of North Carolina. Ill 



vited to Dine at a Planter's House, who entertaind us with a 

 large Loyn of a roasted Bear. I imagin'd it to be a Loyn of 

 Porh, and eat as heartily of it, which seem'd to me to be the 

 most delicious Meat of that kind I ever tasted ; that I could 

 not forbear all that Day to extol the goodness of it, still sup- 

 posing it to be Porh, tho' the Company knew the contrary, 

 but did not undeceive me. The next Day w^e were invited to 

 another Planter's House, who told us he had the finest piece 

 of Bear that could be, just roasted and ready for the Table. 

 The Company very readily accepted of his Invitation, but as 

 for my part, I could not be prevail'd upon for some time to 

 eat; the Company said, they were much surpriz'd because I 

 prais'd it so much the Day before. For I never knew 'till 

 then but that it had been Porh. I only mention this to shew 

 what power Prejudice has over us. 



But to return. The Bacon made thereof is extraordinary 

 good, but must be well saved, otherwise it w411 rust. I have 

 seen very good Hams (not inferior to the best Westphalia) 

 made of these Bear's-^esh, These Beasts feed upon all man- 

 ner of wild Fruits, and are great devourers of several sort of 

 Fish, especially Herrings, which they catch at the Brooks 

 side in the Months of March and April. The Flesh of those 

 Bears that feed upon them is not good that Season, and eats 

 filthily; neither are they good w^hen they feed upon Gum- 

 Berries. They are great devourers of Sivine, that they take 

 in the Woods, especially when they are hungry and can get no 

 other Food, which is the only Flesh-meat they are fond of. 

 They sometimes get into the Indian Corn-fields^ or Maze, 

 where they generally spoil ten times more than they eat. 

 They are so fond of the Potatoes, of this Country, that they 

 seldom fail to destroy and root out all clean whenever they 

 chance to come where they are. 



And 



