A still larger species, the Kabara-goy[=a][1], is partial to marshy ground, and when disturbed upon land, will take refuge in the nearest water.  From the somewhat eruptive appearance of the yellow blotches on its scales, a closely allied species, similarly spotted, formerly obtained amongst naturalists the name of Monitor exanthematicus, and it is curious that the native appellation of this one, kabara[2], is suggestive of the same idea.  The Singhalese, on a strictly homoeopathic principle, believe that its fat, externally applied, is a cure for cutaneous disorders, but that taken inwardly it is poisonous.  The skilfulness of the Singhalese in their preparation of poisons, and their addiction to using them, are unfortunately notorious traits in the character of the rural population.  Amongst these preparations, the one which above all others excites the utmost dread, from the number of murders attributed to its agency, is the potent kabara-tel—­a term which Europeans sometimes corrupt into cobra-tel, implying that the venom is obtained from the hooded-snake; whereas it professes to be extracted from the “kabara-goy[=a].”  Such is the bad renown of this formidable poison, that an individual suspected of having it in his possession, is cautiously shunned by his neighbours.  Those especially who are on doubtful terms with him, suspect their servants lest they should be suborned to mix kabara-tel in the curry.  So subtle is the virus supposed to be, that one method of administering it, is to introduce it within the midrib of a leaf of betel, and close the orifice with chunam; and, as it is an habitual act of courtesy for one Singhalese on meeting another to offer the compliment of a betel-leaf, which it would be rudeness to refuse, facilities are thus afforded for presenting the concealed drug.  It is curious that to this latent suspicion has been traced the origin of a custom universal amongst the natives, of nipping off with the thumb nail the thick end of the stem before chewing the betel.

[Footnote 1:  Hydrosaurus salvator, Laur.  Tail compressed; fingers long; nostrils near the extremity of the snout.  A black band on each temple; round yellow spots disposed in transverse series on the back.  Teeth with the crown compressed and notched.]

[Footnote 2:  In the Mahawanso the hero Tissa, is said to have been “afflicted with a cutaneous complaint which made his skin scaly like that of the godho.”—­Ch. xxiv. p. 148.  “Godho” is the Pali name for the Kabara-goy[=a].]

[Illustration:  THE KABARA-GOYA.]

In the preparation of this mysterious compound, the unfortunate Kabara-goya is forced to take a painfully prominent part.  The receipt, as written down by a Kandyan, was sent to me from Kornegalle, by Mr. Morris, the civil officer of that district; and in dramatic arrangement it far outdoes the cauldron of Macbeth’s witches.  The ingredients are extracted from venomous snakes, the cobra de capello,