Other parts of the _East-Indies_ (Continent and Islands) are infested with Serpents of various kinds and sizes, and he must be more than a Conjurer in History, that can charm them to make their Appearance in one Place, and all in their proper Habiliments. LXXIII. The _hooded_ or _Monk Serpent_, found in an Island near _Batavia_ (a _Dutch_ Settlement in the _East-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 immediately advances towards it, with terrible Rage and Hissing. When the _Sieur de la Case_ was hunting one day in the Woods adjacent to _Batavia_, he saw one of these Serpents descending from a Tree, making a fearful Noise: It was about the thickness of a Man’s Arm, and in length about eight Foot. This venemous Creature was no sooner on the Ground, but it made towards him with the greatest Fury; but having a Gun ready charg’d, he very happily shot it dead, and made off hastily for fear of a second Attack[239]. Footnote 239: _Fr. Leguat_’s _Voyages_, in _Atl._ for _Asia_. _LEGUAT_, who gives this Account, and was in _Batavia_, _A.D._ 1697, says, he saw a Serpent in that Country about fifty Foot long. _N. B._ The Skin of one that was 20 Foot long, is shewn in _Batavia_, that swallow’d an Infant, _ibid._ LXXIV. The _Musk Serpent_, so term’d from its musky or sweet Scent. These sweet-scented Animals are Inhabitants of the _East_, between _Calicut_, the second Kingdom of _Malabar_, and _Candahor_. In _Ceylon_ are Musk-Rats, where the Inhabitants eat all Rats, but this kind. These Musk-Rats are in all things shaped like our Water-Rats, only something larger; and in other respects differ only in that musky Scent. A Gentleman, who kept one of them in a wooden Chest, observed that two days before it died, ’twas most odoriferous, and scented the Room above what was common[240]. In _Muscovy_ is a Water-Rat, which smells like Musk; and also a great number of _Musk-Cats_, which look like young _Bucks_ without Horns, and therefore call’d _Musk-Harts_ by the _Chinese_, because they resemble those Creatures. The Musk is contain’d in a little Excrescence near the Navel[241]. Footnote 240: _Lowthorp_’s _Abridg._ vol. iii. p. 594. Footnote 241: This Animal is described by _Philip Martinus_ in his _Chinese Atlas_. In _America_ also, are found Woods abounding with Musk-Rats, that are as big as Rabbits, and have Burrows in the Ground. Their Skins are black, Bellies white, and smell exceeding strong of Musk[242]. The vegetable World also, entertains us with Musk-Pears, Musk-Roses, single and double, and the Ever-green, _&c._ _N. B._ Musk-Rats frequent fresh Streams, and no other. Footnote 242: _History of the Antilles._