i82 TRAVELS IN 
and half rotten; and the Ikln of the buffalo 
which we had flayed, ferved to renew the 
traces of my waggons and carriages, which 
the moifture had rendered unfit for fervice. 
Notvvdthftanding thefe continual rains, and my 
cruel difappointments, I was ftill capable of 
making fome efforts. I had found in the 
woods an old tree, the trunk of which was 
hollow ; and I went thither with my fufee 
almofl: every day, to watch for fuch fmall birds 
or game as might appear. I was there fhel- 
tered at leafi: from the rain, and I fupported 
my courage with hope. From this facred niche 
I brought down, without mercy, every thing 
that prefented itfelf before me. Thus the ftudy 
. of Nature engaged my attention, in preference 
to more preffing wants. Continually inflamed 
with the powerful defire of robbing her of her 
treafures, I was dying with hunger, and yet 
thought of my collections. In fpite of all obfl:a- 
cles I faw my riches gradually increafe : I had 
acquired a fmal! collection of rare objefls en- 
tirely unknown in Europe, which I expofed to 
the air ; and I found that they were not fo 
much damaged by the moifture as the reft 
pf my effeds. In this wood we found no 
game 
