to North America. 57 



the two Latchets, which run twice round about the 

 Heel, and every ftep they make upon the Snow, 

 the fore-part of the Foot finks into that hole, as of- 

 ten as they raife their Heel. By the help of this 

 Contrivance they walk fafter upon the Snow, than 

 one can do with Shoes upon a beaten path : And 

 Indeed 'tis fo neceffary for them, that twould be 

 otherwife impoffible not only to hunt and range 

 the Woods, but even to go to Church, notwith- 

 Handing they are fo near; for commonly the Snow 

 is three or four Foot deep in that Country during 

 the Winter. Being oblig d to march thirty or forty 

 Leagues in the Woods in purfuit of the above- 

 mention'd Animals, I found that the fatigue of the 

 Journey equal'd the pleafure of it. 



The Orignal is a fort of Elk, not much different 

 from that we find in Mufcovy, *Tis as big as an 

 Auvergne Moyle, and much of the fame fiiape, aba- 

 ting for its Muzzle, its Tail, and its great flat Horns, 

 which weigh fometimes 300, and fometimes 400 

 weight, if we may credit thofe who pretend to have 

 weigh'd 'em. This Animal ufually reforts to 

 planted Countries. Its Hair is long and brown ; 

 and the Skin is ftrongand hard, but not thick. The 

 Flefh of the Orignal, efpecially that of the Female 

 fort, eats delicioufly ; and 'tis faid, that the far i 

 hind Foot of the Female kind, is a Cure for the 

 Falling-Sicknefs ; it neither runs nor skips, but its 

 trot will aim oft keep up with thq running of a Hart. 

 The Savages affure us, that in Summer 'twill trot 

 three Days and three Nights without intermiffion, 

 This fort of Animals commonly gather into a body 

 towards the latter end of Autumn; and the Herds are 

 largeft in the beginning of the Spring, at which time 

 the fhe ones are in rutting ; but after their heat is over, 

 ♦ they all difperfe themfelves. We hunted ? em in 

 the following manner : Firft of all, we went 40 

 Leagues to the Northward of the River of St. Lau* 



