diately,
to prevent the fatal effect of the animal's bite."

"I once saw a native of India," said the Major, "who for a small sum
would allow himself to be bitten by a cobra capella. He was well
provided with the same plant used by the ichneumon, which he swallowed
plentifully, and also rubbed on the wound. It is impossible to say,
but, as far as I could judge, there was no deception."

"I think it very possible; if the plant will cure the ichneumon, why not
a man? I have no doubt but that there are many plants which possess
virtues of which we have no knowledge. Some few, and perhaps some of
the most valuable, we have discovered; but our knowledge of the
vegetable kingdom, as far as its medicinal properties are known, is very
slight; and perhaps many which were formerly known have, since the
introduction of mineral antidotes, been lost sight of."

"Why, yes; long before chemistry had made any advances, we do hear in
old romances of balsams of most sovereign virtues," said Alexander,
laughing.

"Which, I may observe, is almost a proof that they did in reality exist;
and the more so, because you will find that the knowledge of these
sovereign remedies was chiefly in the hands of the Jews, the oldest
nation upon the earth; and from their constant communication with each
other, most likely to have transmitted their knowledge from generation
to generation."

"We have also reason to believe that not only they had peculiar
_remedies_ in their times, but also--if we are to credit what has been
handed down to us--that the art of _poisoning_ was much better
understood," said the Major.

"At all events, they had not the knowledge of chemistry, which now leads
to its immediate detection," replied Swinton. "But, Alexander, there
are three hippopotami lying asleep on the side of the river. Have you a
mind to try your skill?"

"No, not particularly," replied Alexander; "I have had enough of
hippopotami. By-the-bye, the river is much wider than it was."

"Yes, by my calculation we ought to travel no more to the westward after
to-day. We must now cut across to the Yellow or Vaal River. We shall
certainly be two days without water or pasturage for the cattle, but
they are in such good condition that they will not much feel it. There
is a river which we shall cross near its head, but the chance of water
is very small; indeed, I believe we shall find it nowhere, except in
these great arteries, if I may so call them."