( ) 
after the fcent was very fmall, yet afterwards the Skin 
was very fragrant ; the Stones alfo fmelt very well. 
They build Houfes as Beavers do, in the Marlhes, and 
Swamps (as they there call them) by the Water- fides, 
with two or three ways into them, and they are finely 
daubed within ; I pulled one in pieces purpofcJy to lee 
the Contrivance : There were three duferent Lodging 
Rooms, very neat, one higher than another, as I con- 
ceive purpolely made for Retirement, when the Water 
rifes higher than ordinary ; they are conflderably large, 
having much Trafh and Lumbre to make their Houies 
withal, I fuppofe they live moftly on Fifh. 
BattSy as I remember at leaft two forts ; one a large 
fort with long Ears, and particularly longftraghng hairs. 
The other much like the Englijhy fomething larger I 
think, very common. 
I never heard of any Lions, they told me of a Crea- 
ture killed whilft I was there , in Glocefier County , 
vyhich I conceived to be a fort of Pard, or Tyger. 
Bears there are, and yet but few in the Inhabited 
part of Virginia ; towards Carolina there are many more. 
There was a fmall Bear killed within three Miles of 
James City the Year that I left the Country, but it was 
fuppofed to have ft rayed, and fwam over James River. 
They are not very fierce, their Fiefli is commended for 
a very Rich fort of Pork, but the lying fide of the Bear, 
as' I remember, is but half the value of the other, 
weight for weight. 
There are feveral forts of Wild Cats, and Toll^Cats, 
Beavers build their Houfes in like manner as the 
Musk- Rats do, only much larger, and with pieces of 
Timber make Dams over Rivers; as I fuppofe either to 
preferve their Funs dry in their palTage over the Rivers, 
otherwife to catch Fi(h by ftanding to watch them there- 
on, and jumping upon them on a fadden ; they are 
very fubtil Creatures, and if half of the Stories be true 
that 
