116 The Natural History 



that hollowed, yet I never hear'd of any Body being hurt by 

 them ; and the smallest Dogs will make them take up into a 

 Tree, where they generally remain 'till they are shot by the 

 Huntsmen, and if it happens that they don't kill them out- 

 right, these and the Bears are a very dangerous Enemy when 

 they are wounded, to the Huntsmen ; but more especially to 

 the Dogs that ajoproach too near them. Their Flesh looks as 

 well as any Shambles-meat whatever, and abundance of Peo- 

 ple eat them as choice Food. The Indians make warm cov- 

 ering for themselves in Winter of the Skins, though it is not 

 esteemed amongst the choice Furs. Their Skins dressed, 

 make Upper-leather for Shoes, or Gloves for Men and Women. 

 The Fat is hot, dry, and cosmatick, and helps the Vertigo, 

 Palsie, Scabs, Ring-worms, and Varices (or swelling of the 

 Veins.) The Gall being drank, presently kills, for it burns 

 the Humours by its violent heat, causing Co7ivulsions, vomit- 

 ing of Green Cholor, and Death. It is reported that some 

 Poyson their Arrows therewith, that they may kill the sooner. 

 The Mountain-cat, so called from it's living in the Moun- 

 tainous parts of America, seldom appeareth or approacheth 

 near the Settlements. This is likewise a Beast of Prey, as 

 the Panther is, and is nearest to him in bigness and l^ature. 

 They seldom do any Mischief to the Planters, because they 

 are so remote from them, their continual haunts being in and 

 near the Mountains, otherwise they are most destructive and 

 fierce Creatures. They will nimbly climb Trees when pur- 

 sued by Huntsmen and Dogs, where they remain till they 

 are shot, but if only slightly wounded, will fight most desper- 

 ately, tearing the Dogs in pieces that they chance to meet 

 with, which seldom happens, by reason so many hunt in a 

 Body together, who are always well armed, and ready for 



such 



