40 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP. Halfhide, the only Englifh; and Captain Macneal, the 



XVII 



^ only native of Ireland, reliding in this colony. 



On the 28th, Colonel Fourgeoud returned with his 

 command from Patamaca, much emaciated himfelf, and 

 his men nearly exhaufted by fatigue. He had left a 

 great number behind him in the hofpital at La Rochelle, 

 but heard no account whatever of the rebels, although 

 he varied his route every time. It was therefore pretty 

 evident that they were routed, if latterly there had been 

 any fettled at all : but where to find them in this un- 

 bounded foreft was the quellion. He however never de- 

 fpaired, and feemed as eager to difcover the haunts of 

 the rebels as he had been formerly in fpringing a 

 covey of partridges, or difcovering a neft of black 

 badgers. 



On the 29th, Mr. Matthew, one of our officers who 

 had been out fliooting, prefented me with the "Taibo^ an 

 animal that is here called the wood-rat. This creature 

 was the fize of a young hare, and of a reddidi brown cov 

 lour, being remarkably thin, with long limbs, a round iOi 

 head, and a tail not unlike that of a fucking-pig ; the 

 claws were exadly like thofe of a common rat, but larger 

 in proportion, and fo was the head, mouth, teeth, and 

 whifkers; the ears were (liort and naked, the eyes black 

 and prominent, with a white iris ; it is faid to run very 

 faft : we had it dreffed, and ate it, having been told that 

 it was very good, and fo we found it, fweet, tender, and 

 even fat, notwithftanding its lank appearance. This 



creature. 



