THE ELK. 2f)3 



Superstitious notion respecting the elk. 



travel the horse. They are also less delicate in 

 their food than that animal, and are more pro- 

 ductive than any other beast of burthen. 



When suddenly roused, and endeavouring to 

 make its escape, the elk is observed at times to 

 fall down, as if deprived for some moments of 

 motion. Whether this be owing to an epileptic 

 fit, or whether it merely results from feas, cannot 

 be easily ascertained. The fact, however, is too 

 well authenticated to -admit our doubting it; 

 This has given rise to the popular superstition of 

 attributing to the hoofs the virtue of an anti- 

 epileptic medicine; and the Indians firmly be- 

 lieve that the elk has the power of curing itself 

 of its own disorder, or of preventing an ap- 

 proaching fit, by scratching its ear with the hoof 

 till it draws blood. 



According to Charlevoix, the Indians have a 

 superstitious notion that there is an elk of such an 

 enormous size, that eight feet in depth of snow 

 is no impediment to its walking; that its hide is 

 proof against weapons of every description ; and 

 that it has an arm growing out of its shoulder 

 subservient to the same purposes as that of man. 

 They also say that this imaginary animal is at- 

 tended by a vast number of other elks, which 

 form his court, and render him every service that 

 a sovereign can require of them. These simple 

 people esteem the elk an animal of good omen, 

 and believe that to dream of it repeatedly is an 

 s indication of long life. 



VOL. n. NO. xin. 2 L 



