(422)
For Guaiana and Brasil.
1. VVhether about Urraba near Oronoque, some 8. degrees Northern Latitude, and about the Town Darien, Toads are presently produced, by throwing a kind of Moorish Water found there, upon the Floors of their Houses? Linschoten.
2. Whether it be true, that the Locust of Brasil, call'd Caayara, changeth in the Spring-time of that Countrey into a Plant, and withers away, like a Plant? And whether in the same Countrey, that kind of Eruca, call'd by the Portugals Lagartas des Verias, turns into a Bird, admirable for Colour and swift flying; the change thereof being made so leasurely, that one may for a while see half of the Insect, and the other half of the Bird, which the Natives call Guainumbi, the Portugals Pegafrel. Piso.
3. Whether upon the Leaves of that Brasilian Tree, call'd Cereiba, there is, in a Sun-shiny day, found a White Salt in that quantity, that one may gather as much from two or three Leaves, as will well salt a good pot of Broth? Piso
4. Whether there be found about the mouth of the River of Amazons, a green Argilla, which, though very soft under water, yet, when exposed to the Air, grows almost as hard as a Diamond; in so much that the Natives make Hatchets of them, strong and sharp enough to cleave Wood; for which purpose also those Indians are said to have used it, before they got Iron-ones? And, whether this Argilla, become Stone, have a peculiar vertue against the Epilepsys, when carried by the Patient? Pelleprat in his Relation of the Islands and Terra-firma of the Southern America.
5. Whether the Black Bees in Guaiana, about. the River Orenoque, make black Honey and Waxe? And whether they have no Stings, as the same Pelleprat affirmeth?
The other Inquiries, ready for the other Countries above-named, are, to avoid tediousness, referred to another opportunity.
