246 condamine's travels 



In the province of Quito only, and no where on the banks of the Amazons, did I 

 meet with the animal called by the Peruvians Puma, the lion of the American Spa- 

 niards. I cannot determine whether it be deferving the name ; the male has no mane, 

 and is much fmaller than the lions of Africa. I never faw any but fuch as were dead 

 and fluffed. 



It would be no fubjedt of wonder if bears, common but in cold countries, though 

 found on feveral of the mountains of Peru, fhould be unknown in the woods of the 

 Maraiion, of which the climate is fo different ; neverthelefs, in this part I have heard 

 mention made of an animal called Ucumari, a name that in the Peruvian tongue de- 

 (ignates the bear, though I never was able to convince myfelf of its identity to that 

 beafl. 



The elk, which is found in fome of the wooded diflrifts of the Cordilleras of Quito, 

 is not uncommon in the woods of the Amazons, nor in thofe of Guyana. I give the 

 name of elk here to the animal known to the Spaniards and Portuguefe by the name of 

 Danta, by that of Uagra to the Peruvians, and Tapiira to thofe of Brafil, and which 

 is called in the Galibi tongue on the coafts of Guyana Maypouri. As the continent in 

 the neighbourhood of the ifland of Cayenne forms a part of the continent traverfed by 

 the Amazons, and adjoins the plain watered by that mighty river, in each country is 

 found mofl of the animals common to the other. 



I defigned on my way among the Yameos, a fpecies' of weazel which is eafily tamed : 

 I was unable to pronounce or write the name by which it was called, but I faw one 

 again in the vicinage of Para, when it was terified Coati, in the Brazilian tongue. 

 This animal is mentioned by Laet. 



Monkeys are the moft common game, and that mofl prized by the Americans of the 

 Amazons. In the courfe of my long voyage down this river I faw fo many, and heard 

 fpeak of fuch a variety of fpecies, that the mere enumeration of their names would 

 take up much time. There are fome as large as a grey-hound, and others fmall as a 

 rat; I do not mean in this comparifon to allude to the diminutive fpecies called 

 Sapajou, but others much fmaller, difficult to tame, with long fhining hair moflly of 

 a chefnut colour, and fometimes fpotted with fawn. They have tails twice the length 

 of the body, a fmall fquare head, falfent ears, pointed like thofe of ihe cat and dog, 

 and not like thofe of other monkeys, between whom and thefe tliere is little refem- 

 blance, as thefe have rather the look and port of a lion. At Maynas they are called 

 Pinches, in Cayenne Tamarins. I had many, but was unable to preferve them : they 

 are of the fame fpecies called in the Brazilian tongue Sahuins, in French Sagoins ; 

 Laet fpeaks of them, citing L' Eclufe and Lery. That prefented to me by the gover- 

 nor of Para, was the only one of its fpecies ever feen in the country ; the hair of its 

 body was filvered, and a beautiful auburn ; that of the tail, a fhining chefnut approach- 

 ing'to black. It had another fingularity flill more remarkable ; its ears, cheeks, and 

 mouth, were of a vermillion, fo lively as fcarcely to be taken for a work of nature. 

 I kept it a whole year, and it was flill living while I was writing this defcription 

 almoft within fight of the French fhore, to which country I promifed myfelf the plea- 

 fure of bringing it alive ; but, notwithflanding every precaution I took to guiird it from 

 cold, probably owing to the rigour of the feafon, it died.' As I had no convenience 

 on board to dry it in the manner recommended by Mr. Reaumur, all I could do was to 

 preferve it in fpirits, but even thus it will probably exhibit fufficient to fhew no exagge- 

 ration in the defcription I have given. 



This country produces many other rare animals, but mofl of them have already been 

 defcribed, and are found in divers parts of America, for example, various fpecies of 



boar§ 



