EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



refembled thofe of a rat : the ears were long, rounded, 

 and tranfparent : its toes were twenty in number, one 

 on each foot being placed behind, and fcrving as a thumb. 

 It had ten or twelve paps, to which the young ones ftick 

 fail, it is faid, as foon as produced, when they are not 

 larger than fmall beetles ; but it wanted that pouch 

 which is common to all other oppolTums ; in place of 

 this there were two longitudinal folds on the infide of 

 each thigh, equally adapted to preferve its offspring from 

 every injury, which no tortures whatever, not even fire, 

 will make it forfake. I have only to add, that it bur- 

 rows in the ground, and often climbs trees ; but it feeds 

 like a moufe on grain, fruits, and roots. Of the other 

 fpecies I fliall defer the defcription till chance affords me 

 an opportunity. 



Madam Merion mentions one kind of them, which, in 

 time of danger, carries its young ones upon its back ; 

 but this animal, I confefs, I nev^er heard of in Surinam, 

 and am perfuaded of its non-exiftence. 



I have already ftated that, from fome unaccountable 

 delay, it was very late this morning before we lefc the 

 camp; we, neverthelefs, all flarted at laft; I having the 

 van-guard with the rangers, and the poor marines 'loaded 

 each man with nifie days provifions on his back. In 

 this condition we had not proceeded long, when one 

 of the rangers founding his horn, they fpread, and I 

 among them, all inftantly falling fiat upon the ground^ 

 with our firelocks cocked, and ready to engage ; but this. 



Vol. II. U however, 



