54 The Natural Histoid 



they pursue him, and their iiorses are so well train'd to this 

 way of llimting, that they will neither hurt themselves nor 

 the Riders against a Tree, though you ride them in full 

 Speed, they will perform this for Hours together, 'till such 

 time as the wild Horse stands still ; then one of the Hunters 

 alights and claps a Bridle into his Mouth, and a Saddle on 

 his Back (tho' ten or fifteen Years old) and rides him to their 

 own, or tlie next Plantation, Avhere they feed him with 

 Indian-Corn and Salt, which feeding, in a little time, makes 

 him as tame and domestick, as any in their Plantation, and 

 lit to pursue his wild Species in the Woods at the next Hunt- 

 ing match, or any other use they have occasion to make of 

 him. 



The Sheep thrive well, having two or three Lanihs at one 

 Yeaning; they are never suffered to ramble in the Woods (as 

 the other Cattle are) but are kept in Inclosures in the Planta- 

 tions, from whence they will come every Evening to the Plan- 

 ters Houses^ having no Defence against the wild Beasts (and 

 especially the Wolves, their mortal Enemy) at Xight they are 

 put up in their Penfolds made of Timber, which every Plan- 

 ter has for that Purpose to defend them from all manner of 

 wild Beasts, but it sometimes happens, through Xegligence, 

 that if they are not Inclosed, they become a Prey to the 

 Wolues, who never fail to search and watch for them at 

 Night. The Mutton is generally exceeding Fat, and as well 

 relish'd as any I have met with in Europe. Their Wool is 

 fine, and a good Commodity here. They seldom kill any of 

 their Lambs for the Market, but generally preserve them to a 

 greater Age; neither are the native Planters so fond of Mut- 

 ton (which is of a middling Size) as the Europeans gener- 

 ally are. 



Of 



