£38 ' TRAVELS IN 
^' quietly ; both fatisfied with our noble coun- 
tenances." 
But leaving tliefe poetical romances, I can 
fay that my hopes in my cock were not difap- 
pointed. This animal, w^hich always roofted 
either on my tent or my waggon, regularly 
announced to me the appearance of aurora. 
He foon grew tame ; never quitted the neigh- 
bourhood of my camp ; and, if the want of 
food induced him to go any diftance, he al- 
ways returned on the approach of night. » 
Sometimes he was purfued by fmall quadru- 
pedes of the weafel or polecat kind ; and I 
have feen him, half flying and half running, 
retreat towards us, making as loud a noife as 
he could : but on fuch occafions fome of my 
people or dogs never failed to go fpeedily to 
his affiftanee. 
An animal that rendered me more effentialfer- 
vices ; which, by its ufeful prefence, fufpended 
and even diflipated certain bitter and difagreea- 
ble reflefiions that occurred to my mind; which, 
by its fimple and ftriking inftind, feemed to an- 
ticipate my efforts; and which comforted me in 
my languor — was an ape, of that kind fo com- 
mon 
