COUGAR* 
In South America, where the Cougar greatly 
abounds, as the towns generally border on fo- 
rests, it frequently makes incursions by night 
into the very houses ; from whence it carries 
ofF fowls, dogs, and other domestic animals. 
' It is, however, but a weak and contemptible 
creature, when compared with tlie tiger ; be- 
ing scarcely able to contend with any of the 
human species singly. The negroes, and na- 
tives, are very dextrous in encountering it ; 
and some of them, for the • sole sake of it's 
skin, the fur of which is soft, and with which 
they cover themselves in the winter season, 
anxiously explore it's retreats. The weapons 
used in this apparently perilous undertaking, 
by the Indians, consist only of a lance about 
two or three yards in length, made of a pon- 
derous wood, and having it's point hardened 
by the fire, and a kind of scymitar about 
three-quarters of a yard long. Thus armed, 
the Indian waits till the Cougar makes an as- 
sault on his left hand ; which wields the lance, 
and is wrapped up in a short baize cloak. 
Sometimes the animal, aware of it's danger, 
«eems to decline the combat ; in which case, 
id antagonist endeavours to provoke it, by a 
slight 
