OF NORTH CAROLINA. 197 



makes the best drum heads, and if tanned makes 

 the best sort of shoes for the summer countries. 



Tigers are never met withal in the settlement, 

 but are more to the westward, and are not numer- 

 ous on this side the chain of mountains. I once 

 saw one that was larger than a panther, and seem- 

 ed to be a very bold creature. The Indians that 

 hunt in those quarters, say they are seldom met 

 withal. It seems to differ from the tiger of Asia 

 and Africa. 



Polcats or skunks in America are different from 

 those in Europe. They are thicker and of a great 

 many colors, not all alike, but each differing from 

 another in the particular color. They smell like 

 a fox but ten times stronger. "When a dog en- 

 counters them, they piss upon him, and he will 

 not be sweet again in a fortnight or more. The 

 Indians love to eat their flesh which has no man- 

 ner of ill smell when the bladder is out. I know 

 no use their furs are put to. They are easily 

 brought up tame. 



There have been seen some otters from the 

 westward of Carolina, which were of a white color, 

 a little inclining to a yellow. They live on the 

 same prey here as in Europe, and are the same in 

 all other respects, so I shall insist no farther on 

 that creature, their furs, if black, are valuable. 



Severs are very numerous in Carolina, there 

 being abundance of their dams in all parts of the 

 country where I have traveled. They are the 

 most industrious and greatest artificers (in build- 



