A description of the nature of four-footed beasts with their figures en[graven in brass] / written in Latin by Dr. John Johnston ; translated into English by J.P.

CHAPTER I. Of the Tlacaxolotl, the Cabim, and the Sea-secker.

HAving through Gods grace finished the History of the Foure-footed Beasts, as many sorts as are, as yet knowen, I thought good to adde this appendix about forreigne doubtfull Creatures, which I am yet thinking to what head, or kind to referre. As first: The Tlacaxolotl, it is roundish-faced, bigger then a Bull, great-head∣ed, long muzzle, broad eares, cruell teeth; faced almost like a man, whence it hath the name: the neck thick, the nails like the Bulls, but larger: the buttocks great, and broad, tayl thick and long; skin thick, hair yellowish, and brisly. It is seldome found, living among stones, and in desolate places. The Atzaceani, Tepotzonzotla, and Haquelagani, are not far from the Honduras. It feeds on Kacaotli, Quapachtli, and green-Hoali, in the wide fields, and sowen grounds; and where they are not, on leaves and shrubs. The flesh is eateable. It fears not the face of man; Arrows cannot pearce the hide; therefore they catch them in pitfalls, and holes covered with leaves, as the Indians doe Elephants.

The Cabim, or Sionium, or Thabal is bred in Java. It hath one strange vertue, if any carry with them the tip of the mouth thereof, wound him in a thousand places, he shall not bleed one drop.* 1.1 There have been many trialls of it, and it is famous, and well knowen; for

when Naodabeguea Malacensis, an enemy of the Portugees, in a manfull fight against them, was at length overpowered, and wounded in many places, and fell, no blood started out of the widest wounds; after in rifling him, as they plucked from his arme a gold arm-let (strange to say) the blood with his life gushed all out suddenly, as out of a broken vessell, which they being astonished to see, they understood by other captives that in that arm-let was closed a Cabims mouth, that is so potent in stanching of blood.

As for the Maripetum,* 1.2 Aloysius Almeida writes, and others affirme, (both with what truth) that among the Japons in the Gotian kingdome is a wood wherein is bred a beast as big as a dog, short-leged, good to eat, gold-co∣loured, soft-haired. Growing old, it leaves the land, and takes the sea, and by degrees turns fish in a certain space, loosing his beasts shape, and that some have been taken not wholly transformed, the full time being not exspired, one part beast, the other scaled, and fined.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nierem Ex. l. 9. c. 3.
• * 1.2

  Nierem. Hist. Ex. l. 9. c. 49.