of North Carolina. 125 



traded Sinews, Pains of the Joints, Gout, Palsie, and many 

 other Disorders. 



The Possum is to be met with no where hut in America, 

 that I could ever learn, and is the wonder of all Land Ani- 

 mals ; it is near as large as a Badger, and partly of that col- 

 our, but lighter. The Males Pisel is retrogade, and in time 

 of Coition differs from most other Animals, turning tail to 

 tail as Dog and Bitch when tied together. The Female no 

 doubt breeds her young ones at her Teats, for I have fre- 

 quently seen them stick fast thereto, when they have been no 

 bigger than the end of a Childs little Finger, and seemingly 

 to move and be alive. The She one has a false Belly or 

 Pouch, which covers her Teats, and wherein she carries her 

 Young ; in the middle of which is a Hole where the young ones 

 creej) in and out, for the Female will lye down upon a Bank, 

 and the young come out to sun themselves, and return in at 

 Pleasure, yet the Female will contract this Pouch so secure 

 and close together, that she will swim over large Ponds and 

 Creeks of Water with her Young, without any danger of their 

 being drowned. They have about five or six young ones at 

 a Time, which remain sporting in and out of this false Belly, 

 till they are able to fend for themselves. They have long 

 Tails without Hair, like a Pat, but as thick as a Man's 

 Thumb; and appear as if they were Scaly, which they will 

 readily twine about your Finger or Cane, in which Posture 

 you may carry them where you please. They are a very 

 stupid Creature, being altogether negligent of their ovm 

 Safety, and never strive to flie from their Enemies, as it is 

 natural for all other wild Beasts to do. In shape, they are 

 most like Rats of any thing, and have very wide Mouths and 

 sharp Teeth. They are hard to kill, for I have known their 

 Sculls mashed and broken in pieces, so that they seemed to be 



quite 



