202 LETTER XXXIII. 



the tail, whence it is drawn two or three -times a 

 week. 



The very idea of animal perfumes appears offensive 

 to a delicate mind ; but although this in particular is 

 in the present age growing out of fashion, it was for- 

 merly very much esteemed, and sold as high as fifty 

 shillings per ounce. The quantity of perfume which 

 the civet yields depends principally on the health of 

 the animal, and the nutritious quality of its food. The 

 ancients were well acquainted with its perfume, and 

 ascribed to it certain fabulous powers; it is so strong, 

 that it is impossible to bear any considerable quantity 

 in a room; and no person could support the scent of 

 the animal in a place not admitting a free circulation 

 of air. This perfume, however, is generally esteem- 

 ed more agreeable than musk; arid industry, taking 

 advantage of the caprice of taste, has contrived to 

 make it a lucrative article t>f commerce. 



Several other animals of the weazel kind have been 

 observed by travellers, and described by naturalists; 

 but as I would neither embarrass your memory by a 

 tedious detail of rninutire, nor exhaust your patience 

 by the length of my letter, I shall hasten to its con- 

 clusion, by giving you a brief description of the ra- 

 coon and the badger. 



THE RACOON 



is common in many warm countries, particularly in 

 several parts of the new continent. It also inhabits 

 the mountains of Jamaica, whence numbers descend 

 into the plantations, and make great havoc among the 

 sugar canes, of which they are remarkably fond. 

 They frequently do incredible mischief in one night's 

 excursion. The planters, devise various methods of 

 destroying them, but they are so numerous as to ren- 

 der their extirpation impossible, and it is exceedingly 

 difficult to prevent their depredations. 



The racoon possesses great agility: by the help of 



its claws, which are extremely sharp, it climbs trees 



with great ease. When tamed, it is good-natured and 



sportive, but busy and inquisitive as a monkey* It 



.7 



