220 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



royal tyger of Africa, as that is of no importance, has 

 furprifmg ftrength and ferocity. There is no quadru- 

 ped, among thofe of Europe or America, which can be 

 oppofed to it. It intrepidly attacks and tears men, deer, 

 horfes, bulls, and even the mod: monftrous crocodiles, as 

 Acofta affirms. This learned author vaunts both its in- 

 trepidity and fwiftnefs. G. de Oviedo, who had travel- 

 led through many countries of Europe, and was not ig- 

 norant of natural hiflory, fpeaking of thofe American 

 tygers, fays, " They are animals very ftrong in the legs, 

 " well armed with claws, and fo terrible, that in my judg- 

 " ment, none of the greatefl royal lions can rival their 

 M ftrength and ferocity." The tyger is the terror of the 

 American woods ; it is not poflible to tame it or catch it 

 when it is grown up : thofe which are taken when young 

 are not to be kept without danger, unlefs they are fhut 

 up in the flrongeft cages of wood or iron. Such is the 

 character of thofe animals which are called cowardly by 

 Mr. de Paw and other authors, who were unable to 

 diflinguifh the fpecies of quadrupeds with fpotted fkins. 



It is however certain, that thofe authors fhevv them- 

 felves as credulous of every thing they find written con- 

 cerning the fize, ftrength, and intrepidity of the royal 

 tygers of the old continent, as they are obflinate in de- 

 nying faith to what eye-witneffes fay of American tygers. 

 Count de BufFon believes, upon the atteftation of we do 

 not know what author, that the royal tyger is from thir- 

 teen to fourteen feet in length, and five in height ; that 

 it will engage with three elephants, kill a buffaloe, and 

 drag it wherever it pleafes, and other fimilar abfurdities, 

 which can only gain belief from thofe who are prejudi- 

 ced in favour of the old continent. If fome authors de- 

 fending of faith fhould relate of the American tygers a 



few 



