in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. There are two species; the most remarkable of which is the Asiaticum, or true lignum colubrinum. The root of this is known in the East Indies to be a specific against the poison of that most dreadful animal called the hooded serpent. There is a treatise in Amoen. Acad. tom. iv. upon this subject, wherein the author Joh. And. Darelius undertakes, from the description of such authors as had seen it upon the spot, to ascertain the plant from which the genuine root is taken. It appears in this account, that it had puzzled the European physicians; and what had been sold in the shops for it, is the root of a very different plant, and of a poisonous nature.

The true root is called mungur, for the following reason.—There is a kind of weasel in the East Indies, called mungulia by the natives, mungo by the Portuguese, and munca by the Dutch. This animal pursues the hooded serpent, as the cat does the mouse with us. As soon as this serpent appears, the weasel attacks him; and if she chances to be bit by him, she immediately runs to find a certain vegetable, upon eating which she returns, and renewes the fight.—The Indians are of opinion that this plant is the mungos.

That celebrated traveller Kempfer, who kept one of these weasels tame, that eat with him, lived with him, and was his companion wherever he went, says he saw one of these battles between her and the serpent, but could not certainly find out what root the weasel looked out for. But whether the weasel first discovered this antidote or not, it is an infallible remedy remedy against the bite of the hooded serpent. And this he undertakes to ascertain.