( '93 ) 



It has been pretended that the orignal, or elk,, 

 is fubjecl: to the epilepfy, and when he is feized with 

 any. fit, he cures himfelf by rubbing his ear with 

 his left hind foot till the blood comes ; a circum- 

 ftance which has made his hoof be taken for a fpe- 

 cific againft the falling ficknefs. This is applied 

 over the heart of the patient, which is alfo' done for 

 a palpitation of the heart ; they place in the left 

 hand, and rub the ear with it. But why do not 

 they make the blood come as the elk does ? This 

 homy fubftance is alfo believed to be good in the 

 plenrify, in cholic pains, in fluxes, vertigoes, and 

 purples, when pulverifed and taken in water. I 

 have heard fay, that the Algonquins, who formerly 

 fed on the flefh of this animal, were very fubjecl to 

 the epilepfy, and yet made no ufe of this remedy. 

 They were, perhaps, acquainted with a better. 



The colour of the elk's hair is a mixture of light 

 grey, and of a dark red. It grows hollow as the beaft 

 grows older, never lies fiat, nor quits its elaftic 

 force ; thus it is in vain to beat it, it conftantly 

 rifes again. They make matrafTes and hair bottoms 

 of it. Its flefh is of an agreeable reiifh, light and 

 nourifhing, and it would be great pity it it gave 

 the falling- ficknefs ; but our hunters, who have 

 lived on it for feveral winters running, never per- 

 ceived the leaft ill qualitity in it. The fkin is ftrong, 

 foft, and oily, is made into Chamois leather, and 

 makes excellent buff-coats, which are alfp very 

 light. 



The Indians look upon the elk as an animal of 

 good omen, and believe that thofe who. dream of 

 them often, may expeel a long life , it is quite the 

 contrary with the bear, except on the approach of 

 the feafon for " hunting thpfe creatures. There is 



