AMERICAN TAPIR. 457 



Oil being seized, in order to be put on board a ves- 

 sel, to be brought over to Europe, as soon as it 

 was on board became so unmanageable as not to 

 be confined, breaking the very strong cords with 

 which it was tied; and throwing itself overboard, 

 escaped to shore, and got to a consideiable dis- 

 tance from the town. It w^as supposed to be 

 lost, but returned into the town in tlie even- 

 ing. As it was determined to reimbark it, great 

 precautions were taken accordingly ; but which 

 only succeeded for a certain time ; for, during the 

 voyage, about half way between America aild 

 France, a storm happening to arise, it became 

 again outrageous, broke its bonds, and rushing 

 out of its place of confinement, committed itself 

 to the ocean, and was never recovered. 



From the above history of the Tapir it will suf- 

 ficiently appear, that, though ranked under a dis- 

 tinct genus, this animal has in some particulars a 

 considerable affinity to the Hippopotamus. 



