164 Indian Account of a remarkably 



His head was then cut off, and was carried, in 

 triumph, by the Indians, to their villages, or settle- 

 ments, on the North-River, and was there fixed upon 

 a pole, that it might be seen. As the report of the 

 death of the animal spread among the neighbouring 

 tribes, numbers of them came to view the head, and 

 to praise the victorious Indians, for their warlike 

 deed. 



N. B. The Mahicanni claim the honour of this 

 act. 



REMARKS. 



The preceding traditional accounts of the Indians, 

 concerning the " Naked Beast," are, in some res- 

 pects, so very extravagant, that they may, perhaps, 

 be deemed altogether unworthy of any attention. I 

 must confess, however, that I cannot but consider 

 such traditions, though imperfectly handed down to 

 us, and evidently disfigured by fable, as entitled to 

 the notice of the naturalist, and philosopher. 



That such an animal, as the Jagisho is described 

 to have been, has ever existed, in the state of New- 

 York, may, perhaps, admit of a rational doubt : but 

 that the Indian tradition relates to some remarkable 

 animal, that is no longer to be seen in the country 



