OF NORTH CAROLINA. 199 



from those teats, till they can shift for themselves. 

 Their food is roots, poultry or wild fruits. They 

 have no hair on their tails, but a sort of a scale or 

 hard crust, as the bevers have. If a cat has nine 

 lives, this creature surely has nineteen ; for if you 

 break every bone in their skin, and mash their 

 skull, leaving them for dead, you may come an 

 hour after, and they will be gone quite away, or 

 perhaps you meet them creeping away. They are 

 a very stupid creature, utterly neglecting their 

 safety. They are most like rats of any thing. I 

 have, for necessity in the wilderness, eaten of them. 

 Their flesh is very white, and well tasted ; but their 

 ugly tails put me out of conceit with that fare. 

 They climb trees as the raccoons do. Their far 

 is not esteemed nor used, save that the Indians 

 spin it into girdles and garters. 



The raccoon is of a dark, grey color. If taken 

 young, is easily made tame ; but is the drunkenest 

 creature living, if he can" get any liquor that is 

 sweet and strong. They are rather more unlucky 

 than a monkey. When wild, they are very subtle 

 in catching their prey. Those that live in the salt 

 water, feed much on oysters, which they love. 

 They watch the oyster when it opens, and nimbly 

 put in their paw and pluck out the fish. Some- 

 times the oyster shuts and holds fast their paw 

 till the tide conies in that they are drowned, 

 though they swim very well. The way that this 

 animal catches crabs, which he greatly admires, 

 and which are plenty in Carolina, is worthy of re- 



