Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/65

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Island of Dominica.
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dally talk, it caufed a ſuſpicion that fome accident had befallen him; they accordingly went in ſearch of him, and found him aſleep, with one of his legs, up to the thick part of his thigh, in the jaws of a large ſnake. Awakened by their noiſe, he was in the greateſt terror, and ſtruggling to get diſengaged, was ſeverely bit by the animal; to prevent this as much as poſſible, wedges were placed between its jaws, whilſt they cut it to pieces; by which means only he could be releaſed. This operation took up ſome time, which together with the length of time, his leg and thigh had already been in the belly and jaws of the ſnake, reduced them almoft to a ſtate of digeſtion; and it was not till a conſiderable while after, that he recovered the intire uſe of them.

The fat of theſe ſnakes is eſteemed an excellent remedy for the rheumatiſm, or for ſprains, by rubbing it mixed with ſtrong rum. Their fleſh is eaten by many, particularly by the French, ſome of whom are very fond of it;

but