The raya is a fish of such singular appearance, that it can hardly be
reckoned amongst fishes. Its form resembles that of an oval dish with a
flat surface. Its back is black, and its belly white. In the middle of
its body is placed a narrow mouth or cheek. It has a smooth, slender,
but very long tail, denticulated like a saw, and armed at the end with a
poisonous sting, with which, whilst lurking under the sand on the shore,
it grievously wounds the naked feet of the sailors walking about there,
whenever it has an opportunity. The wound presently swells, gets
inflamed, and unless hot ashes be immediately applied to it, causes
death. It is a curious fact, that the Abipones use this envenomed sting
as a pen-knife to open a vein. The flesh of the raya may be eaten; but
it is generally thought that hunger alone could render it palatable,
though I must say, that, well fried, it was not unpleasant to my taste.
The size and form of these fish vary in various kinds; (for there are
many species of them). They appear to be viviparous, for embryos are
frequently found in their insides.