MANATUS. 93 
of them also at Mindanea one of the Philippine Islands; and on the Coast of Vew 
Holland*. This Creature is about the Bigness of a Horse, and 10 or 12 Foot long. 
The Mouth of it is much like the Mouth of a Cow, having great thick Lips. The Eyes 
are no bigger than a small Pea, the Ears are only two small holes on each side of the 
Head. The Neck is short and thick, bigger than the Head. ‘The biggest Part of this 
Creature is at the Shoulders, where it hath two large Fins, one on each side of its 
Belly. Under each of these Fins the Female hath a small Dug to suckle her young. 
From the Shoulders towards the Tail it retains its bigness for about a Foot, then 
groweth smaller and smaller to the very Tail, which is flat, and about 14 Inches broad, 
and 20 Inches long, and in the Middle 4 or 5 Inches thick, but about the Edges of it not 
above 2 Inches thick. From the Head to the Tail it is round and smooth without any 
Fin but those two before mentioned. I have heard that some have weighed above 
1200 7. but I never saw any so large. The Manatee delights to live in brackish Water; 
and they are commonly in Creeks and Rivers near the Sea. “Tis for this reason 
possibly they are not seen in the South Seas (that ever I could observe) where the 
Coast is generally a bold Shore, that is, high Land and deep Water close home by it, 
with a high Sea or great Surges, except in the Bay of Panama; yet even there is 
no Manatee. Whereas the West-ndies, being as it were, one great Bay composed of 
many smaller, are mostly low Land and shoal Water, and afford proper Pasture (as I may 
say) for the Manatee. Sometimes we find them in salt Water, sometimes in fresh; but 
never far at Sea. And those that live in the Sea at such Places where there is no River 
nor Creek fit for them to enter, yet do commonly come once or twice in 24 Hours to the 
Mouth of any fresh Water River that isnear their Place of Abode. They live on Grass 
7 or 8 Inches long, and of a narrow Blade, which grows in the Sea in many places, 
especially among Islands near the Main. This Grass groweth likewise in Creeks, or in 
great Rivers near the Sides of them, in such places where there is but little Tide or 
Current. They never come ashore, nor into shallower Water than where they can swim. 
Their Flesh is white, both the Fat and the Lean, and extraordinary sweet, wholesome 
Meat. The Tail of a young Cow is most esteem’d; but if old both Head and Tail are 
very tough. A Calf that sucks is the most delicate Meat; Privateers commonly roast 
them; as they do also great pieces cut out of the Bellies of the old ones. 
_ The Skin of the Manatee is of great use to Privateers, for they cut them into 
Straps, which they make fast on the Sides of their Canoas thro’ which they put their 
Oars in rowing, instead of Tholes or Pegs. ‘The Skin of the Bull, or of the Back of the 
Cow is too thick for this use; but of it they make Horse-whips, cutting them 2 or 3 Foot 
long: at the Handle they leave the full Substance of the Skin, and from thence cut it away 
tapering, but very even and square all the four Sides. While the Thongs are green 
they twist them, and hang them to dry: which ina Weeks time become as hard as Wood. 
The Moskito Men have always a small Canoa for their use to strike Fish, Tortoise [7. e. 
Turtle], or Manatee, which they keep usually to themselves, and very neat and clean. 
* [These last references apply of course to the Dugong, Haliwore dugong (Gmel.). ] 
