of the Ifthmus of America. 331 



table a Prefent to them as better Dogs for their 

 hunting. When I left the Ifthmus y two of the Indi- 

 ans who came aboard the fame Veflel at the SambaU 

 loes^ went a cruifing with us towards the Com- 

 Iflands and Cartagena: And when they were difpos'd 

 to return, and we wereftudying to oblige 'em with 

 fome Prefent, one of them fpied a Cat we had a- 

 board, and begg'd it : Which we had no fooner given 

 him, but he and his Confort, without flaying for 

 any other Gift, went immediately into their Canoa, 

 and paddled off with Abundance of Joy. They 

 had learnt the Ufe of Cats while they were a- 

 board. 



They have Snakes, but of what kind I don't well Infefts 

 remember ; nor did I fee or hear any Rattle Snakes. and Ver ~ 

 Spiders they have many, very large, but not poifo- min * 

 nous. They have Lice in their Heads ; which they 

 feel out with their Fingers, and eat as they catch 

 them. 



There is a fort of Infeft like a Snail in great Jfien- saldier-In- 

 ty among the Samballoe*s\ which is called the Soldier- k& 9 

 Infe£t ; but I don't remember I faw any of them 

 upon the Main. The Reafon of the Name, is be- 

 caufe of the Colour y for one third part of his Bo- 

 dy about his Head, which is out of the Shell, is 

 in Shape and Colour like a boil'd Shrimp, with little 

 Claws, and two larger like thofe of a Crab. That 

 part within the Shell, the Tail efpecially, is eata- 

 ble, and is good Food, very well tailed and delici- 

 ous, like Marrow. We thruft a Skuer through Delicious 

 this part, and roaft a pretty many of them in a Meat * 

 row. The Forepart is bony and ufelefs. They 

 feed upon the Ground, eating what falls from 

 Trees : And they have under the Chin a little Bag, 

 into which they put a Referve of Food. Befide 

 this they have in them a little Sand-Bag, which muftsand- 

 always be taken out when they are to be eaten, bag- 

 This Bag is commonly pretty full of Sand: And 



Conch 



