The pleasing Appearance made by this Serpent in _Green_, puts me in mind of the _Turks_, who have so great a _Superstition for the green Colour_ (because it was consecrated to _Mahomet_) that they forbid Christians to wear it on pain of Death; but the _Persians_ (who are _Mahometans_ as well as the _Turks_) allow it to every body, and laugh at this Superstition; so that when _Sultan Amurath_ sent an Ambassador to _Sha-Abbas_ of _Persia_, to complain that he suffer’d that _venerable Colour_ to be prophaned by Christians, he scoffingly said, that he would forbid the _green Colour_ to be prophaned by Christians, as soon as _Amurath_ would hinder the _green Meadows_ to be prophaned by his _Turkish Cattle_[232]. The Eastern _Turks_ abhor the _blue Colour_, because the _Jews_, they say, threw _Indigo_ into _Jordan_ to hinder the Baptism of _Christ_, but the Angels brought Water from _Jordan_ to baptize him, before it was polluted. _Atlas._ Footnote 232: _Holstein Ambassadors._—_Herbert._—_Atl. Asia._ L. _BOYTIAPUA_, is a Serpent so called by the _Brazilians_ for its long Snout, though I don’t find it exceeds others in smelling, by the extension of its Nose; it is of a long slender Body, and feeds upon Frogs, amphibious Animals and Insects. This Serpent is in high Esteem among the Natives of _Brazil_, who practise the Art of Conjuration by it; and if any of them have a barren Wife, and are desirous of Children, they lash this Serpent over her Hips, pretending that such Exercise will make her fruitful: And if this Device should take effect, must not we conclude the Offspring to be a _Generation of Vipers_? LI. The _Gaytiepua_ is a large Snake, smells rank like a Fox, and, according to a learned Author, the Smell is intolerable[233], as is that of the Serpent _Boyana_, which is very long and slender, and of black Colour; of which one of the _Latin_ Poets takes notice[234]. Footnote 233: _Fætor illius nullatenus—possit tolerari._ Raii Synopsis. Footnote 234: Quod vulpis fuga, vipere cabile Mallem quam quod oles, olere, Bassa. _Martial._ If the loathsome Smell of these Creatures offend the Nose, it serves as a friendly Alarm of Danger, to those who have the use of a Nose, that they may avoid a more terrible Stroke. Nothing so constituted in Nature, but a superficial Observer may construe as a Blemish to the Creation; but to a more penetrating Eye, those imaginary Blemishes have their Convenience and Use, and appear to be the Product of perfect Intelligence and Wisdom. LII. The _Bom-Snake_, is another _Brazilian_ Reptile, call’d _Bom_ from the Noise it makes in its Motion. It is of a prodigious large Size, but is class’d among the Innocent, that do no manner of hurt to Persons, _viz._ that can endure a little Sound, arising from a Propagation of the Pulse of the Air. An innocent Serpent, no Contradiction. There is good among the bad in the moral World.