6l Some New Voyages , 



Men might have fed upon ? em heartily, without 

 putting themfelves to any trouble. You muff know^ 

 that through the middle of this Meadow there runs 

 a Brook, upon which I and two young Savages fhot 

 feveral Snipes, Rayles, and a certain fort of Fowl 

 call'd Bateurs defaux, which is as big as a Quail, and 

 eats very delicioufly. 



In the fame place we kill'd fome Musk-Rats, or 

 a fort of Animals which referable a Rat in their 

 /hape, and are as big as a Rabbet. The Skins of 

 thefe Rats are very much valued, as differing but 

 little from thofe of Beavers. Their Teftieles fmell 

 fo ftrong of Musk, that no Civet or Antilope thaC 

 jifia affords, can boaft of fuch a ftrong and fweec 

 fmell. We fpy'd 'em in the Mornings and Evenings* 

 at which time they ufually appear upon the Water 

 with their Nofeto the Windward, and betray them* 

 felves to the Huntfmen, by the curling of the Wa- 

 ter. The Fouteraux, which are an amphibious fort of 

 little Pole-Cats, are catch'd after the fame manner* 

 I was likewife entertained upon this occafion, with 

 the killing of certain little Beafts, call'd Siffleurs, or 

 Whiftlers, with allufion to their wonted way of 

 whiffling or whizzing at the Mouth of their Holes 

 in fair Weather. They are as big as Hares, biie 

 fomewhat fhorter, their Flefh is good for nothing, 

 but their Skins are recommended by their rarity. 

 The Savages gave me an opportunity of hearing 

 one of thefe Creatures whiffle for an hour together, 

 after which they (hot it. To gratifie the curiofity 

 I had to fee fuch diverfity of Animals, they made 

 a diligent fearch for the Holes or Dens of the Car^ 

 caioux s and having found fome at the diftance of 

 two or three Leagues from the Fen upon which we 

 were pofted, they conduced me to the place. At 

 the break of day we planted our felves round the 

 Holes, with our Bellies upon the Ground ; and left 

 fome Slaves to hold the Dogs a Musket-ihot behind 



