LX. _VIPERA Zelanica minor maculis eleganter variegata_, a Serpent elegantly garnished with a Variety of charming Colours: It is an Inhabitant of _Ceylon_, an Island in the _East-Indies_, called by the Inhabitants _Tenarisain_, that is the _Land of Delights_, and not without reason is this Island so called, since it is the most fruitful place in _India_, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, plenty of Rice, Ananas, Cocoas, best Oranges, Lemons, Figs, Pomegranates, Ginger, Grapes, Pepper, Cardamum, Tobacco, Nutmegs, Sugar; Mulberry, which yield much Silk; Palm-trees, which afford a Liquor for their constant Drink, _&c._ But in midst of these pleasing Varieties, they are haunted with various sorts of venemous Serpents; an Emblem of our present State, which is a Compound of Pleasure and Pain. _The Gods will frown, wherever they do smile; The Crocodile infests the fertile_ Nile. _CEYLON_ is an Emblem of Man, to whom _Pleasure_ is as a delightful Situation; but in it dwells a Serpent, called _Pain_. Pleasure is the principal Intendment of Nature, and the great Object of our Inclination, without which Life would be no Blessing, but a Mortification: Yea, ’tis Pleasure reconciles us to Pain; for who would submit to nauseous Medicines, and Tortures of the Surgeon’s Knife, but for hope of the Pleasure of Ease that succeeds it. No Serpent so terrible as Pain, which is a strange domineering Perception, that keeps off Ease when wanted, and destroys Ease when we are in possession of it. LXI. The _Malcarabeta_ of _Ceylon_ is a Serpent painted by Nature in a Garb blue and white; the last of these two Colours shew best 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 Purposes. LXII. The _Ethetulla_ is a _Ceylonick_ Serpent; of a little slender Body, and sharp-pointed Head. This is a kind of Ranger, delights in Groves and Forests, and may be known by a white and green Vesture, in which it rambles among the Trees. LXIII. _MALPOLON_ is another Serpent of that celebrated Island, and of a vermilion Hue, imbroider’d with curious fine red Spots, which shine like so many Stars. LXIV. _SERPENS Putorius_, so denominated, probably because of its filthy Smell; by which it resembles the _Putorius_, a little Animal call’d _Fitchet_, that smells ill, especially when enraged[236]. _Jonstonus_ and _Gesner_ make it to be the _Druinus_, which has been already describ’d. Footnote 236: _A putorio, quia valdè fœtet._