Travels Through North America 



moose deer, buffaloes, mountain-cats, and various 

 other sorts. Such are in general the natural pro- 

 ductions of this country.* 



Viewed and considered as a settlement, Virginia 

 is far from being arrived at that perfection of which 

 it is capable. Not a tenth of the land is yet culti- 

 vated: and that which is cultivated, is far from being 

 so in the most advantageous manner. It produces, 

 however, considerable quantities of grain and cattle, 

 and fruit of many kinds. The Virginian pork is 

 said to be superior in flavour to any in the world; 

 but the sheep and horned cattle being small and 

 lean, the meat of them is inferior to that of Great 

 Britain, or indeed, of most parts of Europe. The 

 horses are fleet and beautiful; and the gentlemen of 

 Virginia, who are exceedingly fond of horse-racing, 

 have spared no expence or trouble to improve the 

 breed of them by importing great numbers from 

 England. 



The fruits introduced here from Europe succeed 

 extremely well; particularly peaches, which have a 

 very fine flavour, and grow in such plenty as to serve 

 to feed the hogs in the autumn of the year. Their 



abled to fly through a considerable space. The former are of a 

 very wild nature; but these may be easily, and are frequently 

 tamed. There is a species of polecat in this part of America, 

 which is commonly called a skunk. This animal, when pursued, 

 or assailed by its enemy, ejects its urine; which emits such a fetid 

 and insupportable stench, as almost to stifle and suffocate what- 

 ever is within the reach of it. 

 * See Appendix, No. I. 



[44] 



