( 29' ) 



amphibious nature, he plunges into the river, 

 and carries his devaftations beyond that mighty 

 ftream. BufFon relates, that he has been 

 known to crofs the fea, in large companies, 

 between the continent, and the ifland of 

 Cayenne ; and, in the infancy of that colony, 

 to have kept it in conftant alarms. 



In north-America the moofe-deer feems 

 intitled to the appellation of lord of the foreft -, 

 an animal reprefented by many travellers, as 

 high as an elephant, and of a nature as gentle. 

 With ftately tread he traverfes the vaft woods 

 of fir -, and crops the cones, and pine-tops 

 beyond the reach of any other animal. When 

 the foreft is covered with fnow, and crufted 

 over with froft, he is marked by the wild 

 American for certain deftru&ion. His feet fink 

 deep in the faithlefs furface ; and his flight 

 is impeded : while his purfuers, mounted on 

 fnow-(hoes, attack and retreat at pleafure ; 

 aflailing him with fliot, or arrows, on every 

 fide : and when he falls, half a townfhip is 

 employed to drag him to their habitations ; 

 where the noble carcafe is received in triumph, 

 and at once fufpends the effefts of famine. If 

 U 2 food 



