Travels in North America. 6j 



the Difcovery. As foon as they have fmelt out an Orignal, two 

 place themfelyes at his Sides, and the third behind him, and they 

 all three make fuch a fine Manœuvre, harrafling the Beaft, that 

 they oblige him to go where they have left the Carcajou, with 

 which they agree afterwards about dividing the Game.-— Ano- 

 ther Stratagem of the Carcajou, is to climb up a Tree: There ly- 

 ing along upon an extended Branch, he waits for the paffing by 

 of an Orignal, and leaps upon him as foon as he is within his 

 .Reach. 



Many People have imagined. Madam, that the Relations of 

 Canada give the Savages more Wit and Senfe than they have. 

 They are, neverthelefs. Men : And under what Climate lhall 

 we find Brutes that have an Inftind more ingenious than the 

 Beaver, the Carcajou, and the Fox ? 



The Hart of Canadais abfolutely the fame as in France^ per- 

 n-^ / f/ // ^^P^ commonlv a litttle larger. It does not 

 u/ wetiart ana ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ Savages difturb him much ; 

 the Laribou. ^ ^^^^^ j ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ 



againft him in Form, and with any Preparations. It is not the 

 fame with Regard to the Caribou fa). This is an Animal not fo 

 high as the Orignal, v/hich has more of the Afs than the Mule 

 in its Shape, and which equals the Hart in Swiftnefs. Some 

 Years ago, one appeared upon Cape Diamond, above ^ebec : It 

 was, no Doubt, flying from the Hunters, but he perceived foon 

 he was not in a Place of Safety, and he made almoft but one 

 Leap from thence into the River. A Vv'ild Goat of the Alps could 

 ûot have done more : Then he fwam very fv/iftly acrofs the Ri- 

 ver ; but it was all to no Purpofe: S ome Canadians y who were 

 going to make War, and who were encamped near the Point of 

 Le^-vi, having difcovered him, waited for his landing, and killed 

 him. They greatly elleem the Tongue of this Animal, which 

 herds moil about Hud/on s Bay, The Sieur Jeremy, who has pafled 

 many Years in thefe Northern Farts, fays, that betv>^een the Danes 

 River and Port Nelfon, during the whole Summer, they fee prodi- 

 gious Numbers of them; which being driven from the Woods 

 by the Flies and Gnats, come to refrelh themfelves by the Sea 

 Side ; and that for the Space of forty or fifty Leagues they meet 

 almoft continully with Herds of ten thoufand at leaft. 



It appears that the Caribou has never been in any great Num- 

 bers in the moil frequented Places of Canada ; but the Orignals 

 abounded every where when we firft difcovered the Country ; 

 and it might have made an Article of Trade, and a great Con- 

 venience of Life, if they had been careful to preferve the Breed : 

 But this they have not done ; and, either becaufe they have 



(a) It differs not from the Rain-Deer, but in its Colour j which is brown, 

 or à little reddifh, 



K z thinned 



