LETTER XL 301 



got fb fafely off then ; but could never be pre- 

 vailed on, to venture on another fuch curious 

 Vifit. The Sailors, are a very fuperftitious fet of 

 People ; for thefe were firmly perfuaded, that 

 the Bracbman performed this Feat by dint of 

 pure Charm or Enchantment. But alas! it is 

 eafily , accounted . for in the follovv^ing manner, 

 without recourfe to Conjuration, 'viz. He had 

 catched them on the Bank of fpme River, when 

 they were very young, carried them Home 

 to the Pond- fide in his Room, fed them at cer- 

 tain partkular times in the day, fuffered them by 

 degrees to accuftom themfelves to the Pond, out 

 of which they foon naturally came up at the 

 ufually hour of being fed. And this pretty plainly 

 ihows itfelf ; For the old Brachman would be 

 ^ke :j*vith but at one certain Hour of the Day. 

 In fhort ; all Animals whatever may be tamed, 

 provided they are catched whilft young enough 

 for^that purpofe, agreeably to the Words of St. 

 ^aynes^ (chap. 3 . ver. 7.) For every kind ofBeaJls^ 

 (pid of Birds ^ and of Serpents^ and things in the 

 the Sea^ is tamed ^ and hath been tamed of Man- 

 kind, 



. 4. The Brachman was artful enough, though 

 (I think) his Skill was far fliort of our Country- 

 man's at Brijiol^ who (no longer ago than in the 

 year 171 9 or 1720,) taught a Dog to fpeak as 

 articulately as Men ufually do. There are (no 



doubt) 



