108 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



from the northern provinces by the greater number of 

 the inhabitants there. The Virginia deer, commonly 

 called the deer, (Ccrvus virginianus) , of which I have 

 already made mention repeatedly, still ranges in these 

 parts in large herds. Now and again we saw many of 

 them pasturing together quite unconcerned. Their 

 size is a little less than that of our fallow deer. In 

 color they are throughout pale yellow or a very light 

 brown ; but in very young animals the fallow verges 

 sharply into grey, flecked with white. But they are 

 taller and longer legged than the fallow deer, and 

 spring with backs bent. The horns are round at the 

 insertion, and only towards the ends a little flattened 

 or not at all ; bent outward towards the forehead and 

 set with divers extremities. The export of their 

 skins is a considerable item yearly in this province. 

 A proof of the number of these animals is that one 

 man on the New river has been able to shoot 175 head 

 since the spring of this year, and simply for their pelts. 

 If one cannot or will not shoot for himself, the game 

 may be bought commonly for one or at most two Span- 

 ish dollars the head, which always gives more than a 

 hundredweight of venison. 



With the most careless handling domestic cattle 

 have increased with the greatest rapidity. It is noth- 

 ing uncommon for one man to own 100 or more head 

 of horned cattle; some count their herds by the thou- 

 sand, all running loose in the woods and swamps. By 

 penning up the calves, and throwing out a little corn 

 every day to the dams, the milch cows have been ac- 

 customed to come up to the dwelling-house from time 

 to time to be milked. For each farm, the black cattle, 

 sheep, and hogs are distinguished by special ear- 



