«36 TRAVELS IN 
When we approached, we adually found 
on the fhore a fpermaceti whale about fifty 
feet in length. It was lying at the diftance of 
more than a hundred paces from the fea j and 
had doubtlefs been forced thither by the waves; 
but the fea muft certainly have experienced a 
xnoft tremendous ftorm, to be able to throw fo 
far a maf$ fo enormous. It was attacked by 
a variety of carnivorous birds, and by a num- 
ber of crows ; but particularly by different 
fpecies of thofe fmal! quadrupeds, of the genus 
of the polecat and weafel, which, at the Cape, 
are known under the general name of muys^ 
bond. All thefe animals were bufily feeding 
upon the whale, of which a confiderable part 
had already been devoured by them ; but our 
approach difturbed the enjoyment of their re- 
paft. The birds betook themfelves to flight ; 
the muys^hmden fcampcred away ; the crows, 
however, a fpecies of carnivorous animals 
more obftinate than any other, remained and 
were loth to quit their prey : without being 
frightened by our vifit, they hovered round 
the carcafe, and over our heads, croaking in the 
inoft frightful manner. 
The fand, to the diflauce of more than fifteen 
feel 
