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alfo a very diverting tradition among the Indian s 

 of a great elk, of fuch a monftrous fize, that th e 

 reft are like pifmires in comparifon of him ; his 

 legs, fay they, are fo long, that eight feet of mow 

 are not the leafl incumbrance to him ; his hide is 

 proof againll all manner of weapons, and he has 

 a fort of arm proceeding from his moulders, which 

 he ufes as we do ours. He is always attended by a 

 vafc; number of elks which form his court, and 

 which render him all the fervices he requires. 

 Thus the antients had their Phenix and Pegafus, and 

 the Chinefe and Japonefe their Kirim, their Foke, 

 their Water- dragon, and their bird of Paradife, 

 Tut to 7 mondo e Paefe. 



The elk is a lover of cold countries ; he feeds on 

 grafs in fu miner, and in winter gnav/s the bark of 

 trees. When the fnow is very deep, thefe animals 

 aflemble in lbme pine-wood, to fhelter themfeives 

 from the feverity of the weather, where they remain 

 whilfl: there is any thing to live upon. This is the 

 beft feafon for hunting them, except when the fun 

 has ftrength enough to melt the fnow. For the 

 froft forming a kind of cruft on the furface in the 

 night, the elk, who is a heavy animal, breaks it 

 with his forked hoof, and with great difficulty ex- 

 tricates himlelf except at this time, and above all,, 

 when the fnow is not deep, it is very difficult to 

 get near him, at leaf!:, without danger, for when he 

 is wounded he is furious, and will return boldly 

 on the huntfman and tread him under his feet. The 

 way to fhun him is to throw him your coat, on which 

 he will difcharge all his vengeance, whilfb the 

 hunt! man concealed behind fome tree, is at liberty 

 to take proper meafures for difpatching him. The 

 elk goes always at a hard trot, but inch as equals 

 the iwifteft fpeed of the buffalo, and will hold out 



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