Peale T might be faid with great Propriety of the People of I/rael, that they were a Generation of Vipers. Ingratitude, Unbelief, Difcontent and Murmuring, were the dominant Paflions in the Wildernefs ; they were always quarrelling with God and Mo/es : never eafy, no not under a Theocracy, a divine Government. Ne wonder that Rage and Fadtion haunt the Dwellings of good Princes, OF SERPENTS. Princes, when we find perverfe Spirits have murmiur’d at a divine Adminiftration. A MaeniricentT Table was fpread for them in the Wilder- nefs, their daily Entertainments were miraculous; they were fed by Manna, a delicious Food diftilled from Heaven, admirably fuited to every one’s Palate. He commanded the Clouds from above, and opened the Doors of Heaven, and rained down Manna upon them to eat, and gave them the Corn of Heaven*. Wherefore have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the Wilderne/s, for there 1s no Bread, neither is there any Water, and our Soul loatheth this light Bread+: This vain and empty Bread, fay the LXX. Tuey were alfo furnifh’d with wzraculous Drink, i. e. Water out of a Rock; Water that {well’d into a River, and follow’d ’em in all their Motions, till they arrived in the Land flowing with Milk and Honey; Terms, that include a Scene of Plenty and Pleafantnefs. In all their Traverfes through the Wildernefs, they were al- ways under the Guidance and Protection of the Shekina; by which Word the ews underftood the Prefence of the Holy Spirit ; of Chrift, fay the Chriftians. The Shekina was the moft fenfible Mark of the Prefence of God among them, which refted over the Propitiatory, or the golden Cherubims, which adher’d to the Propitiatory or Covering of the Ark; there the She&cna abode in the Shape of a Cloud. The Raddzns tell us, that it firft refided in the Tabernacle, and defcended into it in the Figure of a Cloud, on the Day of Confecration. It paft from thence into the Sanctuary of Solomon's Temple, on the Day of its Dedication by that Prince t ; where it continued to the DeftruGtiion of Feru- _falem by the Chaldeans, and-was not afterwards to be feen there. T Hus were they conducted and entertain’d by an unintermit- ted Train of Miracles. Now to fret and repine in fuch a Situa- tion, was a Crime of a high and heinous Nature, no lefs than impeaching infinite Wifdom, and taxing it with erroneous Con- duc: If Difficulties occurred in the way, their Duty was Re/ig- nation, a Temper obvious in Pagans, whofe Religion forbid all indecorous Sallies of the Paflions. Bb2. §O- * Pfal. \xxviii. 23—25. + Numb. xxi. §; 6.70 aatw TH diantva— t Calmet from Bafnage, Hiftory of the Fews. 188 A NATURAL HISTORY SOCRATES, a Philofopher of Athens, was a Philofopher in Prifon, as well as in the Mufeum: When bound in Fetters, and he had nothing but Death before his Face, he then converfed with his Friends with perfect Equanimity, and without the leaft Reflexion upon Fate, upon God, and his Fudges, notwithftand- ing his bafe Treatment, and the notorious Injuftice of his Sen- tence. The Scripture reprefents ob as a Champion in AffliGion, who by his paffive Fortitude under it, became the proper Hero of an Heroic-Poem. SPE NCmE, BEL W HY were they punifh'd by Serpents 2 PERHAPS it might be to put them in remembrance of the firft Sin, that was introduced into Paradife by the old Serpent: This kind of Punifhment could not but bring to their Mind that gloomy Moment in which the human Nature was morally and mortally wounded by that evi! Spirit, in the Form of a Serpent. This being allow’d, we may infer, that Man’s Memory ftands in need of a Remembrancer, even of Paradife loft. And oh! who can think of that inexpreffible Lofs, without dropping a filent and folemn Tear ? Some Learned Yews themfelves, {peaking upon this Subjeé, fay, the Reafon why they were chaftifed by Serpents, was decau/e they had dane the Attions of the old Serpent, in ufing an ill Tongue againf? God, againfi Mofes, and Manna, the Bread of Heaven. SEAS ae Pade WHY called Fiery Serpents 2 A Narurat and a moral Reafon may be affigned for it. 1. Tue facred Volume feems to account for the zatural Reag- fon, when it fays, God fent fiery Serpents. ‘The Hebrew word is Seraphim, that is Burners, becaufe they appeared in the form of a Flame. The LXX calls them Serpents of Death *, becaufe their Wounds proved mortal. Assoon as the People were wounded, their Blood was in- flamed, and according to fome ‘fewi/> Authors, they were fcorch’d j wth * Odes CavasvTan OF SERPENTS. with infatiable Thirf. Of the Hebrew word Sarapb, the Greeks, by changing the Pofition and Order of Letters, have bor- rowed the Name Preffer, which is a kind of fiery venemous Ser- pent, called alfo Dyp/as and Caujon, whofe Wound is accom, panied with a moft vehement Heat and Thirft, and generally in- curable, as fome have formerly faid. They may be properly called Fiery, as their Colour was glowing, a proper Reprefentative of Fire. In the We/t-Indies are Adders, red as Blood, about feven or eight Foot long, and appear by Night as a durning Coal *. 2. THEY might be called Frery alfo, froma moral Confidera- tion; for, that raging Heat in the Body might reprefent the out- ragious Diforders of the Mind, flowing trom confcious Guilt, neither of which were the Attendants of an original State. Hence, perhaps, it is that Satan’s Temptations are ftyled fiery Darts, be~ cauie when complied with, they kindle a Fire in the Confcience, a Prognoftick, and Tafte of the Unquenchable -f. AND indeed, what are all uneafy Senfations, but the Venom of the old Serpent? thence, that long Train of Complaints and Groans. Remember from whence thou art fallen, is the Language of every Calamity, but no calamitous Impreffion fo terrible, as that which alarms the Mind about the awful Futurity. Of Sin it is faid, that at laft, 7¢ wll bite ke a Serpent, and fting like an Adder +. Wuarv fill’d Adams Mind with Horror and Confternation 2 What made him run with wild Confulion among the Trees to hide himfelf? What was he afraid of ? He, who was Lord of the Earth, and Image of the Almighty? Was not he in Paradife, the Garden of God; whence then this fudden and mighty Pa- nick? What produced this great and aftonifhing Change in one who had a friendly Intercourfe with God a little before? Oh! "twas Guilt, Guilt, Guilt. A Confcioufnefs of his iniquitous Compliance with the Serpent. What were thofe anxious dif- quieting Thoughts that kindled the Fire in his Breaft, but the ve- nemous, fiery Darts of Satan? UDAS isanother Example; a Perfon highly honour’d by Chrift, who made him his Ambaflador Extraordinary to the Houfe of J/rae/, and Treafurer of his Houfe and Privy Counfellor, on * Atl. America, 179. + Eph, vi. 10, Biay-——-mesvpepyve. t Prov. xxifi. 32. 189 190 A NATURAL HISTORY ona fudden falls into Extremity of Anguifh ; and why? Guilt, Guilt . .. ftruck with Horror of Mind for the Effufion of inno- cent Blood ; was arraign’d, and fentenced by his own Confcience, and became his own Executioner: His Guilt was the Wound that bled within, and what Words can defcribe the Agony that made that wretched Man throw himfelf into Hell for Eafe. SE Oere ve Tuis gloomy Occurrefice fell out in the laft Year of their Pilgrimage. ‘The Wildernefs thro’ which they had travelled abounded with thefe venemous Creatures, but were under the Reftraint of a kind Providence, and not fuffer’d to diftrefs the Camp of J/rae/ till now. Deut. vill, 15. Who led thee through the great Wilderne/s, wherein were fiery Serpents and Scorpions. Tuus, fortheir repeated Provocations, they were purfued by divine Vengeance to the very Borders of Canaan. JusT as they were congratulating one another upon the glo- tious Profpect before them, an Army of venemous Serpents in- vade their Camp, and made a terrible Slaughter among them. Little did our firft Parents fufpect a Serpent in Paradife, nor J/- vael fuch a Vifit from fiery Serpents upon the Confines of the holy Land, the weftern Border of Paradife. Tis Plague in the Camp, was the laft Punifhment inflicted upon the Hou/e of I/rael in the Wildernefs, When they came out of Egypt, it appeared they were about fix hundred thoufand Men, befides Women and Children, and a mixt Multitude: Of that mighty Number, none but two, oz. Yo/wa and Caled en- ter'd into the promifed Land; the reft, fer their Unbelief and reiterated Offences, perifh’d by the way *, * Exod. xii. 375 38. C HAP. OF SERPENTS, CUE ARO sD ES RY OWE CONTENTS. The flying and fiery Serpents. Ungrateful Ifrael wounded by them, and healed by the Figure of a Serpent. God hears the Interceffion of Motes, when deaf to the Cries of that rebellious People. Con- gectures why healed by a Machine in the Form of a Serpent. Sin in all its Appearances, the Venom of the old Serpent. The brazen Serpent a Reprefentation of the Meffiah. The Cures wrought by both were by very unlikely Means. The Wonders of Salvation. Why Mrael was healed by a Serpent made of Brafi; Opi- nions about it. The brazen Serpent was no Talifman, or a ma- gical Image. The fatal Cataftrophe of the brazen Serpent. De- firoyed, when abufed to Idolatry. The Serpent fhewed in St. Ambrofe’s Church at Milan, for that of Mofes, a Cheat. Mar- tyrs from the Catacombs of St. Sebaftian, Divine Inftitution ne- ceflary to acceptable Worfhip. May the Deftruction of the brazen Serpent, when abufed to Idolatry, warrant us to guefi at the Fate of a Crofs abufed to Idolatry ! SE‘CRPON MONG Serpents, we find fome that are furnifhed with Wings. Herodotus who faw thofe Serpents, fays they had great Refemblance to thofe which the Greegs and Latins call'd Hydre; their Wings are not compgs’d of Feathers like the Wings of Birds, but rather like to thofe of Batts; they love fweet {mells, and frequent fuch T'rees as bear Spices. Thefe were the fiery Sér- pents that made fo great a Deftrudtion in the Camp of J/rael. Iw their Extremity, the People addreft their Mediator, Pro- phet, and General, Mofes, faying, O pray to the Lord that be take away the Serpents from us! ‘The meek Prophet did fo; the mediatorial Voice reach’d Heaven, and movd the Almighty who directs Mofes to make a Serpent of Brafs, (which was a Figure of the Serpents that plagued the People) and fix it upon the Top of a Pole, confpicuous to all the Aflembly, promsifing that all thofe who were bit by Serpents, and fhould look upon this brazen Image, IQr 192 A NATURAL HISTORY Image, fhould be prefently healed. Aftonifning Clemency ! The Event was anfwerable to this Promife. Tuts Method of Cure was new and ftrange; but he who at firft called the World out of nothing, can with equal Facility command Health out of a Piece of Brafs. Another Obfervable here, is that when the Almighty refufed to hear the Cries of the Wounded in their Diftrefs, he readily hearkened to Mo/es’s In- terceflion in their favour. ‘Thus God accepted the Prayers of “fob for his three Friends, when he would not regard the Suppli- cations they put up forthemfelves. ‘fod Ixi. 7, 8. SECTION IL T u £ brazenSerpent was a Figure of the flying Serpent, Sara aph, which Mo/es fixed upon an erected Pole: That there were fuch, “is moft evident. Herodotus who had feen of thofe Serpents, fays they very much refembled thofe which the Greeks and Latins called Hydre: He went on purpofe to the City of Brutus to fee thofe flying Animals, that had been devour’d by the Ibidian Birds. In Ajiatic-Georgia, between the Ca/pian and Euxine Sea, are found winged Dragons, with anferine Feet and venemous Claws; and fome of them are fortified with more terrible Pedeftals than others: their Wings are generally compofed of {trong nervous Membranes, which when they walk, are {carcely vifible, becaufe of their clofe Adherence to their lateral Parts *. In the Atlantic Caves, and Mountains of 4frica, is an infi- nite Number of thefe winged Dragons, whofe Poifon is fo ftrong, that the Flefh of fuch as are wounded by them, immediately grows foft, languid, and incurable +. We read of flying Serpents tranfported from fome Parts of Arabia into Egypt ft. Tun ESE alfo have been feen in Florida in America, where their Wings are more flaccid, and fo weak, that they cannot foar on high. Scalger defcribes a certain flying Serpent that was four Foot long, and as thick as a Man’s Arm, whofe Wings were car- tilaginous, or griftly, 27d. Hiftory accounts for one ‘Of thefe fly- ing Dragons that was killed in old Aquitaniain France, a Pre- fent * Paulus Jovius de Pifcibuss, cap. 2 + P. Belon in Johnftonus. t Tefte Brodzxo. * J. pee iit, of Africa, lib. 6, & c. OFMSiE|R PEON Ss fent of which was made to King Francis, as a great- Rarity of the Kind. FEROM CARDAN informs us of fome winged Dragons he had feen at Paris, fo nicely preferved, that they very much refembled the Living ; they were defcribed with two Feet, weak Wings, a ferpentine Head, and of the Bignefs of a Rabbit. Wuy was the Deliverance of I/rael by a Machine made in the Form of a Serpent? Perhaps, thefe ferpentine Strokes might be intended as Emblems, or Memento’s of the fatal Wound in Paradife, where Man’s Nature was firft poifoned by the Devil, who made ufe of a real Serpent to feduce our firft Parents. WHAT is moral Evil but the Venom of the old Serpent? A Venom as pleafant to the Tafte, as the forbidden Fruit to the Eye, but the End is Bitternefs. And what are Incentives to Sin, but delufive Infinuations of the fubtle Serpent? And what is En- joyment, buta pleafing Ilufion, whichis no fooner grafp’d, but glides away as a Shadow, leaving behind it a wounded Contfci- ence, direful Apprehenfions and Profpects. Awpv what are all fenfual Entertainments but fo many hot Gleams that portend the Approach of warring Winds and Storms ? The Powers of Darknefs that excel in Science, know how to regale the human Mind with pleafant Scenes, and how to divert the Senfes with delightful Charms; Charms that have no Exiftence but in a deluded Imagination. . Tue Cure by a brazen Serpent, might alfo be to fhew, that the Almighty in relieving diftreffed Supplicants, is not tied to any particular Medium. When the J/raelites were poifon’d by real Serpents, he healsthem by the Image of a Serpent. When he would deftroy Gokah the Tyrant, he does it by a Sling in the Hands of Davida Youth, avery unlikely Perfon to encounter a Champion. Tuus God by the Figure of a Serpent mortifies the Pride of Lucifer, the old Serpent, by which he acquir’d greater Ho- nour, than if he had facrificed to the Fire all the Serpents in the Wildernefs. Tuismay further intimate, that Providence may employ the fame Kind of Inftruments, either for the Difplay of Mercy or Juftice upon Mankind. He who heals and wounds by the Me- diation of Serpents, can turn Bleffings into a Curfe, or enable us to extract Sweetnefs out of the bitter Cup. Cec SECT, aog 194 A NATURAL HISTORY 5 EoCr ae ait: ‘T 11S artificial Serpent might (as fone have thought) pre- figure the Mefiah, the Healet of fpiritual Maladies. Many take it for a Reptefentation of his Paffion and Crucifixion: The Ana- logy may be thus illuftrated, wz. The-Cures wrought by the Serpent and theSaviour, detiv’d their Efficacy from Divine Ap- pointment. Ir the brazen Serpent had been the miere Contrivance of Mo/fes, it would not have anfwer’d the Intention: fo all human Inftitutions adopted into Divine Wotfhip will be as little avail- able to true Happinefs, (Who has required this at your Hand?) of that Sovereign, who accepts no Worfhip but what has the Sanc- tion of his Wifdom and Will. Botu Cures were performed by the moft unlikely Means. The Serpent that healed their Wounds, was made of Brafs; a Prefcription in which there was no Probability of producing that happy Effect: And where was the promifing Afpec arifing from the Manner of our Saviour’s Appearance on Earth? What great "Things could be expected from a Root of a dry Ground? How improbable was it that a Perfon fo mean in external Form fhould overthrow the Kingdom of Darknefs, a Kingdom that had been ftrengthning its Barriers for about four thoufand Years? Who could think that he had fuch powerful Intereft in Heaven, who was of no Reputation on the Earth? Bewoup here‘a Scene of Paradoxes! Patients recovered by the Death of the Phyfician. Upon Mount Golgotha we fee Pa- radife, loft by the firft Adam, regained by the Death of the fecond Adam ; Principalities and Powers led captives by a dying Man ; there we fee Life reftored by Death, a Crown of Glory purchafed by an ignominious Crofs. Were the J/raelites healed by a Crea- ture made in the Likenefs of the Serpent that hurt ? So Men are reftor’d by one made like themfelves. How was this miraculous Cnre in the Wildernefs obtained ? Tt was by an ocular View, that is, by looking at the artificial Serpent. None elfe were entitled to a Relief. Thus Salvation comes by Faith, which in the prophetick Dialeé is reprefented by looking. Ef. xlv, 22. Look unto me and be ye faved all the Ends of He OF SERPENTS. the Earth. The firft Sin enter’d at the Eye; the Woman faw the Fruit was good. ‘Thus our Reftoration to the Divine Favour is by an Eye to Chrift, the Tree of Life, but Imuft not ftrain the Metaphor too far. Se a LV: Why was the Cure by a Serpent of Brafs? Yanfwer, not for any healing Virtue inherent in that Mineral, more than others, but to demonftrate his Almighty Power, who can fave by im- probable Means, or without the Application ofany Means. Thus the blind Man was cured by a Piece of Clay temper’d with Spittle ; obi ix. 6. i Peruaps, this alfo may refer to our Lord, as he is com- par’d to Bra/s, which, when polith’d, is of a moft beautiful Colour, exceeding that of Gold. Revel. i. 15. His Feet like unto fine Brafs, An Emblem of the high Qualities that glitter in him, whofe Nature is divinely fair and glorious. | Tuose fiery Serpents, as they flew in the Air, might in Co- lour refemble that of burni/h’d Bra/s, becaufe the Serpent of Moj/és. was form’d of Bra/s, a Metal that in itfelf is no Friend to Health; and fome have faid, that the Sight of the brazen Serpent ought naturally to increafe the Diftemper of the Wounded, inftead of healing it; and that the Almighty, fhew’d a double Efficacy of his Power, by healing with thofe Means, which ought to havea quite contrary Effect *. Tuo’ Brafs in its natural State, may not be propitious to Health, yet when duly prepar’d it isbeneficial: The Preparation of Copper has been accounted an univerfal Remedy, andan ex- cellent Emetick, having this fingular Virtue, that zt exerts its Force, as foon as ever it 7s taken : Whereas other Emeticks lie a long time dormant in the Stomach, creating naufeous Anxieties, &c. but a fingle Grain of Verdigrea/e immediately vomits ||. ~ A CERTAIN learned Gentleman of this Ifland, imagines that the brazen Serpent was a kind of Tasi/inan that is to fay, one of thofe Pieces of Metal, which are caft and en- graven under certain Conftellations, from whence they derive Cc2 an * Buxtorf, Hilt. de Serpente eneo. ||, Boerbaave’s Method. 195 196 A NATURAL HISTORY an extraordinary Virtue to cure Diftempers, &c. Some impute their Effects to the old Serpent, others to the Nature of the Me- tal, and to the Influence of the Conftellation. This Author therefore would make us believe, that the brazen Serpent cured jutt as the Tah/mans cure certain Diftempers, by the Sympzcthy there is between the Metals of which they are made, or the In- fluence of the Stars under which they are formed, and the Dif- eafe they are to cure. Every one may believe as he pleafes *. Tue Serpent that is always reprefented with E/culapius’s I- mage, and with Salus, the Goddefs of Health, and often with the Egyptian Deities, is a Symbol of Health, or of Healing, very probably derives thofe Enfigns of Honour from the brazen Ser- pent of Mo/es. DC a ys WH AT became of the brazen Serpent at laff ? I ANsweER, it was brought into the Land of Canaan as a fa- cred Relick, and religioufly preferyed among the J/raelites down to the Time of Hezekiah the -King, as a ftanding Memorial of divine Goodnefs to their Forefathers inthe Wildernefs; but being abufed by them to Superftition and Idolatry, as appears by their burning Incenfe thereto, it was broke in pieces by the fpecial Command of King Hezekiah, who, in Derifion and Contempt, called it Mehufhtan, a Piece of Brafs, a Trifle, a Bauble, Shadow of a Snake. 2 Kings xviii. 4. May all the Ecclefiaftical Mehu/btans of Babylon, foifted into Divine Worfhip, from the Rifing of the Sun, to the Going-down of the fame, meet with the fame honeft and righteous Fate. In the Church of St. dmbrofe at Milan, they pretend to keep a brazen Serpent, which they fhew for that of Mo/es, tho’ there be no fuch thing now in being, In the Church of St. Ambrofe there is a Dragon of Brafs on a Column of Marble: Some think it to be that of E/culapius, others an Emblem of that in the Wildernefs, upon which account many of the Pilgrims and common People worfhip it. ‘The In- habitants are very fuperftitious, and fond of holy Fragments, and pretend to have at the Church of St. Alexander, no lefs than 144,000 Martyrs from the Catacombs of St. Sebaftian. THE * Marfban Canon. Chronic. quoted by Calmer, O.F) So & R PeE-N TS: Tue Cures effected by the artificial Serpent, derived that Efficacy from the divine Inftitution of that Medium: Had their Prefcription been the meer Device of Rabbi Mo/es, that great and valuable End would not have been anfwered; therefore, fince the Reafon of that Inftitution ceafed, ’twas highly criminal in them, to make any religious Ufe of it. Ir is the divine Imprefs upon Inftitutions that ufhers in the Bleffings intended by them; therefore to hope for Acceptance with God on account of meer human Ordinances, (as bowing to Images, to the Altar, to the Eaft, and to make ufe of Crucifixes, Crofies, holy Water) is to hope for what God bas never promifed fo give. ‘N o wonder to fee the brazen Serpent ground to Powder, and the Duft fcatter’d in the Air, that fo no Fragments of it might remain, when Altars of divine Eftablifhment, and facred to De- votion, were intirely deftroy’d, when they made Idols of them: And how a holy and jealous God may refent the Adoration of the Crofs in the Popifh Church, 1 pretend not to predict, much lefs to determine. This Deftruétion of the brazen Serpent, is reckon’d among the good Deeds of King Hezekiah, becaufe it was made a Medium, and Part of Worthip not prefcrib’d by di- vine Authority, Cora Ri? IW: This Chapter begins with the Original of Idolatry, as a Preiimi- ‘nary to the Adoration of SERPENTS, under three Sections. See Cor. a i S introductory to the Divinity of Serpents, I fhall make a brief Inquiry into the Original of facred Images, and Idol- Worfhip; the firft Period of which is hard to trace. So ME make Cain the firft Founder of it, becaufe of his early Apoftacy from the true Religion; which is not very improbable, fince ’tis faid, He went out from the Prefence of the Lord.... He 197 198 A NATURAL HISTORY He grew more wicked, and gave himfelf up to all forts of Vio- lence *. i Tuart the old World was guilty of Idolatry, fome gather from Gen. iv. 26. which they fay will bear this Reading Then Men prophaned, calling on the Name of the Lord, that is, by Jetting up Idols: Upon which fome of the Rabbins paraphrafe thus, viz. Then they began to call Idols by the Name of the Lord: With which agrees the ferufalem Targum, that fays, That... was the Age, in the days of which they began to err, and made themfelves Idols, and called their Idols by the Name of the Word of the Lord +. So cis underftand Gen. vi. 11. The Earth was corrupt, that is 7dolatrous. In defence of this Glofs, they quote the [dslatry of the golden Calf, which is expreffed by this very Form of Speech, viz. Ihe People had corrupted themfelves. We read Gen. iv. 26. Then Men began to call upon the Name of the Lord. There is no room to doubt, but they called upon God before; the Particle then feems to refer to Enos, which is the next Antecedent : there- fore ’tis faid, They now applied themfelves to the Knowledge of the Stars, which they apprehended were erected for the Govern- ment of the World, and confequently might be their Duty to a- dore them as God’s Reprefentatives. Bur the general Opinion is, that Idolatry did not begin till after the Deluge, and that perhaps the Deluge might be one Oc- cafion of it; for the old World, as fome fuppofe, was drown’d for Athei/m——which coming to the Knowledge of Noah's me- diate Succeflors, they run into the other Extreme, chufing rather to have many Gods than no God. IDOLATRY is of a more antient Date than Image-Wor- Jbip: To fee Men kneeling before a piece of Wood or Stone, has fomething fo low and mean in it, that Men were not immediately brought to that abject and fcandalous piece of Worfhip. The Sun, Moon, and Stars, were their matural Gods, and ador’d be- fore deify’d Men, who were their animated Gods. Tuis Deification of Creatures, feems to begin about the time of the Confufion at Babel, or the Difperfion immediately confe- quent thereupon, particularly in the Family of Nimrod, the Son of Cufb, Grandfon of Noah, May not we date the Origznal of Paganifin * See Cluverius, and Dr. Cumberland. + Schindl. 4 OF SERPENTS. Pagani/m from that rematkable Petfon? °Tis the Conje@ure of fome, that Nimrod was the fitft Man that was deify’d, and pro- bably for the important Service he did to his Country, as a mighty Hunter, in deftroying wild Beafts that othérwife would foon have devour’d the Inhabitants, which wete not ver numerous in thofe days. “Tiscertain, that fuch Benefactors to Mankind were rank’d among the Gods. If fo, who will pretend to fay, our modern Fox-Hunters don’t carry one Charaéteriftick of Divinity about them? Some think that the true Religion was univerfal for about four hundred Years after the Deluge, becaufe it does not appear from Abrams Traverfe thro’ Mefopotamia, Canaan, Philiftia, Egypt, &c. that thofe Countries were Idolaters, Others appre- hend Abram himfelf was originally an Idolater, at leaft that Ido- latry had overfpread the Nations in his time, for which they quote Fofhua xxiv. 2. Your Fathers... even Terab the Father of Abra- bam... . ferved other Gods. It’s evident from hence, that Terab had fallen into Idolatry, and fome are of Opinion, that Abram himfelf was an Idolater, till God made him fenfible of the Vanity of Idol-worfhip, and that it was thro’ him that his Father Zerah was brought under the fame Conviction, by this Device, wz. _ Tue Fews fay that Terab was not only an Idolater, but alfoa Carver, and Dealer in Images and Idols; that one day when he went a Journey, he left dram to take care of the Shop ; but Abram being already convinced of the Sinfulnefs of Idols, afk’d all that came to buy IJdo/-Gods of him, How old are you? They told him their Age; and he replied to them, This God that you would buy and worfhip, 1s younger than you are; it was made but the other day, and of contemptible Matter, therefore behieve what I fy, and renounce this vain Worfbip. The Buyers ftruck with Confufion at thefe Reproaches, went away without buying, a- fham’d of their Stupidity *. ane Q. What might move Men to the firft Wolatry? PERHAPS it might bea frong Attachment tothe Senfes, which they made their fovereign Judges in Spirituals: It was hard for vulgar Heads in thofe Days of Darkne(s to elevate their Thoughts above fenfible Objects. ANOTHER * Fa Calmet under Tera, vol. xiii, 199 200 A NATURAL 11S 208 VY ANOTHER Reafon, may be the Pride of the human Mind; that is not fatisfied with rational plain Truths, but will adulte- rate them with foolith Imaginations: Hence it was that they would have fuch Objects of Woifhip, as might immediately ftrike their fenfible Powers; nothing would ferve their Turn but a Di- vinity vifible to the Eye, therefore they brought down the Gods to the Earth, and reprefented them under certain Images, which by degrees commenced inferior Deities. Tue Egyptian Priefis not being able to perfuade the People, that there were any Gods or Spirits fuperior to Men, were con- {trained to call down Demons, or Spirits, and lodge them in Sta- tues, and then bring forth thofe Statues to be vifible Objects of Adoration, and from hence fprung Idolatry. AmownG the Pagans were various Opinions about religious Images. Some looked upon them as only Reprefentatives of the true God, as Seneca, a Stoick Philofopher, and Plato a Native of Athens, and a noted Academick. OTHERS faid, they did not adore material Images, but the Gods in them, into which they were drawn by virtue of their Confecration, or, in amore modern Language, their Canoniza- tion *. SOME were of Opinion, that after the Confecration of I- mages, the Gods actually incorporated with them, or were ani- mated by them, as Man’s Body is by the Soul+. The vulgar Heathen paid their Adoration to Images as if they were real Gods; which monftrous Practice was ridiculed by the moft fenfible Pa- gans, as appears farther on f. Tue Ufe and Worfhip of Images has been long, and {till is controverted. The Lutherans condemn the Calvinifts for break- ing the Images in the Churches of the Catholicks ; and at the fame time they condemn the Romanifts (who are profeffed Image- Worfhippers) as Idolaters. The modern ‘fews condemn all I- mages, and fuffer no Pictures or Figures in their Houfes, much lefs in their Synagogues, or Places of Worfhip. THE * Arnobius, lib. vi. + Trifmegiftus, a learned Egyptian, a great Philofopher, a great Prieft, and a great King. $+ See Ladantius, lib. ii. OF SERPENTS. T nu £ Mahometans have a perfect Averfion to all Images. This _ is it that made them deftroy moft of the beautiful Monuments of Antiquity, both facred and profane, at Con/tantinople. Tue old noble Romans preferved the Images of their Anceftors with no little Care, and had them carried in Proceffion in their Funerals and Triumphs. Sy DK Chia Os 0 Tus Part entertains us with various Inftances of Pagan Dei- fications, wz. of Men, Beafts, and Things without Life. I. MEN transformed into Gods. I BeGin with their desfed Men, that is, dead Men, who be- ing canonized, paft for reputed Gods. Note here, fome are of opinion, that the word God, among the Heathen, did not mean the uncreated eternal Being, but fome mof excellent fupertor Na- ture; and accordingly, they gave the Appellation of Gods to all Beings of a Rank higher, and more perfeét than Man. Tue principal Gods among the antient Heathens were upz- ter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Apollo, ‘funo, Vefta, Minerva, &c. The next fort of Gods were called Demy Gods, or Gods adopted; and thefe were Men canonized and deify’d. Now, as the greater Gods had poffeffion of Heaven in their own Right, fo thefe leffer Gods had it by Donation, being tranflated into Heaven, becaufe they were Men renowned for their Virtues, and had lived as Gods upon Earth; and thefe at firft were called Teraphim. Tue firft certain Account of thefe we have in Genefis, where tis faid, Rachel had ffoln her Father's Images. Chap. xxxi. 19. the Leraphim of her Father in the Hebrew, which Labaa, (li. 30.) calls his Gods, Hebr. Eloba. Tue word Teraphim is Hebrew, others fay Egyptian: Be that as it will, we find it about thirteen times in our Bible, and is commonly interpreted Idols, Images, facred, fuperflitious Figures. Spencer maintains the word to be Chaldee, and that thofe Images were borrowed from the Amorites, Chaldeans, or Syrians, and that the Egyptian Serapis is the fame thing with Teraphim of the Chaldeans. A LearnepD Yew fays the Teraphim were in human Shape, and that when raifed upright, they {poke at certain Hours, and Dd under 20 20 A NATURAL HISTORY under certain Conftellations, by the Influence of the celeftial Bo- dies. R. David de Pomis .... Cychpedia. Tuis Rabbinical Fable feems to be grounded on Zech. x. 2. The Idols (Hebr. Leraphim) have fpoken Vanity.... Some of the learned ‘fews will have it todenote the Knowledge of Futurity, and for this Signification they quote Ezek. xxi. 21. The King of Babylon flood ... at the Head of the two Ways... be confulted with Images ; with Teraphim, fays the Hebrew, Tue fame Rabbi adds, that to make the Teraphim they kill’d a firft-born Child, clove his Head, feafon’d it with Salt and Oil; that they wrote on a Plate of Gold the Name of fome impure Spirit, laid it under the Tongue of the Dead, placed the Head againft the Wall, lighted Lamps before it, prayed to it, and it talk’d with them. Oruers hold, that the Teraphim were brazen Inftruments which pointed out the Hours of future Events, as direéted by the Stars.—Some think that the Teraphim were Figures or Images of a Star engraven on a fympathetic Stone, or Metal correfpend- ing to the Star, in order to receive its Influences: To thefe Fi- gures, under certain Afpects of the Stars, they afcribe extraordi- nary Effects. Tuts Talifmanical Opinion, faysa Learned Pen*, appears the moft probable... All the Eaftern People are ftill much addicted to this Superftition of Tali/mans. The Perfians call them Telefin, a Word approaching to Zeraphim. In thofe Countries no Man is feen without them, and fome are even loaded with them. They hang them to the Necks of Animals, and Cages of Birds, as Pre- fervatives againft Evils. Such were the Samothracian Talh/mans, which were pieces of Iron, formed into certain Images and fet in Rings... : ; Tue Labanic Images are fappofed to be the moft antient, if not the firft religious Images, made of fome precious Metal, and had their Birth in Ladan’s Country, that is, Chaldea, or Me/opo- famida, From Labdan’s Hiftory, it feems as if thefe Teraphim were PiGtures or Images of certain Perfons deceafed; that is, they were a fort of Idols, or fuperftitions Figures venerated by them as Demy-Gods. That they were fuch artificial Portraitures of Men, : 5 ce * Father Dow. Calmet. OF SERPENTS. is evident from that Inftance in Michal, who, to deliver David her Hufband from bloody Affaflins that threaten’d his Life, laid an Image in his Bed, a Terapbim, fays the Hebrew, that is, a mate- rial Image, probably a Figure of Wood, or Sticks haftily made up, dreft in Man’s Clothes, to make thofe fent by King Saal to apprehend him, believe he was fick. Wuy does Laban call them his Gods? Very probably becaufe he believed they retain’d their Affection for Mankind in the in- vifible World, and being rank’d among the Gods, might be fer- viceable to his Family, therefore adopted them to be Guardians of his Houfe. They were only his domeffick Gods, and not the eftablithed Gods of the Country; and ’tis very likely they might be the Images of Noah and his Sons; or fome other illuftrious Anceftors, whom he had chofen for his Tutelary Gods. THE Scripture mentions another fort of Terapbzm, fometimes confulted by the fews as an Oracle, not imagining that thereby they abandon’d the Worfhip of the true God. Such was the Teraphim that Micha made and fet up in his Houfe, and to which he appointed a Prief of the Levitical Race, with an Ephod or Sacramental Garment, by the Influence of which he flatter’d him- felf that God would blefs his Houfe. ‘This probably might be fome Hieroglyphical Figure, to which the fuperftitious Fews attri- buted the Virtue of an Oracle, and the Power of foretelling Things to come: Hence fpeaking Teraphims. From thefe Teraphim came the Lares, or the Houfhold Gods of the old Romans, who before the Laws of the Twelve Tables, ufed to bury théDead in their Houfes ; from whence arofe that great Veneration they had for their Lares and Penates, a kind of domeftick Divinities, worfhip’d in Houfes, and efteem’d Pro- tectors of Families, which were nothing elfe but the fuppofed Ghofts of thofe who formerly had belonged to the Family, whom they reprefented by Images, which they placed in the Chimney- Corner, or near their Doors. THESE were alfo look’d upon as Guardians of the Highways, near to which their Images were fix’d for the Benefit of Travellers, therefore call’d Diz Viales, Gods of the Roads. ”Tis faid by the Prophet, Ihe King of Babylon ftood at the parting of the Way, and confulted with the Images; with the Teraphim, fays the Hebrew, Ezek. xxi, 21. which the fewi/h Interpreters fay were prophetick Dda2 Images, 203 204. A NATURAL HISTORY Images, endued with the Gift of Prediétion; fo far from being mere Idols, that they gave out Oracles, and foretold Things to come. Some think Laban’s Teraphim to be fuch, and that Rachel, having obferved how her Father did divine by them, and fearing, by confulting with them, he might know which way Facob went, and follow after and murder him ; to prevent fo fatala Cataftrophe, fhe took away his Oracles. Tuose facred Images might, at firft, be made in honour of departed Relatives, or illuftrious Perfons; but by degrees dege- nerated into religious Adoration, Thus the Manes of the Dead were worfhip’d by them under the Figure of their Teraphim, in fome place of the Houfe, and probably where they had depofited the Remains of their Anceftors, as fome think. Tue Lares were alfo called Penates: To thefe they paid re- ligious Homage with Sacrifices; fo the Roman Satirift fays, and calls thefe Images his dear Kittle Houfe-Gods; and then obferves, that they were crown’d with Garlands of Flowers in Summer, and in Winter with Shaving of Horns colour’d. To thefe Waxen- Gods the Romans addreft themfelves with Offerings of Frankin- cenfe and Cakes *.... Tuey were fuppofed to be the Spirits of fuch, who had lived well on the Earth, and in confequence of it, were happy; fo on the other hand, thofe who lived ill here, did after Death wander up and down in Horror, and were fuppofed, by the Vulgar, to be Hobgoblins, call’d Lemures, z.e. reftlefs Ghofts of departed Spirits, who return to the Earth to terrify the Living. THESE are the fame with Larve, which the Antients ima- gined to wander round the World, to frighten good People, and plague the bad. All thefe were imagin’d to be the Ghofts of the Dead: They pray’d to the Good for Proteétion,, and facrificed to the Evil to pacity their Rage: For this reafon they had their Lemuria or Lemuralia at Rome, where onthe gth of May, a Feaft was folemnized in honour of the Lemures, and to pacify the Manes of the Dead, efpecially thofe who died without Burial, to prevent their giving difturbance to the Living. q THE * Oh parvi noftrique Lares quos thure minuto Hic noftrum placabo, Jovem Laribufque patesnis Thura dabo, atque omnes viol jactabo colores Cuncta niteat—— Furvenal. Sat. ix. v. 137. & Sat. xii. ¥. 89- & OPiS ER iP yE iN: 7S. THe firft Men that were deified, or made Gods, are fuppofed to be the Heads of Families, Founders of Empires, and Bene- factors of Provinces who, after their deceafe, were highly reverenced. Noah and his Sons feem to be the firft and chief ani- mated Deities of the Pagans, under the Names of Saturn, “fupi- ter, Neptune and Pluto; hence Demons, another Name given to Spirits, which were fuppofed to appear to Mortals, with intention to do them Good or Hurt. Tue firft Notion of Demons, ’tis faid, fprung from Chaldea, thence it {pread among the Perfians, Egyptians .... Pythagoras and Thales were the firft that introduced Demons into Greece, where P/ato fell in with the Notion, which he explains thus, VIZ. .... By Demons, he underftood Spirits inferior to Gods, and yet fuperior to Men, which inhabiting the middle Region of the Air, kept up the Communication between the Gods and Men, carrying up the Prayers and Offerings of Men to the Gods, and bringing down the Will of the Gods to Men. He allow’d of none but good ones, tho’ his Difciples (finding themfelves unable to account for, the Origin of Evil) adopted another kind of De- mons, who were Enemies to Man *. Tue Apocryphal Book of Exoch abounds with the Names of Angels and Devils; but that Book is not of any great Antiquity, tho’ the Prophecy be: it does not appear to have been known by the antient “fews. St. Fude is the firft that cited it. The Autho- tity which this fpurious Book of Exoch has received from fome of the Antients, is the reafon of our meeting with feveral of its Opinions, featter’d in their Writings. did. LACTANTIUS, one of the moft eloquent Authors of his time, (and therefore called the Chri/tian Cicero) was of Opinion there were two forts of Demons, celeftial and terreftrial +: The cele/tial are the fallen Angels, who having been feduced by the Prince of Devils, engaged themfelves inimpure Amours ; the ferre/frial are they who iffued from the former, as Children from their Parents = Thefe laft, who are neither: Men nor Ang:!s, but a Medium be-. tween the two Natures; were not plunged into Hell, neither were their Fathers admitted into Heaven: The terreftrial Angels are: * Gale’s Court of the Gentiles, part I. chap. viii. Chambens’s Cycloped. Calmet’s Eft, Dict, yoli. P. 434 ¢ 205 206 A NATURAL HISTORY are impure Spirits, and Authors of all the Evils committed on Earth *. Many of the Antients have allotted to every Man an Evil Angel, who is continually laying Snares for him, and inclining him to Evil, as his Good Angel does to what is Good. The “fews have ftill the fame Sentiments at this day. Another Father thinks, that every Vice has its Evil Angel, prefiding over it; as the Demon of Avarice, the Demon of Pride, of Uncleannefs +.... In Pagan Theology, nothing more common than thofe good and evil Genii, and the fame fuperftitious Notion got among the Hrachtes, by Commerce with the Chaldeans; but I don’t appre- hend that by Demon, they meant the Devil, or a wicked Spirit, tho’ it be taken under that Idea by the Evangelifts, and alfo fome modern Fes tf. We are not without fome Remains of thofe antient Reprefen- tations: Among the various Rarities in the Mu/eum at Leyden in Holland, is the Effigies in Sculpture of Ofiris, the Egyptian God; *tis made of Wood, and now almoft confum’d with Age: There are three other Egyptian Idols of Stone; an Image of Jfs (who married O/iris, King of the Country) giving fuck to her Orr. Another Effigies of J/s, the Egyptian Godde/s, upon a little Egyp- tian Coffer, containing the Heart of an Egyptian Prince embalm’d therein. THE antient Pagans, had almoft as many Godde/fes as Gods ; fuch were uno, the Godde/s of Air, Gc. Queen of Heaven, and of the Gods ; was reprefented fitting on a Throne with a Crown of Gold on her Head: This was the Patronefs of the female Sex. Every Woman had her Yano, or Guardian ; as every Man had his Genius. She was the Goddefs of Marriages, which were not deem’d lawful without the Parties firft addreft her. One Branch of her Office was to attend them in Labor, when they prayd, Help, Sfuno Lucina ||. SHE was ador’d by all Nations; her Temple was open on the Top and had no Doors, it being impious to think of confining the Gods to a narrow Inclofure. Yea, many of the- Antients would erect no devotional Temples, from a Perfuafion that the whole * Lactantius, lib. ii. cap. 14. Lugd. Bat. 1652. + Origez. Homil. xv. in Jofh. Calmet. ibid. 1 Cyclopedia. | Funo Licina fer oper. OF|SER PEN TS. whole World is the Temple of God. The Sicyonians would build no Temple to their Goddefs Coronzs: Nor would the Athenians erect a Statue to the Goddefs Clemency, who they faid was to live in the Hearts of Men, not within Stone-Walls. The Goddefles were numerous, but I fhall add no more. Trey did not only enroll Mex and Women among their Gods, but they had alfo Hermaphrodite-Gods. Thus Minerva, accord- ing to feveral of the Learned, was both Man and Woman, and worfhipped as fuch under the Appellation of Luxus G Luna. Mitbras, the Perjfian Deity, was both God and Goddefs; there were Gods of Virtue, Vice, Time, Place, Death... . Infancy. Not Men only, but every thing that relates to Mankind, has alfo been deified, as Infancy, Age, Death, Labor, Reft, Sleep, Virtues, Vices, Time, Place .... Infancy alone hada numerous Train of Deities. They alfo ador’d the Gods of Health, Love, Fear, Pain, Indignation, Shame, Renown, Prudence, Art, Science, Fidelity, Liberty, Money, War, Peace, Victory..... Tus we have feen, that nothing more common among Pa- gans, than to place Men among the Number of Deities; yea, fome of them would not wait for their Deification till Death, Thus Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, procured his Image to be worfhipped while he was living. Thus 4ugufius had Altars erected and Sacrifices offered to him while alive. He had Priefts called Augujtales, and Temples at Lyons, and feveral other Places. He was the firft Roman who carried Idolatry to fuch a pitch: Having in a moft refpectful manner view’d the embalm’d Body of Alexander the Great, was afk’d, if he would fee Ptolemy's alfo ? he anfwer’d, H7zs Curiofity was to fee a King, not a Man. His Favourite-Poet complements him with the Title of God*. Yea, the Ethiopians deem’d all their Kings Gods. Il. Inanimate Things turn’d into Gods. Tu1NnGs without Life were made into Gods by the Heathens: The Sun, Moon, and Stars feem to be the firft Idols, or falfe Gods, to whom they paid a divine Regard. Po/ffidonius defines a Star, a divine Body. The Zabiz erected Images to the Stars, which they fancied to be fo many Gods, and that they influenced the Images confecrated to them ; yea, and communicated the pro-= phetick Spirit to Men. THE * ——— Deus nobis hic otia fecit. 207 208 A NATURAL HISTORY T us Sun and Moon were by the idolatrous J/raelites called the King and Queen of Heaven, and the Stars were fuppofed (as it were) to be their Militia, form’d for their Guards, with which they were always furrounded. PHILO of Alexandria, (called Philo the Few, a Platonick Philofopher) imputes to the Stars a great part of whatever happens on the Earth; and fays, they are not only Animals, but even moft pure Spirits; that our Air is replete with Animals and Spi- rits, which are continually defcending to animate Bodies. He had borrow’d thefe odd Notions from his Mafter Plato, Chief of the Academicks. Origen one of the Fathers, who flourifh’d in — the third Century, was guilty of the fame Miftake *. T ue facred Books, in fome places, feem to afcribe Knowledge to the Stars, when they praifed God at the beginning of the World, ‘fobxxxvili. 7. but the Stars were not then created, there- fore it’s generally fuppofed they were Angels. Since then the Sun, Moon and Stars are excited to praife the Lord ; the Moon with- drew its Light, and the Sun ftopt its Courfe at the Command of ‘fofoua . ..and perhaps one reafon of their ftrange Opinions about the heavenly Bodies, might be owing to thefe and the like Ex- preffions ; not knowing that thefe Words were meerly popular, and not to be underftood literally, for then we muft fay that the Earth, the Trees, the Waters, are animated, fince we find in Scripture fome Expreflions that would infinuate as much. Tue Arabians who {prung from I/hmael, worthipped the Sun, Moon and Stars, in which they were conducted by their Priefts who were cloathed in white Veftments, wearing Mitres and Sandals, which at firft were only Soles tied to the Feet with Strings, In Authors that fpeak of ecclefiaftical Rites, and Ornaments, we find the word Sandals to fignify a valuable kind of Shoes, worn by the Pre/ates at Solemnitzes +. We find Sandals alfo ufed by the Ladies, very different in form: When Yudith went to the Camp of Holofernes, the put Sandals on her Feet, at the fight of which he was captivated ; for ‘tis faid, Her Sandals ravifh'd bis Eyes. ‘Thefe were a magni- ficent fort of Stockens, like Buflcins, of an extraordinary Beauty t, and * Philo Leg. Alleg. Ovigen.t.1. Méaimox. iz Calmet. under the word Star. + Benedictus Baudovinus de Calcea Antiguo. { Fudizh x. 4. OF SERPENTS. and were proper only to the Ladies of Condition, who generally had Slaves to carry them. N.B. The real Buskin was the Cothurnus, a very high Shoe rais'd on Soals of Cork, wore by the ancient Actors in Tragedy, to make them appear taller, and more like the Heroes they re- prefented, moft of whom were fuppofed to be Giants. Tue Perfians had no Temples, Altars, nor Images, holding fuch little Things improper for the high Gods. Therefore they worfhipp’d upon the Top of Hills, where they offer’d Sacrifices to the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The Babylonians adored the Sun, to which the King offer’d every Day a white Horfe richly furnifh’d: The Sun was in high Efteem among the Phe- nicians, whofe Priefts were crown’d with Gold. The Zartars and Cathaians worfhip the Sun, and Stars,‘to which they offer the firft Fruits of their Meat every Morning before they eat and drink themfelves. They have divers Monafteries of Idols, to whom they dedicate their Children. In Nova Zembla there is no Religion prefcrib’d by Law, but they worfhip the Suz, fo long as ’tis with them, and the Moon and North-Star in its abfence. In Chima are great Numbers of facred Temples, where the Priefts have fo much Power over their Gods, that they may beat them ,when they don’t anfwer their Expedtation: Their chief Gods are the Suz, Moon, and Stars, where they are not chriftianis’d. In the Philippine Iflands, the Natives worthip the Stars, which they hold to be the Children of the Suz and Moon: Their Priefts, for the moft part, are Women. The ‘faponians worfhip an Image, with three Faces,. by which they mean, Sun, Moon, and the elementary World *. In America their chief Deities are the Sun and Moon; which they honour with Dances and Songs. InVirgzma and Florida, when they eat, drink, and facrifice, they ufe to throw up to- wards the Sun, fome part of their Food: The Spamards taking Advantage. of this Superftition, made the poor ignorant People believe they were Meffengers fent to them from the Sun; where- upon they fubmitted to the Spami/h Yoke. Hacluyt, ibid. At Mexico, when they facrificed a Man, they pull’d out his Heart, and offer’d it to the Suz. Ee In * Acofta, and Fefuits Ep. in R. Oliver. Noort’s Navigation. 209 210 A NATURAL HISTORY In South-America, they worfhip evil Spirits in various Forms, and Sun and Moon. When it thunders, and lightens, they fay the Sw is angry with them: When the Moon is eclipfed, they fay the Sun is angry with her, In Peru, next to their chief God, they worfhip’d the Sun, and after it, the Thunder, They took Sun and Moon for Huf- band and Wife. Inthe feventh Month they facrificed to the Sun, and in the tenth to the Honour of the Moon. Tre fame Paganifm was profeft among the Europeans; yea the Greeks and Romans that were the moft knowing and polite Na= tions, their chief Gods were Sun, Moon, and Stars. Tue Air, and Meteors in it, were made into Gods: Thus the Perfians ador’d the Wind ; Thunder and Lightning were ho- nour’d under the Name Geryon. Comets and the Rainbow alfo have been prefer’d from Meteors, to be Gods. Socrates deify'd the Clouds, if Credit may be given to Ari/fophanes. THER high Veneration for Water was fuch, that to fpit, to urine, or wafh ina River was made a high Crime; perhaps, the Water of ‘fealoufy that determin’d the Cafe about the Fewi/h Wo- mien, fufpected of Adultery, might heighten their Veneration for this Element. In Szczly, Rivers were worfhipped by the Agrigentes (in the fhape of a beautiful Boy) to which they facrificed... The Cathai— ans worfhip Earth and Water. Tue Indians count the River Ganges facred, and to have a Power of expiating their Sins. When the Idolaters wath in it, they cry, OF Ganges, purify me! And when any are fick, they dip them init, in order to recover their Health. The Water of this River is convey’d to fuch as live at a diftance, and are not in a. Capacity totravel ; fo that they afcribe as much Virtue to this River, as the Papifts do to their holy Water, and chief Relicks. Tue People of Bengal don’t only worthip the River Ganges, but give Divine Honours'to its Image. Bernzer fays, that King- dom is well water’d’ by Channels cut out of the’ Ganges, which is vifited by many Pilgrims, who think themfelves happy if they can wafh imit. There is alfo'a Well in that Country, which they adore, and think, by wafhing therein, they are purify’d from. their Sins. Their Przeffs travel about with the Water of the Ganges, which they fell. at vaft Prices; becaufe the poor igno- | | 5 rant. OF SERPENTS. rant People are made to believe, that by drinking this Water, they obtain Pardon of their Sins. T ue Inhabitants of Perw in America, fling the Athes of their Sacrifices into the River, follow the fame fix Leagues, and pray the River to bring that Prefent to Wirachoca, a {uperior Deity. Acofia. Tue Perfians and Chaldeans exprefs their God by Fire, to which they perform Adoration, and bring it Food, crying to it, Hat, Ohmy Lord Fire! To throw dead and dirty Things into the Fire, yea to blow it with their Breath, was High Treafon. Tue Magicians fay, that this Fire was convey’d to them from Heaven ; and that it was for this Reafon that they kept it fo re- ligioufly. That.they preferve a conftant Fire on their Altars, is evidentfrom Hiftory. ‘They are faid to haye Fires {till fubfifting, which have burnt above a thoufand Years. .We_ read of fuch Fire kept up with fuperftitious Care in the Temple of Fupiter Ammon, and in that of Hercules at Gadis. So itis in Egypt, and in moft of all the eaftern Countries, and Vzrgi/ tells) that Iarbas the Ge- tulian could boaft of a hundred Temples he had erected with Altars, blazing with perpetual Fire, the eternal Guard of the Gods *. Tuas. which gave occafion to perpetuate the Fire in Pagan Temples, might be from the perpetual Fire kept in the Temple at ‘Ferufalem, which defcended from Heaven upon the firft Vic- tims facrificed by 4aroz and hisSon. Hence the Ve/fals were ap- pointed exprefs, to keep up the facred Fire of the Romans. ‘Tue Kings of Perfia never went abroad without having fome Portion of the facred Fire carried before them: The Hiftorian -giving an Account of the March of Darius's Army, — fays, that they carried Fire upon Altars of Silver, in great Ceremony,——that they had it in great Veneration, calling it the facred and eternal Fire,’and,that the Mag: came after, finging Hymns according to the Perfian Mode +-. Gop appear’d to Mofés under the Form of a Fire burning in a Bufh, The Camp of J/rael in the Wildernefs was conducted in the Night by a Pillar of Fire. Now God having made feveral Ee2 Re- * Centum aras pofuit, vigilemque facraverat ignem, Excubias divim ternas. Virc. Aineid. 4. + Quint. Curtius, lib. 1, Hyde de Perf: Relig. c. iii. p. 69 212 A NATURAL HISTORY Revelations of himfelf, under the Appearance of Fire, might give eccafion to the Chaldeans and Perfians to entertain fuch enormous Veneration for Fire, which is a Symbol of the Deity: The Lord thy God, fays Mofes, 1s a confuming Fire. At their high Solemni- ties they fet feveral Trees (hung with diverfe Sorts of Beafts for Sacrifice) on fire; this they did after they had carried about thefe Fires in Proceflion. I SuHaut add here, a remarkable Conteft that happen’d be- tween the Chaldean and Egyptian Priefts about the Superiority of their Gods.... In the time of Conftantine the Chaldean Priefts, to prove that Fzre, which was their God, excell’d all other Gods in Power, travell’d over the Earth, carrying Fire with them, which foon confum’d all the Statues and Images of other Gods; whether of Brafs, Silver, Stone or Wood, fays Suidas *, who gives alarge Account of it, under the Word xaw7e,. At length coming into Egypt, and making this Challenge; the Egyptian Priefis agreed upon a Battle of the Gods, and immediately brought into the Field one of their Idols, which was a large Statue of Nilus, full of Water, and fall of little Holes, which they ftopt with Wax not difcernable, and fo artificially, that the Water was kept in. THE Chaldeans (not aware of this Device) begun the Aion, with much Affurance, and with Eagernefs put Fire around the Egyptian Statue, which foon melted the invifible Wax, and the Water gufhing forth from all Parts, immediately put out the Fire, and drown’d the hitherto zmvinczble Deity of the Perfians; the Tragedy ended in a triumphant Shout of Laughter among the Spectators: And ¥ might add' + how the Arabians and Indians, Peruvians, Lithuanians, and Vandals worfhip’d Vegetables,—— the Scythzens Tron. Trees and Plants have been made Gods. Leeks and Onions were Deities in Egypt. The ancient Gauis and Brztovs bore a particular Devotion to the Ozk; from which their Priefts took their Names. Ceres and Proferpina, worfhip’d by the Ancients, were no other than Wheat, Corn, Seed.——The Syrians and Egyptians ador’d Fifhes. What were Tritons, Ne- reids, Syrems, but Sea-Gods? Infects, as Flies, and Ants, had their Priefts: * Vol. I. pag. x 368. + Ruffiv. Hitt. Ecclefiaftica, lib. 2, Sranley’s Lives of the Philofophers, patt 16. chap. 8. page 28. OFFGISSE RVPVEL NUT IO. 4 Priefts and Votaries: Yea, Minerals were erected into Dezties, The Finlanders ador’d Stones. 1 don’t fee what can be faid for fuch an Inftance of Stupidity. To fay the Pradtice took its rife from Abram’s anointing the Stone that he made ufe of for a Pil- low, when he went to Me/opotamia, does not leflen the Reproach. The Mahometans think that ‘facob’s Stone was convey’d to the Temple at “ferufalem ; and is ttillthere in a Mofque or Turkifb Temple, where the Temple at eru/alem ftood before the final Defolation. The monftrous Stupidity of Pagans in their Devo- tions will further appear in the Clofe of this Performance. Now among all thefe Inftances of Idolatry, the Adoration of the Suz was the moft excufable; for, who can behold that ftu- pendous Globe of Fire and Light in perpetual Motion, Splendor, and univerfal Ufefulnefs to Mankind, without awful Admiration, and warm Emotions of Mind? No wonder then to find that it has been the Object of Adoration fo long, and in fo many Places. It was the Sun very probably that was worfhip’d by the Phanicians under the Name of Baa/, by the Moadites under the Name of Chemofh, by the Ammonites under the Name of Moloch; by the degenerated I/raelites by the Name of Baal, the King of the Hoft of Heaven, to whom they join’d the Moon, whom they called Aftarta or Queen of Heaven, ; Tu1s Worfhip was perform’d upon high Places, in Groves, and upon the Roofs of their Houfes, which in thofe Counties, were flat. It was againft this kind of Worfhip that Mo/es warn’d the Jraelites, and threatens the Tranfereflors with Death. Deut. iv. 19, ‘tis faid Fofiah King of fudah took away the Hor/es, that his. Royal Predeceffors had given to the Sun, and were fix’d at the Entrance into the Houfe of the Lord, and burnt the Chariots. of the Sun with Fire. WI. Animal Gods. In the next place, I fhall briefly touch upon fome Brutes and Birds, &c. that received Divine Honours from the Pagan People, and even from thofe who were fuppofed to excel their Neigh- bours in Underftanding and Wifdom. Tuus Crocodiles, Serpents, Eagles, Dogs, Cats, Wolves, Oxen,, were worfhip’d by the People of Egypt, thofe celebrated Tae 213 214 A NATURAL HISTORY of Wifdom ; but their greateft Solemnities were confecrated to the God pis, or Serapis, under the Image of an Ox or Bull. TueEY had an Ox confecrated to the Sun, which they fed at Heliopolis in Egypt : They had another called zs, dedicated to the Moon, and fed at Memphis, (for fome time, the royal City) where he had his Temple, and the Devils gave out their Oracles. In the time of St. %erom, who flourith’d in the fourth Century, they worthipped here a brafs Bull as a God. Tue famous God Ofris was adored under the Figure of this Beaft, and when dead, it was buried with great Solemnity and Mourning: And ’tis obfervable, that his Birth-day was celebrated thro’ the whole Kingdom. N..B. ’Tis very probable, that the Hraelites worthipped the golden Calf in the fame manner as the Ligyptians did their Bulls, their Cows and Calves. Brrore I proceed, give me leaveto {peak fomething of this golden Idol, which was the Figure of a.Calf, which the J/rae- ites caft, and fet up to worfhip in Mo/és's Abfence; who, upon his return from the Mount, burnt the Figure, round it to Pow- der, and:made the People drink it mixt with Water, Exod. xxxii. The Learned are divided in their Sentiments on this Article; that is, the golden Calf, that was'burnt and pulverized. To pulverize Gold and render it potable, is an Operation in ‘Chymiftry of the laft Difficulty; and ‘tis hard to conceive how it fhould be done at that time, before Chymiftry was-heard of, and ina Wildernefs too, where they had no proper Inftruments. ‘Many therefore fuppofe it tobe done by.a Miracle. But the chy- mical Art feems to be of greater Antiquity, and was very pro- ‘bably practifed in the antediluvian World by Zudal Cain. Mao- jes is the next Chymift mention’d inthe Bible, whofe Skill in ‘chymical Operations, in pulverizing the golden Calf, feems to be inconteftable, and artificial. Tue Art is now much improved. Bid a Chymift convert ‘Gold into Glafs; and by means of a burning Concave, or other- ‘wife, he-prefently does it: Afk him to fhew -you Gold in'Powder, and by mixing a little ztzmony with that Metal, he will foon ‘render it pulverable *. Bu T to return: Among other living Creatures, the Egyptzans calfo paid a great Devotion to Dogs and Cais. We read-of a cer- faut * Boerbaave’s new Method, Procef. 268, 317 OF SERPEN'?6: tain Roman Soldier, that was like to be torn to pieces by the Peo- ple, for having &/’'d a Cat by Accident; and that when a Dog happen’d to die, the whole Houfe went into Mourning *: Yea, in cafe of a great Famine, they would eat Man’s Fleth, before they would touch their facred Animals; b/d. The Stork, Ra- ven, Eagle, Hawk, Ibis, and other Birds, have had divine Ho-. nours paid them in Heypt and other Places..... Tue City of Mendez in Egypt worthipped a Goat; the City of Mira, the Crocodile. In other Provinces they erected Altars to Lions, Baboons, Wolves....’The Hog was ador’d in the Ifland: of Crete (now Candy) in the Mediterranean. Bats and Mice had Altars confecrated to them in Troas and at Tenedbs. Notuiné can be fuppofed more ridiculous than the Adora-. - tion given by the Egypfzans to their brutal Deities, which were: either within or near their Temples ; had Tables with delicious Meats and Beds prepared for them, and when any of them died, they went into Mourning, prepared fumptuous Funerals and. magnificent Tombs for them, as may be feen at large in Diodorus Siculus, Herodotus, and others -F. Some indeed ridiculed their fenfelefs. and ftupid. Neighbours, tho’ they themfelves were not Matters of fuperior Senfe in their Devotions. Anaxandrides reproaches the Egyptians for their. wretched and foolifh Idolatry ; but after all, this was only one Idolater deriding another. Dzony/ius was the moft notorious this: way: And moft knavifh in this kind was the Paznter, who,, when he fhould have drawn the Picture of /uch a Godde/s for a Grecian City, drew the Picture of his own Miftre/s, and fo made her to be adored by. the Citizens. Wuat Man could have forbore laughing, faid the Greek Poet above, to feean Egyptian on his Marrowbones, praying toan Ox as to a God, or howling over a fick Cat, fearing left his fcratche. ing God fhould die ? _ Upon the whole, ’tis no eafy matter to difcover the real Sen- timents of the Heathens about their Gods: they admitted fo many. fuperior and inferior Deities, who fhared the Empire, that all. was full of Gods. Some of the Antients fay, that a certain /udtzle Matter that made Stars intelligent, did refide in their facred Animals, Plants andi * Diodor. Siculus, Herodor. + Plut. Herodot. Furieu’s Critical Hiftory.. 215 216 A NATURAL HIST.ORY and Men, and efcaped Death: And this made them fit to par- take of fuch Worfhip, as they gave to the Stars. ——Sanchoniatho meant only, that the celeftial Bodies are intelligent, and fee what is done here below, and therefore were to be adored as Gods *. sn) On Gans ena EG Adoration of SERPENTS. Tue next thing that comes under Confideration is, the Wor- Jhip of Serpents, which 1s obferved thro’ all the Pagan Antiquity. Tue Devil, who, under the Shape of a Serpent, tempted our firft Parents, has, with unwearied Application, labour’d to deify that Animal, as a Trophy of his firft Victory over Mankind. The Conqueft made by the o/d Serpent in Paradi/e, and the won- derful Cures made by the Shadow of a Serpent in the Wilderne/s, contributed very much towards making that hateful Creature fo venerable in the Eyes of fo many Nations. Gop having paft Sentence upon the Serpent, Satan con/ecrates that Form in which he deceived the Woman, and introduces it into the World as an Object of religious Veneration : This he did with a view to enervate the Force of the divine Oracle, the Seed of the Woman. Scarcely a Nation upon Earth, but he has tempted to the groffeft Idolatry, and in particular got himfelf to be worfhipped in the hideous Form of a Serpent. Tue Almighty forefeeing this general Delufion, guarded the World againft it, by infpiring Men with the greateft Averfion to that venemous Creature, and yet was the Tempter ador’d in moft places under the Appearance of a Serpent. If you fay, that Men worthip other Creatures; I anfwer, Thofe are beneficial to Man- kind, and not fo odious and hurtful as thofe who carry Poifon in their Tails and Teeth. How furprizing this! thata Serpent, a Beaft to which Man- kind has a ftrong natural Averfion, thould be ador’d by Creatures of Reafon, and yet nothing more common, as will appear by the fal- lowing Inftances from Antiquity. EGYPT was a Country that abounded with Variety of Ser- pents, and where they were generally held in the greateft Vene- ration, ‘The fupreme God was reprefented by them in the Form of * Sanchaniatho’s Phenician Hift. by the Learned Bp. Cumberland, vol. i. p. 20,24- OF, SERPENT S. of a Serpent with a Hawk’s Head, becaufe of the wonderful Agility of that Bird. We fee no Table of Ofris and Ifs, two Egyptian Idols, without a Serpent joined to them *. This Js married Ofiris, King of that Country, and govern’d with fo much Wifdom and Gentlenefs, that the Egyptians paid divine Honours to them, who had been fuch Bleflings to the Land. In Egypt is a Serpent of the Afpick Kind, called Thermutis, to which they gave divine Worfhip; therefore crown’d with it the Statue of their Goddefs J/s. In the Corners of the Temples, they built little Chapels under ground, where they carefully fed this Thermutic Serpent, as a facred Genius +. Tue Egyptians alfo paid divine Honours to the Crocodile, that monftrous kind of Serpent, particularly the Inhabitants of 4r/inoé, and they who dwelt in the Neighbourhood of Thebes, and the Lake Meris; among whom ’twas fed by their Priefts with Bread, Wine, Flefh, and diverfe Rarities +. THHAUTUS, fo often mentioned by Sanchoniatho, attri- buted fome Deity to the Nature of the Serpent; an Opinion ap- proved by the Phenicians, therefore look’d upon as holy and im- mortal, and comes into the facred Myfteries ||. THeEy reprefented the World by a Circle, in the middle of which was a Serpent, reprefenting the good Demon, or Genius of the World, by which ’tis animated, and is a Symbol of the Almighty Creator. Behold here the Blafphemy of Satan, in giving to God the Form of a Serpent, which he had borrow’d himfelf to make war againft God in Paradife. They fometimes reprefented their Gods with the Bodies of Serpents, and honour’d thofe odious Animals with divine Worfhip, as Symbols of po/lo, of the Sux, and of Medicine, and were put into the Charge of Ceres and Proferpine. HERODOTUS obferves, that in his time, near Thebes, there were to be feen tame Serpents, adorn’d with Jewels, and confecrated to ‘fupiter, which did no harm to any body : When they died, they were buried in Fupiter’s Temple **. Alan eae F f sh 0) * Macrobii Oper. Sat. cap. xx. + Alian de Animalibas, lib. x. Conrad. Gefner. de Serp. p.32- + In Fonftonus de Quadruped, cap. viii. p. 142. || Eujeb. Prep. Evangel. 1. i. c.10. from Philo Biblius, the Tranflator of Sanchon. i ** —-__Ex Crocodilis alust. appendentes auribus vel gemmas——facris im urnis fepeliant. Euterpe, lib. ii, p. 186. 218 A NATURAL HISTORY of domeftick Serpents, that were in the Houfes of the Egyptians, and look’d upon as hou/hold Gods ; and of another Serpent wor- fhipped in a Tower at Melitus in Egypt, that had a Prieft and other Officers attending it, and ferved every day upon an Altar with Meal kneaded up with Honey, which the next day was found to be eaten. In Melite Eg. Draco divinis honoribus afi- citur in turrt quadam ... adfunt et facerdotes & minifiri; menfa... ex farina fubacta.... Herod, lib. 11. cap. 17. Tu & Phenicians alfo facrificed to Dragons, calling them theiz good Angels, their propitious and kind Spirits. Nothing more common in the Heathen Religion, than the Appearance of a Ser- pent in fome Form or other. Tut Babylonians worthipped a Dragon, which the Prophet Daniel, by a Commiffion trom the King, killed; which, one would think, was fufficient to convince the Royal Idolater of his egregious Stupidity in worfhipping a Creature as Confervator of Mankind, that could not preferve itsown Life. They reprefented. the World by a Circle in the Form of a Greek Theta ©, and the good Demon, by a Serpent in the midft of it; under which Figure, the Protectors of Countries and Cities, called tutelary Gods, were worthipped. Tue Arabians reputed Serpents /acred Beings, and therefore would allow no Violence to be offered to them; and this Super- {tition yet remains among thofe People, according to Veflingius, fays my Author. They take them into their Houfes, feed and worfhip them as the Gemz7, or Guardians of the Place: Not only. . Men, but every kind of Things, had its peculiar Genius. Two were afligned to each Perfon, a good and evil Genius, and thofe were thought to attend them from the Cradle to the Grave. We read of a facred Dragon that was kept in Phrygia in Afia Minor, whofe Refidence was in a Wood, dedicated to Diana, Goddefs of the Woods. Amone other ftrange Animals in the Ea/f-Indies, Alexander found in a Cave, a monjftreus Dragon, which the Inhabitants counted facred, and was adored by them, and daily fupplied with Food: The poor, ignorant, fuperftitious People, humbly addreft the Conqueror, not to attack that oly Place, and difturb the Re- pofe of their God. The victorious Army hearing its hideous and dreadful Roarings, were nota little terrify’d; they only faw its monftrous Head, when ftretch’d out of its Manfion, and its Eyes appeared OF SERPENTS. appeared to them to be as big as a large Macedonian Buckler, a Species of defenfive Armour *. Tue King of Calicut (in the Eaft-Indies, the moft powerful of all the Malabar Princes) caufes little Cottages to be erected _ for facred Serpents, to guard them againft the Inclemency of the Weather, and ’tis made Death to hurt them, being they are look’d upon as heavenly Spirits; and they believe them to be fuch for this Reafon, becaufe they kill Men fo fuddenly by the Wound they give, which 1s only a little Puntture, and would not prove fatal if given by other Creatures. Ir is obferved by fome, that Serpents at this day are highly honour’d in the Kingdom of Calicut, on this fide the Ganges, where the Inhabitants call their King Samorz, or Zamorin, that is, Sovereign Emperor, and God upon Earth. The Dragon be- ing a Serpent of the vigilant Tribe, was conftituted and made Guardian of their Houfes, of their oracular Temples, and of all their Treafures. Tuese Protectors of Placesand Poffeffions, they call’d Tute- lary Gods, and were worfhipp’d by them under the Symbol of Serpents, without whofe Sanétion no Methods of Protection were available. Ir is remarkable, that where the Figure of two Serpents was erected in any place, it was look’d upon asa Sign of confecrated Ground; that is, that the Place was holy, being dedicated to fome God ; for which Superftition they are ridiculed by one of their own Writers, viz. Perfius the Satirift, that lived under Nero, who tells us, that Children were forbid to empty themfelves in thofe Places, and not fo much as make-water, for the Place is holy, as appears by the Piéture of the two Serpents; the Language of which is, Profane not holy Ground. Woutp you, Sir, have your Poem pafs for a facred Com- pofure, then paint two Serpents in the Front of it. Beuwocp here the Original of that Popith Superftition, which forbids Men to make-water in the Church-Yard -. At Alba, ina Wood not far from Funo’s Temple, is a Dragon worfhipp’d by the Inhabitants, and for their greater Honour, fed by Virgins, thereby intimating, that Innocence was a proper At- tendant on the Gods. Ff 2 In * Conrad. Gefuer. p. 44,45. Gyllius. + Pinge duos angues, pueri, facer eft locus, extra Me ite nme ms Satir. i. 219 220 ceafed. A NATURAL HISTORY In Epirus, fouth of Macedonia, is a certain place facred to Apollo, and wall’d about, within which are kept /acred Dragons, fed likewife by a Virgin Prieftefs, uncloathed, which they believe to be moft acceptable to their idol Gods*; called by fuvenal, one of their own Poets, wenching Gods. Tue Eprroticks, who highly venerated Apollo, honour’d his Temple witha confecrated Dragon, which they worfhipp’d in fo- lemn remembrance of his killing the Pythonzce Serpent. It were well if the fame Spirit of Gratitude reign’d amongft Britons, to- wards the Heroes that deliver'd their Country from the great Ec- clefiaftical Dragon, by the glorious Revolution. Near Lavinium was a Grove of ferpentine Gods, dedicated: to Funo of Argos, which was a City in Peloponnefus (famous for the Shrine of 4/culapius) now the Morea, one of whofe Rivers is called Styx ; or rather a Well, whofe Water is fo cold and vene- mous, that it often kills fuch that drink thereof; and therefore defign’d by the Poets, to be a River of Hell: "Tis faid by fome, that Alexander was poifon’d with it. Ir’s well known what Worfhip was paid to the Serpent at Epidaurus, a Peleponnefian City, and the Manner how ’twas pre- tended that Serpent was brought to Rome, which is as follows, VIZ. THE Romans being forely diftreft by a Plague, they fent a Galley with Ambafladors to Epzdaurus, to bring the Serpent con- fecrated to AA/culapius to Rome, which of its own accord went aboard the Galley, and which was landed in the Ifle of Tyber, where divine Honours were paid to it; upon which the Plague Take it as reprefented by the Hiftorian, who fays, .... THAT the Plague raging terribly at Rome, and in the Vicinity, above three Years, did not abate, by any divine or hu- man Remedy, tho’ Men had tried both ; therefore by the Coun- fel of the Delphic Oracle, ten Ambaffadors were fent to fetch the Statue of /culapzus, that was ador’d in the Body of the great Serpent; hereupon, a very ftrange thing enfued, and manifeitly true, both from many faithful Hiftorians, and building the Tem- ple (dedicated to it) in the Ze of Tyder. WHEN the Roman Ambaffadors had delivered their Commands to the Epzdaurians, who brought them into the Temple of A/- culapius ® ABlian. lib. ii. cap. 2, ispere your, Fapevac. OF SERPENTS. culapius.... while they were admiring a huge Shrine, a great Serpent fliding of a fudden from the Adytum (which was a Place of Retirement in the Pagan Temples, where Oracles were given, into which none but Priefis were admitted) upon fight. of it the Priefts, in a devout Pofture, faid to the Company, that the Deity Shrouded itfelf in that Form, and when it appear’d in this Fa/hion, *twas look’d upon as a happy Omen. Tu E Serpent was feen for two Days in the Temple, and af- terwards difappeared, but on the third Day it paft thro’ the Croud (which gazed on and worfhip’d) and went dire@ly to the Port where the Roman Galley ftood; and having enter’d into it, laid itfelf down in the Cabin of 2, Ogulnius, the chief Ambaffador, They fet fail from thence....and foon arrived at Rome. The whole City came out to fee this wonderful Thing Altars were built, Incenfe burnt, and Sacrifices offer’d. The Serpent fwam over to the J/le of Tyber, (which afterwards was called Z/cula- pius’s Ife) and fince was never feen, Tue Senate concluding this Ifland to be the Place chofen by the God, decreed that a’ Temple fhould be built for E/culapius there——whereupon the Plague ceafed. The Temple grew fa- mous for rich Offerings, in Confideration of their Deliverance from the Plague by that Deity *. VALERIUS MAXIMUS fays, that the Priefts looking into the Szby/s Books, ob{ferved there was no other way to reftore the City to its former Health, but by bringing the Image of Z/- culapius from Epidaurus ... upon which Ambafladors were fent }, Tue Poets and Mythologifts, in order to fhew there was no Diftemper but A/culapius could cure, faid, he raifed the Dead. Thus at the Requeft of Dzana, he reftor’d Hzppolytus to Life, who had been torn to pieces by his Horfes. We can’t doubt of the Credulity of the People in thinking him rank’d among the Gods, after fo many Temples, In{criptions, and Medals dedicated to his Memory. Tue moft famous Temples confecrated to At/culapius, were that of Epidaurus {, that in the Ifle of Co, that of Cyrene, that of Pergamos, that in the Ifle of Tyéer |). As * Livy. lib. xi. Quere, Whether the Hiftorian’s Faith kept pace with his Pen 2 T Val. Maxim. \ib.i. cap. 8. See Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 25. ft Pliny Nat. Hift. lib. 4. c. 5. || For thefe, fee Strabo, Val. Maxi nus, Hercdot. Livy. ; # 225 A NATURAL HISTORY As to the Infcriptions in honour of A feulapius, Gruterus has thefe following, viz. Atfculapio, Hygee, & ceteris Diis G Deabus. Deo Hfculapio, & Hygea, confervatoribus. Deo Afculapu, & Dee Hygee. N.B. Tue Title of Confervator, or Saviour, was the ordi- nary Elogium of 4/culapius. In the Ifle of Co, there was a Coin whereon Afculapius was called the Saviour ; and fo on a Coin of Ancyra. Games are alfa mentioned, inftituted in honour of him as Saviour. The Symbol of A/culapius was a Serpent, or Dragon, about a little Rod, as may be feen in feveral Medals, and by the Teftimony of the Poet *, Wherever he was worfhip’d in Statues of a human Figure, a Staff was put into his Left-hand, with a Serpent about it. T urs feems to be the reafon why Antiquity reprefents the firft Mafters of Phyfick (as Hermes, Aifculapius, Hippocrates, in their Statues and Medals) with a Viper added to their Figure; and alfo why they worfhip’d thofe Phyfczans under the Fori of Serpents +. THe Serpent of A/culapius, the reputed God of Phyfick, had its Rife from the miraculous Cures done by Mo/es’s Serpent in the Camp of J/rac/: Serpents of bright and golden Colour were all counted facred to H/culapzus, and were cicurd, or made tame by human Arts. A Dragon was ufually annex'd to his Image, and to that of Health, nothing being thought ¢vaz/ab/e without the Prefence of a Serpent. At Pella in Macedonia, the Royal Seat, and Alexander's Birth- place, were Dragons of a large Bulk, but of a gentle Nature,: maintain’d at the Expence of the Government, as Creatures bear- ing a facred Charaéfer, and worthy of the publick Regard. Be- caufe many tame Serpents were kept in that Place, the fabulous Poets faid, Alexander was born of a Serpent. THe People of Argos in Greece, had Serpents in fuch great Veneration, that no-body was fuffer'd to kill chem with impunity f. The * Ovid. Metam. lib. 5. Qualis in ede.: . Effe folet, bacultumque tenens agrefte finiltra. + Salomonis Cellarii—Orizines G Antiquitates Medice. Printed at Hall in Saxony. $ lian. lib. xii. cap. 34. : OF SERPENTS. The Pagan Temples were wont to be haunted with Serpents, in fo much that it grew into a Phrafe of Speech, the /acred Serpent *. And thus Serpents are deified and folemnly enrolled among the Gods. SANCHONIATHON, a Phenician Hiftoriographer, and Philo Biblius, who tranflated his Antiquities, have left usa full Account of the Origin of the Apotheofis, or Canonization of Ser- pents +; which leads me to fay fomething of what the Ancients called Apotheofis of departed Souls, and the f{trange Ceremonies ufed in the Afotheofis or Deification of the deceafed Emperor, who had deferved well of their Country. APOTHEOSTS among the Ancients was a Pagan Cere- mony whereby Emperors and great Men were placed among the Gods, called alfo Dezfication, and Confecration: Temples and Altars were erected to the new Deities, wiz. Serpents and Men, Sacrifices offered to them; and for that end, Colleges of Priefts were inftituted for the Honour of thefe Demi-Gods. IT was one of the Doétrines of Pythagoras, which he bor- rowed from the Chaldeans, that ufeful and virtuous Perfons, after their Death, were raifedinto the Order of the Gods. Hence the Ancients deified all the Inventors of Things that were beneficial to Mankind, and thofe who had done Services of Importance to their Country. By degrees thefe ew Gods grew very numerous. One of their own, Poets rallying them for frequent Deifications, intro- duces poor Atlas, who is faid to bear the Heavens on his Shoulders, complaining, that he was ready to fink under the Number and Weight of fo many zew Gods, as were every day coin’d, and added to the Heavens, which made his Shoulders to warch. N.B. Atlas in Anatomy is the Name of the firft Vertebra of the Neck, which fupports the Head, and is the higheft, fo called in allufion to the famous Mountain 4élas in Africa, {uppos’d to be the higheft in the World, fo that it feems to hold up the Hea- vens; and alfoto the Fable that makes 4t/as King of Maurz- tania in that Country, to bear up the vifible Heavens. I now proceed to the Deicription which we have in Herodian, a Greek Hiftorian in the third Century, who in {peaking of the Apotheo/is 5g * Sacer anguis. } Sanchoniarhon is fuppofed by fome to be cotemporary with Gideow. 223 A NATURAL HISTORY of the Emperor Severus, gives usa very full Account of that ftrange Ceremony, wz. ....- AFTER the Body of the deceafed Emperor had been burnt with the ufual Solemnities, they placed an Image of Wax perfectly like him, but of a fickly Afpect, on a large Bed of Ivory, covered with Cloth of Gold, which they expofed to pub- lick View at the Entrance of the Palace-Gate. Tue greateft Part of the Day the Senate fat ranged on the left fide of the Bed, dreft in Mourning Robes ; the Ladies of the firft Rank fitting on the right fide, in plain and white Robes, without any Ornaments. ... This lafted for feven Days fuccef- fively ; during which, the Phyficians came from time to time to vifit the Sick, always making their Report that he grew worfe, till at length they publifh’d it, that he wasdead. Tuis done, the young Senatorsand Roman Knights took the Bed of State upon their Shoulders, carrying it thro’ the Vza /acra to the old Forum, where the Magiftrates ufed to diveft themfelves of their Offices: There they fet it down between two kinds of Amphitheatres ; in the one, were the Youth, and in the other the Maidens of the firft Families in Rome, finging Hymns {fet to folemn Airs in praife of the Deceafed. Tuosre Hymns ended, the Bed was carried out of the City into the Campus Martius, in the middle of which Place was e- rected a kind of fquare Pavilion ; the Infide thereof was full of combuftible Matter, and the Outfide hung with Cloth of Gold, and adorned with Figures of Ivory, and various Paintings. Over this Edifice were feveral others, like the firft in Form and Decoration, but lefs; always diminifhing, and growing flen- derer towards the Top, anda great many aromatick Perfumes, and odoriferous Fruits and Herbs were thrown all around: Ajiter which, the Knights made a Proceffion in folemn Meafures about the Pile; feveral Chariots ran round it, thofe who conducted them being clad in purple Robes, and bearing the Images of the greateft Roman Emperors and Generals. THis Ceremony ended, the new Emperor came to the Cz- tafalco or Pile with a Torch in his hand, and at the fame time Fire was put to it on all fides by the Company, the Spices and all Combuftibles kindling all at once. While this was doing, they let fly from the Top of the Building an Eaglk, which r mounting OF SERPENTS. mounting into the Air with a Firebrand, carried the Soul of the dead Emperor along with it into Heaven, asthe Romans believ’d; and thenceforward he was ranked among the Gods. Tis for this Reafon that the Medals wherein the 4potheofes are reprefented, have ufually an Altar with Fire upon it, or however an Eagle taking its Flight into the Air, and fometimes two Eagles *. A Certain Emperor being asked, what he had done to merit an Apotheofis? We anfwered, He had always ftudied to re- jemble the Gods. And being afked again, In what did he endea- vour to be likethem? Heanfwered, In having as few Wants as poffible of my own, and doing good in the moft extenfive Way to others. TuerReE is noPlace fo remote in the World, but has been polluted with this monftrous Idolatry, of wor/hipping Serpents. The northern Hiftorians tell us, the People of Lithuania in Po- land worthip’d Serpents ; and ’tis not long ago, fince that grofs Idolatry was abolifh’d, of which Sigé/mund Baron of Herber/iein, gives us this memorable Story, viz. — RETURNING, fays he, from Mafovia near Wilna, my Hoft acquainted me, he had bought a Hive of Bees, from one of thefe Serpent-Worfhippers, whom with much ado he had per- fuaded to kill the Serpent, and worfhip the true God: Within a while after coming that Way, he found the poor Fellow mi- ferably tortured and deformed, his Face wrinkl’d and turn’d awry, and demanding the Caufe of it, he anfwer’d, uzz. THAT this fudgment was inflitted upon him for killing his God, and that he was like to endure heavier Torments if he did not return to his former Worfhip. Which brings to my Mind a Paflage in one of the Fathers, relating to the Carthagimans, who having been compelled by Agathocks King of Sicily to leave off thofe horrid Sacrifices of human Victims to Saturn, for- bore them a long time : Buta great Calamity being brought upon them for difufing thofe human Sacrifices; and to atone for their Neglect, they facrificed at once two hundred Children of the nobleft Families in Carthage -p. G But * Herodian, who writ his Hiftory in 8 Books, from whom we have the Cere- monies of the Apotheofis of the Roman Emperors, lib. 4. + Cum victi effent ab Agathocle rege Siculorum, iratum fibi Deum putaviffe, ita- que ut diligentius piaculum folverent ducentos nobilium filios immolaffe. Laétan- tius. Lib. 1. Sect. 21. p. 67. Luzd. Batav. Os 226 A NATURAL HISTORY BuT toreturn tothe Baron of the North, who adds, That in his Time, the People in Samogitia, Eat of the Baltick Sea, did ftill pay divine Honours to a Serpent asa Deity.... Some of thofe that inhabit the Deferts, adore a four-fosted Serpent, under the Name of Givoft. Few Families there, are without Serpents, for their Deme/tich Gods, to whom they give more than ordinary Veneration, tho’ at the fame time they profefs the Chri- ftian Faith *, which Fagelfo their Prince received Anno Domini 1386. zbid. Tue Englifh Cofmographer accounts for them thus, vz. ** The People anciently had Fzre and Serpents for their Gods, | ‘© nourifhing the laft in their Houfes, and keeping the other “ continually burning; the Priefts of the Temple always adding “* Fuel, that it might not fail. The Veftal Fire was not kept more carefully at Rome, nor with greater Ceremony ....To~™ «© this God, (whom they call’d, Lord of the Smoke,) they ufed “* to facrifice young Pullets, to the other their Cocks -+-.” The Seed of this Idolatry is fo implanted in them, that ’tis faid, that in a Village of the King’s, called Lovaniski, their chief City, they do, tothis day wor/hip Serpents. ibid. Tue Lithuanians, tis faid, ador’d three Gods, Fire, Weed, and Serpents. Thefe laft were counted their Guardian Gods. And according to a certain Hiftorian, this kind of fuperftitious and diabolical Worfhip continues yet in fome Parts of the Kingdoms of Norway and Vermolandia ¢. Tue Inhabitants of Prujia were barbarous and wild in the higheft degree, having of old no manner of Religion, or next to none, and firft began with the Worfhip of Serpents ||. There are Countries in the Indies, fays Furteu, where Serpents are wor- fhip’d to this day.’ “ARISTOPHANES, in the Comedy entitled Plutus, ob- ferves that the Deity gave the Sign, w/z. by Aijing; upon which two monftrous Dragons {kip’d out of the Temple **, WHEN * Atlas Exrope, p. 26r. + Heylin’s Cofmogr. lib. 2. Poland p, 143. t Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Up/sl. _ Hiftory of the Gorhs. ** Erafim. Stella in the Antiquities of Prujfta. Lib: t. tt Ove dpaxovr’ sx Te vem Fyagmenta p. 52. Dixerat hee adytis cum lubricus anguis ab imis. OF SERPENTS. Wuen £neas facrificed to the Manes, (the departed Soul) of his Father Anchifes, he faw a Serpent come out of his Grave, which he concluded to be either the Tutelar God of his Father, or of that Place, which was counted a good Omen. W £ have an Account of fome Prieftsin 4fa that expofe to publick View a Serpent in a brazen Veffel, attended with a great Variety of Mufick. The Serpent appears in an ereé Pofture, opens its Mouth, and inftead of a forked Tongue, appears the Head of a beautiful Virgin *. NICHOLAS de Lyra makes mention of fuch another idle Conceit, viz. That the Serpent affumed the Face of a beautiful Maid, when it tempted Eve. N.B. In the German Bibles print- ed before Luther, among other Figures may be feen that of a Ser- pent with the Face of a very handfome Maid. In fhort, fo great was the Devotion paid to Serpents, that Perfons and Things were denominated from them: Yea, fome would be thought to proceed from Serpents, as the higheft De- gree of Honour. Cadmus's Companion was called a Serpent, fo the Giant in Homer, and a certain Prophet in Paufanias. In the Primitive Church were an heretical Se@; called Ophites, that is Serpents. In Cyprus,and about the Hellefpont, were a certain People that went by the Name Serpent. Soa Soothfayer in Mef- fenia, Ge. But thefe came fhort of Alexander the Great, and Scipio Africanus, who were faid to be born of Serpents, which they look’d upon to be the dbrighte/t Infiguia in their E/cutcheon'; but more of this Serpentine Pride in the next Chapter. In fuch wonderful Efteem were Serpents among thens, that all manner of Creatures were called by their Name, as Stars, Animals, Plants, Trees, Herbs, Rivers, Stones, Hlands, Proverbs. ... . Nothing was accounted Divine and Grand, unlef graced by a Serpent -+. From this Divinity afcrib’'d to Serpents, Phee recides took occafion to make a Diflertation concerning the Deity called Ophion, from Os a Serpent f. * Phil, Melanchton. + Conradus Gefner. + Eufeb. Praeparat. Evang. Gee CHAP. 229 228 A NATURAL HISTORY CHAP give lV, ; CoNTENTs. Reafons for worfbipping Serpents, feem to rife from Mifapplication of fome Scripture Paffages: But efpecially, 1. From the Tri- umphs of the Paradifaic Serpent. Pagan Haiftory from Motes. In the primitive Church, a Sect of Chriftians worfbip’d Serpents, and faid the Serpent in Paradifeé was a good Creature. 2. From the miraculous Cures done by the brazen Serpent. Alexan- der affected the Honour of being begot by a Serpent, ador'd as a Ged, by a Decree of the Priefts. WW? AT Reafon can be afigned for giving religious Worfhip to Serpents? I anfwer, Ir is no eafy Matter to find out the Original of Pagan Idola- try, having no authentick Records of thofe remote Times, there- fore Conjectures, or nothing muft content the honeft Enquirer : Something may be offer’d, without going beyond our Depth. Before I proceed, it may be proper to obferve, viz. That Know- ledge f{prung from the Sons of Noah, who doubtlefs inftructed their Succeffors in the Hiftory of the Creation, the Conqueft of Paradife by a Serpent, that introduced the Knowledge of Good and Evil upon Earth. TuHose whom we call Heathens, at firft were Members of the true Church ; the further Men went from the Spring, the Streams _ grew more muddy, and ftrange Conftructions were put upon the Hiftory of Adamand Eve, Noah, andhis Progeny, which in pro- cefs of Time was metamorphofed into a Narrative of Fooleries and fabulous Gods. So the Mo/aick Hiftory of their Travels thro’ the Wildernefs, and the Promulgation of the Law upon Mount Szva7, were ftrange and ftupendous Events, that foon fpread over the Nations in fome Shape or other. In the Phenician Theology, we find the Creation defcribed, almoft in the Terms ufed by Mofes. Diodorus Siculus fays, the Antients livd upon Roots and Fruits. The Phenician Re- cords mention Uyoris, i.e. Adam, the firft that wore Garments made of Animal Skins. The Vulcan of the Heathen ue as ubal- Oh. SE RP EN Ts: Tubal-cain of Mojes, (Gen. iv, 22.) the firft Artificer in Brafs and Iron: Plato’s Atlanticus is a Fable founded upon the Hiftory of Noab’s Flood: The Fable of the Giants {torming Heaven, is ta- ken frem the Builders of the Tower of Babel, as before: Yea, fays a Learned Father (after Numenius, the celebrated Pythagorean and Platonif?) what is Plato but Mofes in an Athenian Drefs*? But to be more particular, 1. SATAN, who conducted the War in Eden, difplay’d his Art under the Form of a Serpent, which Mo/es reprefents as a Creature of fuperior Wifdom, and Illuminator of Mankind. Now the Tradition, that the ff? Serpent had rot only the Gift of fpeaking, but of communicating Science, and had held a Conference with the firft Woman, to the vaft Increafe of her Knowledge, might at laft {well to fuch a degree, that ignorant People might attri- bute to that Serpent, and her Race, a kind of Divinity; and for this Reafon alfo, becaufe in the Perfections of the Mind fhe ex- ceeded our firft Parents, who being conftituted Governors of the Earth, muft be fuppofed to be furnifh’d with extraordinary Ac- complifhments: But, fays Tradition, here is one who infufed greater Knowledge into them, and made them more wife; and they, for contefting with the Wi/dom of the Serpent, were turned out of Paradife, and ordain’d their Dwelling to be among the Beafts of the Field. SuReELy, might the People fay, fo great a Being as'this Ser- pent merits our awful Regards. Now, how far fuch Thoughts might operate in thofe early days of Ignorance and Superttition, I determine not: The Serpent indeed, is faid to be more fubtle than the Beafts of the Field, but not more wife than Adam and Eve. It is more ftrange, to think that in the primitive Church there were certain Hereticks call’d Opbites, took their Name from Ophis +, who worfhipped the Serpent that betray’d Eve, and af- cribed all forts of Knowledge to that Animal, maintain’d ’twas a good Creature, and that our firft Parents were inftructed by it to know Good and Evil. Yea, they believed, ‘‘ the Serpent that “* tempted 3 Ts yep ect Maarav % Moons arrintwr. Quid enim eft Plato, nifi Mofes qui loquitur “ittice? Or, Quid enim aliud eft Plato, quam Mofes Atticiffans? Clementis Alexandrini Opera, Strom. lib1. Colovie p. 342. t A Greek word that fignifies a Serpent. 229 230 A NATURAL HISTORY “tempted Eve was the Chri/?, who afterwards came down and ‘¢ was incarnate in the Perfon of “fe/us: That it was Fe/us, but “not the Chriff, that fuffer’d; for which reafon they made al! “ Profelytes to their Sect, to renounce Fes *.” If a Sect of Chriftians fpeak after this manner, what Ideas muft the Heathen form of things ? One of the Fathers {peaking of thefe Hereticks, obferves how they affirm’d, ——That Wifdom made it/elf a Serpent——had given Knowledge to Man, and that the Pofition of Man’s Bowels, winding about like Serpents, fhews that there is in us a hidden Subftance that engenders the Figure of Serpents-+-. Surely thofe Fathers of the Church were Children in Underftanding, that gave way to fuch myftical Conundrums. Call them no more Fathers, but Children of Antiquity. Tuese Hereticks, in the Confecration of the Eucharift, al- ways had a Serpent ready in a Box, which they produced on that Occafion, making it come out by certain Charms, and lick the Bread, and having kifled the fame, they eat itt. Another Hifto- tian expreffes it thus, vz. ‘‘ When their Priefts celebrated their «* Myfteries, they made one of thefe Creatures to come out of “* his Hole, and after he had roll’d himfelf upon the Things that *< were to be offer’d in Sacrifice, they faid Fe/us Chrift had fanéti- “« fied them, and then gave them to the People to worfhip them ||.” N. B. 1 don’t apprehend how the Learned Abbot makes them bring in the Name e/us here, a Name which in the fame Page he fays, they obliged their Profelytes to renounce. Turs ftrange Superftition feems to be derived from the Hea- then, who at the Feafts of Bacchus, ufed to carry a Serpent, and to cry, Evia, Evia**: And Evia, fays Clemens Alexandrinus, if it be afperated, Heviz, fignifies in the Hebrew, a female Ser- pent. Dr. Lightfoot obferves, that there being no fuch Word in the Hebrew, Clemens muft mean the Chaldee, in which Hivia fignifies a Serpent. 2. THE Reputation gain’d by theSerpent in Paradife, was heigh- ten’d by the wonderful Cures done by the brazen Serpent in the Wildernefs. * Calmet. + Irenaeus adv. Heref. (lib. 1. tap. 34.—/ophiam ferj entem f:&zm—) who flou- rifh’d in the clofe of the 2d Century. { Bingh. Index Heret. | Calmez’s Hificr, Did. v1. ii- p. 668. _ 3* Evia, suse OF SERPENTS. Wildernefs, As this ftrange Occurrence was capable of various Gloffes, fo it muft undergo different Conftructions. The Brazen Serpent was brought to Canaan, where ’twas kept in remembrance of the miraculous Cures their Forefathers had received from it in the Wildernefs; and, ‘tis probable, the J/raelites themfelves were the firft that paid divine Honours to it, and the Idolatry might Paes the days of the Judges; others fay, under the Kings of udah *, s Ir lay quiet there, until thofe Days, the Children of Ifrael burnt Incenfe to it. ‘That is, from the days J/rae] began to commit Idolatry, to the days of Hezekiah ; who, to prevent the Growth of that Serpentine Idolatry, drake 7m pieces the brazen Serpent that Mojes had made. 2 Kings xviii. 4, Tue Sound of the ftrange Cures done by the brazen Serpent, foon fpread over the forfaken Nations, who, obferving how the Wounded were healed by looking at it, conceived it to be a pro- per Inftrument to be their Mediator, and confequently a fit Object for their Adoration, when even the Wounded in J/rae/, by ad- drefling to its Shadow, were healed. 3. Ir is moft probable, that the Adoration of Serpents by the Pagans, fprung from thefe two Fountains, THE Wifdom of the Serpent in Paradife, and the miraculous Cures done by the Shadow of a Serpent in the Wildernefs ; which were improved by the Devil to fecure his Honour and Intereft, who wanted not Priefts to difplay the Glories of their Character, to make the Serpent honourable in the fight of his Vaflals. From hence, the Egyptians, Phenicians, yea moft Nations, did imagine the Serpent to have fome Divinity im its Nature, and for that reafon (as hinted before) honour’d it with facred Homage; this the Devil did, with a view to leflen Men’s Efteem for the Al- mighty Creator. Hence alfo fome Men of fuperior Dignity have affected to be efteem’d more than meer Men, making this as an Argument, that they were Jegot by Serpents, as we obferved already, therefore I thall only add, vz. Tuat Alexander the Great, after he had taken Rhodes, Egypt and Cilicia, addrett fupiter Hammon to know his Original, for his Mother *® Furiet, vol.ii. from Rabbi Kimchi, who fays they burnt Incenfe to it, from the time the Kings of Zxdab had corrupted themuelves .... . 17 lecsz. 231 23 A NATURAL: HISTOR Y Mother Olympias had confeft to his Father Phrlip, that Alexan- der was not begot by him, but by a Serpent of vaft Bulk; where- upon Philip was divorced from his Wife O/ympias, and Alexander was faluted Son of Hammon, and by Order of the Priefts, his Com- panions were enjoin’d to worfhip him as a God, and not asa King. ALEXANDE R,when he hadconquer’d Darzus III. farnam’d Codomannus, and was poffeft of the Perfian Empire, writ to the Grecians, that they fhould decree him to be a God. Hereupon feveral Decrees were made: The Lacedemonians expreft their Compliance in this fhort Decree, viz. Fora/much as Alexander would be a God, let him be a God. Thus with Laconick Brevity, fafhionable among the Lacedemonians, they humour’d and repro- ved the Pride of their King at once *. VARRO was of Opinion, that all gallant and heroick Men fhould believe themfelves, tho’ falfly, to iffue from the Gods.... that upon this Suppofition, they might attempt great things with moreCourage, and profecute them with more Ardency ; and tho’ the Motive was but imaginary, yet might produce glorious Effects +. When Varro writ this, ’tisprobable he had Alexander the Great in his view. SucH 1s their Opinion of their King in Chzza, that they think he is defcended from the Race of fome Demi-God, and fo adore him accordingly. ‘They believe there is fome Divinity in his Blood, in fo much that he never marries any but his next Rela- tives, for fear of ftaining the Royal Blood f. AmonG the Antients, Serpents were Emblems of Power; therefore Epaminondas, the brave Theban General, to encourage his Army againft a powerful Enemy, bruz/ed the Head of a Serpent before them as a Prognoftick of Victory. Tauus King Fames I. tho’ the Dupe of all Chriftendom, fays a certain Gentleman, yet was the grand Idol of the Court-Clergy. That Pedantry which would have brought a School-Boy under the juft Difcipline of the Rod, in him was reprefented by his pa- rafitical Preferment-hunting Ecclefiafticks, as divine Eloquence, and the Infpiration of the Almighty... . CUGAyaY © Eresdy Aaetavdpos Gouaerat Oz32 evar Zoo Os35- fBliani varie Hik. lib. ii. Cp. Xix. + Ex Diis genitos— Axg. de Civitate Dei. cap. 4. $ Howel’s Londinopolis. p. 384. OF SERPENTS. CHAP. VI. Reafons for worfhipping hurtful as well as ufeful Creatures, founded on a Notion of two eternal contrary Principles: They believe God was good, and could not be the Author of moral Evil, therefore fram'd the Ditheiftical Dottrine; an Error, efpoufed by fome primitive Chriftians, confuted by the Sentence paft upon the Ser- pent. Reafons for worfhipping different Species of Animals by the Egyptians. HENCE arifes the Honour given by Heathens to diffe- rent Species of Beings, to the noxious and hurtful, as well as to the falutary and beneficent Tribe ? PROBABLY, it might be from their obferving the Mixtures f Good and Evil in the vifible Creation, when as yet in their infantile State of Knowledge: The reafon of this they could no otherwife account for, but by giving into the Notion of two di/tinét andependent governing Powers ; the one a good, the other an evil Genius : accordingly they worfhipped Creatures that were ufeful, as being the Minifters of the good Genius; and thofe that were hurtful they paid Homage to, out of fervile Fear, and to ingra- tiate themfelves into their Favour. In the Morning they wor- fhipped the ce/e/fial Gods; in the Evening, the zzfernal: On the Plain they worfhipped the terreftrial Gods, on Hills the fuperna- tural ; in Groto’s and Caves, the infernal. HENCE it is they aflerted a Duplicity of Gods, wiz. Two perceptive felf-exiftent Beings, one the Principle of Good, and the other of Evil. This Opinion originally {prung from a ftrong, firm Perfuafion, That God was invariably Good, and therefore could not poffibly be the Author of the Evil upon Earth. Nor could they otherwife folve the Difficulty about the Entrance of moral Evil into our World, but by fuppofing another eternal felf-exiftent evil Caufe. Yea, fome among the primitive Chriftians fell into the Error of afferting this Dzthez/tical DoGtrine; that is, two felf-exiftent Principles in the Univerfe, to wit, a good God, and an evil Demon. Thus the Cerdonites, an heretical Seét, that {prung up in the fe- cond Century, held there were two Gods; one, the Author of Hh all 233 234 A NATURAL HISTORY all good, the other, of all evil Things. So the Marcionites held two contrary Gods; and in the third Century, the Manichees did the fame. PerRHAPS, this might be one reafon why God paft Sentence upon the Devil in the Serpent, in the prefence and hearing of our firft Parents, viz. to prevent the Error of imagining that there was.any Principle of Evil, which was independent upon the Al- mighty. ‘The Sentence paft upon Satan in the Curfe upon the Serpent, was a Conviction to Adam and Eve of his Dependency upon the Almighty Creator, before whofe Tribunal he now was. conftrained to appear, to receive the Sentence merited by thofe, who make a Lye, and tempt their Fellow-creatures to rebel. REASONS about the Adoration of different kind of Animals by the Egyptians. Ir you afk, that if they worfhipped a Serpent, why did they pay religious Honours to fo many other Beafts? Janfwer, This montftrous Idolatry begun in Egypt, and the firft occafion for it feems to be this, vz. OSIRIS, a certain King of Egypt, who reign’d with. great Equity and Mildnefs, having divided his Kingdom into feveral diftiné Provinces, appointed Prefidents over them, and in their Banners he placed the Figures, or Pictures of certain Animals, that bore fome Similitude to the Peculiarities of thofe Countries, over which they were to prefide : Thus to the Governor, whofe Land was proper for Tillage, he defign’d an Ox in his Standard, to which the Inhabitants of that Place paid a particular Veneration, which in procefs of time was worfhipped by the whole Nation, for its Ufefulnefs, and as the Symbol of Agriculture: Hence the Image of O/iris is fet off with Horns. ‘Tu £ golden Calf which Aaron made in the Wildernefs, and the Calves fet up by ‘fereboam to be worfhipped in his Kingdom, - were an Imitation of the idolatrous Adoration, which the Egyp- fians paid to their Bull Apis. TuaT part of the Country, in which was abundance of Wa- ter, the King fet a Crocodile (an amphibious Animal) in his Ban- ner, that was to govern there, which was had in high Venera- tion, efpecially in the City of Mirra; and at laft the Crocodzle was worthipped all over. gypr. WHERE OF SERPENTS. WueEReE the Country abounded with Wood, a Dog was fixt in the Governor's Standard, to which the Egyptzans gave no little Veneration, efpecially Sportfmen.... asthe Poet obferves*. THaT which gives fome colour to this Partition of Ofris’s Kingdom, is, “that God ordained very near the fame thing to be “ obferved in the Encampments of the J/raelites, when he divided ‘the twelve Tribes into four Bodies, and allotted to one of the “three Tribes, belonging to each Body, the Figure of an Animal “to be placed in the Banner: Thus, that of Reuben carried the ‘Figure of a Man; that of “fudah, a Lion; that of Dan, an “« Fagle; and that of Ephraim, an Ox --”. AFTER this manner the Egyptzan Monarch did place in their Banners the Figures of certain Animals, which by degrees were ufher’d into their Religion and Temples. N. B. THese Banners thus painted with different Animals, were fixt upon Poles, between their feveral Provinces, by which their Bounds were determined. Semiramis, being conquered by Staurobates, Antiquity feign’d fhe was changed by the Gods into a Dove, the Bird of Venus, which is the reafon why the Dove was worfhipped by the Babylonians, and why they gave it in their Enfign. I Concriupe this Part with fome Inftances, that are given of the Sottifhnefs of Pagans in what they called religious Worfhip, which indeed is almoft incredible, if they were not common, and well attefted, The Egyptzans did not’ only worthip variety of Beafts, but alfo'the Figures of them, as the Reprefentatives of their Gods: Each City and Diftriat entertain’d a peculiar Devo-~ tion for fome particular Beaft or other, in honour of which they built Temples ; yea, every one of the Pagan Deities had his own Beaft, Tree and Plant confecrated to him. Thus the Prgeov was confecrated to Venus ; the Dragon and Owl to Minerva ; the Eagle to Fupiter; the Cock to Ai/culapius.and the Sux. ‘This, fays Fu- rieu, isthe true Origin of the Egyptian Idolatry. Ibid. Who adds, The Egyptians affign’d to their Gods certain Animals, as their Reprefentatives, and being introduced into the Temples, as the Images were in fome Chriftian Churches, they at lait be- Ely gan * Oppida tota canem venerantur, nemo Dianam. Juvenal. Satir. xv. The Dog whole Towns, Diasa none implore. + Furien’s Crit. Hift, vol. ii. “ 5 8) 235 236 A NATURAL HISTORY gan to worfhip them. This points out the Impiety of admitting any fymbolical Reprefentations of Divinity into Places of publick Worfhip. NoTu1NG more monftrous than the Divinity of the Pagans ; their Gods were innumerable. Every thing on Earth, in the Sea, in the Heavens, yea, and in Hel/, had their peculzar Gods: If Egyptians, who paft for the wifeft of Mortals, paid religious Adoration to meer Animals, not only to Serpents, but Apes, Wolves, yea, Dogs, Cats,.... and to Vegetables, as Onions, Garlick .... what fhall we think of {tupid Nations, who had no Claim to Wifdom ? Even in Athens (that celebrated Fountain of Light) were more Idols than in all Greece ; yea, fo numerous were their Idols, that they had almoft as many Gods as Men *. STRABO, Procopius, and Ben ‘fonas fay, the antient Per- frans kept and worfhipped their perpetual Fire on Mount Albors, a Branch of Caucafus. The aponefe worthip the Devil, and the Head of their Religion is called Dair, whom they worthip as a God. Atlas. I SHoutp rather think the Perfians ador’d the fapreme God, under the Image of Fire, by reafon ’tis Fire gives Motion to every thing in Nature, and therefore they made it an Emblem of Di- vinity. : Ti E Hebrews kept up the holy Fire in the Temple, and the Veftals were appointed to keep the facred Fire of the Romans. VULCAN was worthipped among the Antients, and parti- cularly the Egyptzans, as the Inventor of Fire. ‘Tue People of Egypt exceeded moft Nations in depreciating Divinity by grofs Superititions and Idolatry; they did not err in worfhipping Mortals only, but they gave Reverence to Beafts, Birds, Infeéts, Winds, Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Plants, &c. whom Rhodius Anaxandrides, one of themfelves, derides in this manner : I facrifice to God the Beef, which you adore ; I broil th’ Egyptian Eels, which you as God implore. You * Paeilius poffis Deum, quam hominem inyenire. ORS fH RIE EIN Ff &. You fear to eat the Fle/b of Swine, I find it fweet : You worfhip Dogs, to beat them I think meet, When they my Store devour *. THus Yuvenal, another Heathen Poet, ridicules their reti- gious Fooleries: Ob happy Nations ! which, of their own fowing, Have jtore of Gods, in ev'ry Garden growing +. Tue Images of the Gods, fays Seneca, are worfhipped; thefe they pray unto and adore, and while they greatly admire them, at the fame time defpife the Workmen that made them t, Which alfo Sedulius their Poet {coffs at, faying, Who worfhip Vani- ties.... defpife their own Maker.... fear the Works of their own Hands.... What Madnefs! that Man fhould ugly Shapes adore of Bulls, Birds, Dragons, the vile Half-Dog, or Half-Man, on Knees for Aid implore ||.—— YeT among the Nations were fome who thought it Impiety to reprefent their Gods by Images, as the Perfians, Indian Brach- mans, &c**, Yea, the Romans, for 170 Years, would not allow Images in their Temples, obferving the Law of Numa. It was Tarquinius Prifcus that followed the Vanity of the Greczans (a Nation of all others, excepting Egypt, moft deluded by the old Serpent) fet up the Images of their Gods, which even the Learned Varro bewailed and condemned. The Mahometans have a per- fect Averfion to Images. The ews hate all Images, will not al- low any in their Houfes, much lefs in Places of Worfhip. But to proceed : THe apoftate Indians worfhip both Gods and Devils, over which they acknowledge a Supreme, who fends forth other Dei- ties as his Deputies; which they think to be the Souls of good Men ; * Bovem colis, ego Deis macto Bovem ; Tu maximum anguillam, Deum putas: ego, Obfoniorum credidi, fuavifimum, Carnes fuillas, tu caves, at gaudeo His maxime. Canem colis, quem verbero. Edentem, ubideprehendo, forte obfonium. _ + Porrum & czpe nefas violare & frangere morfu, Oh fanctas gentes quibus hc nafcuntur in-hortis Numina !——— Sat.xv. 1. 8,9, to. ¢ Simulachra Deorum venerantur——fabros qui illa fecére, contemnunt. t Heu miferi vana colunt——ut volucrem, turpemque Bovem, torvumque Dra- conem, fem-hominemque canem {upplex homo pronus adore. ** Ho/pinian, de Origine Imaginum. SA 7/ 228 A NATURAL HISTORY Men; and Devils, the Souls of the Wicked.... They imagine the Sun and Moon to be Gods; their Idols are reprefented as Montters of the kind*. «In the Kingdom of Pegu inthe Eaft, the People are exceed- “ing fuperftitious, and fcruple not to worfhip the Devil, whom ‘«‘ they reckon the Author of Evil; as they do God, of Good: ‘* And in all Calamities, their firft Addrefles are to the evil Spirit, “« for Deliverance ; and they make Vows to him, which they ‘* perform upon their Recovery, with the Affiftance of their “¢ Priefts, whom they call the Devil’s Father, and he direéts them “to make facred Feafts with Mufick.” Many of them run about in the Morning with a Torch in one Hand, and Rice in the other ; pretending to give the Devil his Breakfaft, that he may not hurt them that Day. Others at their Meals, throw part of what they have over their Shoulders, to feed him, before they eat any themfelves. Jdid. p. 662. Av Tavay in that Country, they replenifh their Houfes with Viduals, and leave them for three Months, that the Devils may dwell and feed there, and be favourable all the reft of the Year. zbid. They havea fort of Monks called Talapoins, who endea- vour to root out this Devil-Worfhip, but without effect. Tue Arufpices, were an Order of Prieffs among the antient Remans, who pretended to foretell Events, chiefly by infpecting the Entrails of Beafts killed in Sacrifice.... Birds, and celeftial Appearances. Cato, who was one of the Augurs, confcious of their impious Politicks, ufed to fay, He wondered how one Prieft could look at another without laughing in his Face. Thefe Augu- ral Priefts made a College, or Community ; they bore an Augural Staff or Wand, called Lztuus, made in form of a Cregier, or a Bifhop’s Staff, or Shepherd’s Crook, as the Enfign of their Office and Authority——And what is moft ridiculous is, that no Affair of Moment could be refolved upon, without firft confulting thefe holy Cheats; and their Advice, be what it would, was by a De- cree of the Senate appointed to be exa¢tly and religioufly obferved. Ornithomancy, or Divination by Birds, was, among the Greeks, the fame with Augury among the Rowmens. Ar Angola and Congo in the Ea/i-Indies, wooden Idols, re- fembling Negroes, are erected in the midft of their Towns, which they daily worfhip. Tis their Belief they are never fick, but when * Atlas Afi a page 662. OF SERPENTS. when their Idols are angry with them; therefore to appeafe them, they pour at their Feet the Wine of Palms. They wath, paint, and new cloath their Dead, and bury with them Meat, Drink, and fome of their Goods, and fprinkle the Grave with the Blood of Goats. ‘Fheir Priefts are in fuch high Efteem, that they think - Plenty and Famine, Life and Death, are in their power *. Tue old Inhabitants of Virginia believed many Gods, but ' one principally, who made the reft....and that the Woman: was made before the Man, and propagated by the Help of one of the inferior Gods. The Natives are nthropomorphites, giving, ro their Gods. the Forms of Men..... When they go abroad, they carry their Gods about with them, and in Matters of Doubt afk Counfel of them. Much of their Devotion confifts in howl- ing and dancing about Fires, with Rattles in their Hands.. Quere, Whether this Cuftom be not the Original of Caftanets or Snappers in Dancing +? ANOTHER Inftance of monftrous Degeneracy, we have a-- mong the Phenjcians, who offer’d yearly Sacrifices to Saturn of young Infants; and in the Temple of Venus, practifed not only: Whoredom, but the moft unnatural Sin of Sodomy alfo; yea,. by the Laws of their Religion, were bound to proftitute their Daughters to Venus, before they married them :. In their Temple the Women who refufed to be fhaved, were obliged to yield up. their Honour to Strangers for one day. In the Country, now called New Spain, the old Inhabitants would neither eat nor drink, till they had caft towards the Sun,, fome part of their Food; nor would they fmell a Flower, with- out throwing up in the Air fome Leaves of it, thereby acknow- ledging the Gods to be their great Benefactors: Tho’ this be ri-- diculous, yet having an Air of religious Gratitude, it is com- mendable. Among other Idols ador’d at Mexico, they had one called Vetzzliputzh, placed: in an azure colour’d Chair, with Ser-- pent’s Heads at each Corner. Yea the Pagans, to authorize their own Crimes, and juftify their vicious Lives, have conftituted licentious, drunken, vicious: Gods, &c. Inftances of this kind we have in their religious In- ftitutions, as the Saturnalia of the Romans, which were Feafts: facred to the God Saturn-: This Featt was.obferved in December,. at * See Purchas. + Hackluit ia Purchas. 239) 240 A NATURAL HISTORY, &<, at firft kept for one day, then for three days, and afterwards for feven days. So facred was this Feftival, that while it lafted, no Criminals were to be executed, no War to begin.... And yet at the fame time, a Sanction was given to univerfal Debauchery; all Rules of Virtue and common Decency were intirely banifhed, and all things run into a wild Scene of Diftraftion and Lewdnefs, and all this under the Umbrage of doing Honour to their Gods*. Tue fame Game was acted in the Lupercalian Feafts, inftitu- ted in honour of the God Pan (under the fhape of a Goat) whofe Priefts, on the Morning of the Feaft, ran naked thro’ the Streets, ftriking the married Women they met, on the Hands and Belly with S¢raps cut out of Goats Skins, which was held an Omen, promifing Fruitfulnefs, and happy Deliveries. ISHAut only add the Bacchanalian Feafts, celebrated in ho- nour of Bacchus, the God of Wine, and Mafter of the Revels; fometimes called Orgza --, from a Greek Word that fignifies Anger and Rage, becaufe in the Celebration of it, People acted in fo raging and furious a manner, as if they had been abfolutely diftra@ted. Thefe religious Feafts were not only encumber’d witha great num- ber of Ceremonies, but attended with moft netorious Diffolutenefs; for Men and Women metat them, all naked, except their Heads and Hips, that were fhaded with Vine Leaves. THE Women, who were inftalled Priefteffes, during this Feaft, ran thro’ the Streets, and other Places, cover’d with Tyger’s Skins, Scepters in one Hand, and Torches in the other, howling and roar- ing out the Praife of Bacchus, with Hair difhevell’d, dangling about their Shoulders. They were call’d Menades from their Madnefs, Thyades from their Rage, Bacche from their Intemperance. THe Poets tell us, that in the Bacchanalian Train, were a Croud of Nymphs and Naiades, a fort of Heathen Divinities ; fome crown’d with Ivy, their Hair loofe, and intermix’d with Snakes, clothed with the Skins of Beafts, and girt about with large Serpents, and running frantick in the Woods and Mountains. In fhort, their facred Games, Feiftivals, and Sacrifices, were little more than dranken Banquets, no¢turnal Revels, tumultuous Dancings, all wild, ridiculous and extravagant. _“ Uno die... . trium dierum.... feprem dizrum.... Bellum fumere nefas ha- bitum———. Macrooii opera, Londini, A.D. 1694. p. 155, 16c, 168. t 7Opy4- Fd aN GES: A. A ONTTIA Serpent, (the Figure, Plate 4 ;) why call’d a flying Serpent, - 81 Adam, why not made impeccable, —— — 7! Converfe betwixt him and Angels, ———. 173 —— in Innocency put in mind of Death, ———— —— 181 —— his Fall defcribed by Pagans, 182, 3 ———— by Mabhometans, ———--— —— 184 Adder ; fee Viper. (the Figure, Plate 1.) Agnafen Serpent, Air, ador’d by Pagans, —=—— ———ewms 2110 Alexander the Great, and Alexander the gee — — _ 140 Amodytes Serpent, deferib’d, (Sea pee Amphisbena, a two-headed Serpent, defcrib'd, ‘=| 72 — Inftances of one in Oxfordpire, and in Chiapa in ee 132 America, —— - Ambua Serpent, _ === 107 Ameiva Serpent, se — 122 Americina, ——— —_——— —— 122 Anacandia Serpent, —_——_ — Ants, their Penetration, ——— a 8 — in America great Mafter- Builders, —_—— Seale —— Remarkable Sorts in the Ea/t-Indies, 8 “inguis laqueus, or the enfnaring Serpent, 136 Animals, tarn’d into Gods by Pagans, -—_ 51g Their Adoration ridicul’d by fome of themielves, 215, 236, a3, Ti Apollo, TN y Dye ex, Apollo, catechis’d for his dubious Anfwers, — 77 ——-— His She-Priet, ee sd ihid. Apotheofis, or Wencaion defcrib’d, —— 223 Afp, (the Figure, Plate 2,) defcribed, — 59 -— Its Forefight, ee 7a — A Poem on the Afp and its Poifon, es 6r -— Highly venerated among the Exyptians, — 70 Ge: Serpent, oe ——. 134 Bafilisk one (the Figure, Plate 3.) defcrib’d, — 78 why call’d King of Serpents, ——— 79 (African, Plate 3.) Battle of the Gods ————E 212 Bees, (the Figure, Plate 5.) their Sagacity, great Geometricians, 8 -—— Their Sting defcrib’d, oo 148 Birds, why fome here only in Winter, and others only in Summer, 7 Biobi, or green Serpent defcrib’d, 103 Bibera Ser pent, — ee 107 Bitin Serpent, 137 Blowing Serpent, ——< = 130 Boignacu Serpent, very beautiful, ——_—_—. SS IGb Boytiapua Serpent, — — 108 ——— An Inftrument of Conjuration, ——-I09 Bom/fnake Serpent, — 109 Boicupecanga Serpent, prickle-back’d, Se eT EO Boitiapo Serpent, a 117 Brochet de Torre, ot Land-pike, — es 124 Brim/ftone Snake, ——. — —-__130 & Cabiri, \chara€teriz’d, oo Si Caudi ‘onant, or Rattle-Snake, (the Figure, Plate 7.) defcrib’d, gt — Its Wounds and Cures, 92 Camelion, (the Figure, Plate 5.) defcrib’d ; chew reafon whee it appears ina change of Colours, SS 96 ——— Why call’d a living Skin, SS SED Canina Serpent, defcrib’d, —- — 103 ———:A Domettick Animal, —= 104 Caminana Serpent, — — — 108 Carapobeba, ee 122 % Cecilia be Ne. Dt. Ee XS Cacilia Serpent defcrib’d, why call’d blind, — 80 Cencris Serpent defcrib’d, why call’d miliary, 80,1 Cera/ftes, (the Figure, Plate 1.) defcrib’d, the Executioner of Juftice, Cheha) Ceylon, a Land of Delights, 113 Ceylonic Hotambeia Serpent, ———- — 115 Chickens, produc'd by artificial Heat, —_——_——. 6, 147 Chaftity conjugal, how try’d, 55 Charming of Serpents, various Inftances, — 62, 3 of Rats, a remarkable Inftance in Germany, —65 of Serpents, by a Wand, —— 65 Cheefé, an odd Cuftom in Antiquity about it, — 129 Chicken Snake, ene Cherubims, Emblems of Mercy and Juttice, —— 175,6 Chrift’s Death, publith’d before that of Adam, —-_1180 Cleopatra, her own Executioner by a Serpent, -—— 34, 60, 61 Cloth, wath’d in Fire, —— thas 95 Cobres Capellos Serpent, defcrib’d, a go Colour Green, why hated by the Turks, ae 108 —— Blue, why hated by the Perfians, ae 109 Cordylus, a noxious Reptile, —E oki) MOVE Corn Snake, ao 129 Crocodile, (the Figure, Plate 5.) defcrib’d at large, — 118 eats Stones, are — ibid. - venerated in Egypfr, ——— ibid. —— the occafion of a War, ——_—_—. ibid, —— a Judge of Controverfies, —— 119° the manner of deftroying it, _ 120 Symbol of the Deity, —._ 178 Creation, a Poem, ee ——__.. 162 Cuckold, its Origin, fast ded 54. Cuckow Spittle, Grafhoppers hatch’d in it, eS 108 Cucurijuba, a Serpent montftrous, — 110 D. Darknefs, the Deftruction of Colours, —_——. 71 Demons explain’d, ae —. 205 Devil ador’d, a 236, 238 Diftempers cur’d by manual Touch, GO Dipjas Serpent, defcrib’d ; its Wounds bring incurable Thirft, 85 li2 Dogs, PO oe ay BA XY Dogs, faperiour to Men in the Senfe of Smelling, —_— 66 ——— the manner of Senfation philofophically explain’d, — 67 Providence vindicated in that matter, — Dopou Serpent, 133 Dragons defcrib’d, various Sorts and Forms, —— 74 snasalueote one flain by Gozon, Knight, by a ftrange con- trivanice, seams et Laisa ——_— another flain by the Roman Army, 76 Dragon, Pythian, Guardian of the Delphick Oracle, — ibid. Dragons, Guardians of Treafures, —ae 78 winged, defcrib’d, (the Figure, Plate2.) — 192 Alithiopian, (the Figisre, Plate =P Druina Serpent, deferib’d, — — 83 E. Eagles, how they take thew Prey, a 145 Ecatoth, or Serpent of the Wind, —— 135 Higgs, the reafon of Propagation by them, — 5 ——— the Method wonderful, oe ibid. Egg, Symbol of the World, ee 6 Higgs hatch’d in Ovens, the Young-ones generally imperfect, ibid. myfterious Egg. Heg, a durprizing Compound, Se 128 the White of it a moft fingular Menftruum, — vid, how redue’d to the likenefs of Poifon, — ibid, Egyptians, a People of Contradiction, SE 60 whipp'd their inattentive Gods, — ---—--68 Elepbantia Serpents, why fo call’d, —— 86 Elops Serpent, (the Figure, Plate 3 ’) deferib’d, — 84. Elephants, Creatures of great Bulk, —— 86 fubje&t to Refentment, "Inftances of it, = 87 a Battle betwixt them and Serpents, -_— gi Enchantment by noxious Herbs, &c. 47 Ethetulla Serpent, = 113 Eve, how fhe came to converfe with the Serpent, — 174. ~— her Converfe with it before the Account of Mo/és very probable, Iv} ~- a Negative would have preferv’d hes Innocence, —= 179 3 EF. Faith, rN BD Ee F, Faith, the Magnet of Magicians, Sa 6 Fafcinating Eyes, ——— = pn ee a Fifh, how they breathe in Water, tet 1 Fire, ador’d, — — 211, 236 Funerals, their firtt Inftitution, eee 181 G. Generation equivocal exploded, —____ 4 Ghalghulawa Serpent, —— ats 114 Giraupiagara Serpent, ——— 108 Gobe Moujes, —e —— 124 Gods, Men transformed into them, —— 201 — inanimate Things turn’d into ‘them, -— 207 Goddeffes, Women transform’d into them, — 206 Golden Calf, —— — 214 Grotto di Cani, a particular Account of it, a 6 2 ? Experiments made in it ‘by Mr. Addifon, 6 Grotto de i Serpi, a remarkable fubterraneous Cavern, and Hofpital for particular Difeafes, — 38 Ground Rattle-Snake, pL 126 Griffin defcrib’d, 14. Guaku, or Lyboya Serpent defcrib’d, one of the Tot mon{trous, 102 H. Harus Serpent, —— 138 Heathens, their Fictions about Punifhments in Hell, — 49 their Opinion about Heaven, — 50 Here. litary Right, the Title, how try ‘d, 56 Hemorrhous, (the Figure, Plate 1.) deferib’d ; 3 its Wounds force the Blood out thro’ every Pore of the Body, $7 Horfe-Tail, a Turki/b Standard, the Original of it, — 8a Hooded, or Monk-Serpent, 11s Horn Snake, — 126 Hornet, (the Figure, Plate pi) AGRE d, ee 148 Hydrus, or Water-Snake, oem 426, 141, 2 1. faponians Ne De E 2m I. “aponians, their way of punifhing Chriftians, = ‘Sfararaka Serpent, deferib’d, a Facore Lizard, Lhiara Ser peas defcrib’d, Sbitcbaca Serpent, (the Figure, Plate 4.) defcrib’d, — Lbibobova Serpent defcrib’d. Jbizacoan Serpent, Cure of its Wound very ES, = Idolatry, the Original of it, ———— more ancient than. Image-Worfhip, — the Incentives to it, — ‘feboya Serpent, --- — --- Images, why Laéan call’d them Gods, LAT GI HETe 47 103 99 102 106 197 198 199 se Indian Prince, a very remarkable Saying of his about Spanifb hice: Infeéts, \ittle, great Executioners, --- --- various Inftances, Iguanna Serpent deferib’ d, — tron, one of the hardeft Metals, yet the moft brittle, Ijrael, why punith’d by Serpents, --- --- why punith’d by fiery Serpents, K. Kakaboya Serpent, ---- — Kingdom won by an Heroick Anfwer, ---- King Snake, ---- --- —— Sathes made of its Skin, tt Bl Koko Serpent, a Reprefentation of the French Monarch, Kukuruki Serpent, defcrib’d, ---- L. Lancafbire Beauties, —— Lacertus viridis, or ‘green Lizard, ——— Les Anoles Serpent, ~ -—- ies Rogier (Serpents 1) ) Wek eee a Light, how the Senfation of it is produc’d, ——— all Colours depend upon it, — Long black Snake, a — 133 139 ibid. 102 130 188 ibid. 106 58 129 ibid. 58,9 99 Yr Ne De EB xX M, Magical Balls, — ves VOnR eae 8 46,7 Magick Ast, the Original of it, eee 68 ——— its Degeneracy, —— 68,9 ——— furprizing Inftances of magick Wit, —— 69 Magick Egg, — ibid. Magicians, St. Matthew’s wife Men in their time, — 70 Manima Serpent, monttrous, —— III Malcargbeta Serpent, —$_—_—. tne 113 Malpopon Serpent, | a tie ibid, Manballa Serpent. cone IIA Maboujas, —_— 123 an Emblem of the old Serpent, _—_ 124 Macacoth, an horned Serpent, ——$—$<_ 132 Marine Dragon, or Serpent, ——. 143 Men, Giants and Pygmies among ’em, — ----~ 16 Mexico, two unparallel’d Inftances of Cruelty, one by the Mexican, the other by Spani/h Priefts, — 100, I Milk, its wonderful Nature defcrib’d, 128 Mithridate, the Original of its Name, ---- 40, 5 Monoxillo, or mucronated Serpent. = === 13 Musk Serpent, --- 116 Musk Rats, and Musk Cats, eee ibid. Musk, a fhort Account of it, oe 16, 17 Mufi ch, its wonderful Effe@s on the Mind and the Body in ea remarkable Inftances. — 156 to 160 —— Conjectures about medicinal Cures by it, -~-- 164. N. Natrix Torquata Snake, (the Figure, Plate 5.) — 142 Nintipolonga Serpent, ---- --- 1I4 AVOya Serpent, eee i meee go O. Obfidian Stones, Looking-Glaffes made of them, --- 105 Opium, the Darling of the Turks, — 21 Orators, as well as Poets enthufiattical, — 64. Oracular Anf{wers, various Opinions about them, a--- 77 Ozus Serpent, nae -e-- --- 133 P. Pareas PsN Dn) aX, a P. Pareas Serpent: defcrib’d, — aan 84 Paper, that is incombuftible, Sees ae iis 95 Parrot, a rational Dialogue betwixt it and Prince Maurice, 144, 5 Parthians, the beft Fighters when retreating, -- 132 Paradife, Self-denial a Duty there, --- --- 180 Threatnings neceffary there, --- -- 181 Pagan Fables founded on the Writings of Mofes, --- 182 Perfian Kings, their Recipe for an eafy Death, --- 70 People, without Fraud; — --- 125 ——- have no Name for if, — --- ibid. Pimbera Serpent, defcrib’d, ---- go Pluto, his Attendants and Executioners cover’d with Snakes, as the Harpies, Furies, Cerberus, Chimera, a 47, 48, 49 Poifon, vegetable Inftances of it, — 19, 20 -~——~ Mineral, various Inftances in roe frorn Copper, Mercury, Tin, Lead, --- 22,23 —— Animal, Debates about the Seat oF it in int Serpents, 26, —-—— various Remedies for it, as Oil, experimented on one Wil. liam Oliver, bit by a Serpent; Lzchen Cinereus Terreftris, Ve- nice Treacle, and feveral Vegetables, Sc. --- 29,30, 31,145 ———~ one Drop of it a Match for a Sea of Blood, --- 32 WV MEN) NOE dangerous, 33 —— exhauttible in ‘Serpents by quick repeated Acts, but foon recruited, — = === 35 Poetical Apology for a Sot, --- ass 733 4. Polonga Serpent, defcrib’ d, —- --- < gS Priefis their Genius for Cruelty. See Mexico. Prujffians and Lithuanians, Serpent-Worthippers, ~ 226 R. Rattle-Snake. Vid. Caudifonant. Red-belly Snake, — — 126 Red-back Snake, — —— 127 Rivers ador’d, — a 210 Rubetarian Serpent, --- --- --- sheep 233 aR loud and pretty, —- — ibid. S.. Sandals, PON? DO Eri xX! fi LES Bh ‘ ice Saudals, ufed by the Ladies; Sees Saas Salamander, (the Figure, Plate 5,) deferibed, © ———— 92 — ~how-faid to-live-in-the Fire ~- —-~-~ >» — 93 Corvine’s Experiment upon one, —_—- Q4 Salamander’s. Wool, ——— ———_ 95 —___—.. Shrouds: made. of it. for Kings) ——-—- 95. Satan, why punith’d- under the Figure of a Serpent, 185 Scorpions, (the Figure, Plate 7,) Countries-deftroy’d by-them, as in LEthiopia, Amycla a Town-in- Italy, Pefcara an ancient City in Italy, India, —$__—_ _—_ Hise A ———— their various Kinds, Sizes, and’ malignant Nature, —87, 8 the Perfians- curfe by them, 88 Scytale Serpent;-(the Figure, Plate 2,) defcribed, _ — 70 — an Agoresate of charming Ce, ——- 71 Scolopendra, (the Figure,-Plate 5, i SS 15 Ser ee general-Defcription of them, -their- Mode of Propagation viviparous and oviparous, 4, 5 ——— their Sagacity, with ———— to their different Lodgments, 6,7, 172 oo Peers Winter, fleep with open Eyes, ee 7, their Enemies, vz. Eagle, Hawk, Stork, Ibis, Ichneumon, Magaure, and fome "Vegetables, 8) Sig gei I Duft, not their original Food. A oral Refle€tion upon — — 12 ——— their Food, which they {wallow whole, -————._ 12, 13 — their Size, fome monttrous, others remarkably fmall, 13, ; IA; 1655 165-146 ———— their Apparatus for Motion curious, —- -—— their Skin an elegant ‘Compolition, — 1 of {pecial Service to Mankind, of great Ufe in Phyfick, various at home and abroad, See 36, 7 ———— the common Food of many-Nations in Europe, Afia, A- | frica, America, _ - - 38 to 4o — Inftruments of divine and human Vengeance, Fewifh Camp infefted with them, 44 Victory gain’d by them on Sea and Land, — 46 Serpent, its Conteft with St. Pau/, — an K Sepsy. IX Na Do EW Seps, (the Figure, Plate 1,) why call’d the putid Serpent, 58 Serpens Indicus Coronatus, _—_— —_—_—- 112 Serpens Putorzus, — — 113 The Sea-Serpent, (the Figure, Plate 6.) Serpent de Boa, a — 144 Mittrefs of Serpents, (the Figure, Plate 6.) Serpent, an Account of a remarkable one in Lanca/bire, 144 Serpent in Paradife, various Opinions about it, 168 American Serpent, (the Figure, Plate 3.) Serpent brazen, IgI, 2 prefigur’d Chrift, 194 Drael, why cured by it, 195 Serpents, the Adoration of them, 216 to 227 Reafons for that Worfhip, —_—_—_— 228 Worthippers of "em among Chriftians, ———— 229 Shrew-Serpent, — = i1si Shechina detcrib’d. — —_— —— 189 Srlence, a Pythagorick Rudiment, —_- -_—_ 112 the Safety of Venice, — 2 Sin, its firft Entrance, oe ae 168 Sleep, a living Death, Ea 70 Snake common, (the Figure, Plate 4.) defcrib’d, 85 Spiders, (the Figure, Plate 5.) Black, (the Figure, Plate 4,) their various Kinds, 149 — their Autumn Webs, —— ———= 1150 American, 150 Stellio, - 123 Stupid Serpent, ato =< 38 ——-~— a living Loadftone, as defcrib’d by fome, 136 Sun and Moon, chief Deities of the Pagans, ———-209 Swamp Snakes, oo = ER ney A £55 Tarcibeva Serpent, —_——_ ——— -— 106 Tapayaxts Serpent, — -__ — 121 Taraguira, —_——— == rae Taraquico Aycuraba Serpent, ———— — 122 Tapayaxin Serpent, —— —_ 137 Tapayaxin, TaNu Do EX Tapayaxin Serpent, the Friend of Man, —~ 137 Tamacolin Serpent, of the Toad kind, 138 Tame and tractable Serpent, LESS Say TAO} - Tarantula, (the Figure, Plate 7,) its Poifon and Cure by Mufick; the Manner how, 151 to 156 Teuthlacokanqui, in Mexico, call’d the Fortrefs of the Serpents, de- {crib’d, 100 Tetzawhcoat! Serpent, ——$—— 104 Terpomongo Serpent, jie ee elauls Tat a Symbol of Friendfhip, —_——- — ibid. Tejugnacu, ——- es ETS Tejunbana Serpent, — pe ASE 122 Tetzancoath, or the rare Serpent, — — — 139 Teraphim, explain’d, —— = 202 Tleora, or Tetloa Serpent, ——— a 140 —— an Inhabitant of the Mountains, pi aati —— 141 Toads, as large as Cats and Dogs, ——— —- 138 Tzicatlinan Serpent, ———- a — 132 the Darling of the Ladies, — ibid, : = Vegetation, none without Air, — _—— 3 Vegetables, fleep in Winter, ee —_- 7,8 - worfhipped, ee ————— 212 Veétis, —— = = DT Vipers, difterent from the Snake, aes 52 —-— a Battle betwixt one and a Magpye, -_-___ 52 —— Battle betwixt one and a Dog, ——_——_ 53 ——_—— don’t eat after they are taken, ——_ —_ 33 112 Vipera Indica Tricolor Major, Vipera Zelanica Minor, Maculis eleganter Variegata, —-—— 112 Unifon, its Wonders. —— 160, 1 W. Wafps, (the Figure, Plate 7,) defcrib’d, — — 148 Wepelon Serpent, _—_ —_—_— ae Woman with two Horns, — — —— 54 Women warlike, — —— — iz —r- the hard Condition of their Marriage, —- —- — ibid. Words, Ty Nii DY EV Xd Words, their Efficacy, Inftance 6 it in Cafar, ———=" = 63, 4 Wiss, Inftances- of Execution by. thern,) » _— 1345 5. = Worship of hurtful-€reatures, why, |, 9 === 233. of different Animals i in Eaypt, « the Renin; se 234 YeHow Snake, seems A ag bi 130 oa ’ bert ee y FB i reseorse: Stsestat 3 B Peg-tea ict S35 AAS SS : 3 R oat ist * Syerecepere estes cSt ata cae ate Te bere eis? ta = ts 4 + =~ =. — + eal wert > tetes a peers: ees corsets fa betucare sa vetere! Sat meted 5 = ae 3335 toteccterstase Sig tecane eect pen Bart iEet eats % at rg > =45 ts ee Se tt Stat: SSS SSipiessseies Sotete i Sopsataes Soreasaeaeeseeaeeeeoteaeret > > poe ye Stes = = Sere re hese :