[ ”3 ] 
But the flory told us, by the above amhor Martyr, 
of that great manati thews how capable thefe crea- 
tures are of being render’d very familiar; and how 
fufceptible of impreffions, tho’ they really feem as 
unfit for any kind of education as any other what- 
foever. 
This author defcribes the manati very fully ; and 
then tells this remarkable ftory : 
tc A governor, in the province of Nicaragua, had 
C£ a young manati , which was brought to him, to 
“ be put into the lake Guanaibo, which was near his 
<c houfe; wherein he was kept for the fpace of 
<c twenty-fix years ; and was ufually fed with bread, 
cc and fuch like fragments of victuals, as people often 
u feed fifh with in a fifh-pond. Fie became fo fa- 
u miliar, by being daily vifited and fed by the family, 
“ that he was faid to excel even fhe dolphins, fo 
<c much celebrated by the antients for their docility 
and tamenefs. The domeftics of this governor 
<c named him Matto ; and at whatfoever time of 
u the day they call’d him by that name, he came 
<c out of the lake, took victuals out of their hands, 
“ crawl'd up to the houfe to feed, and play’d with 
u the fervants and children ; and fometimes ten per- 
t£ tons together would mount upon his back, whom 
u he carried with great eafe and fafety crofs the 
« lake.” 
All that is here mention’d of the docility of this 
manati , does not much furpafs that of this feal in 
town. He anfwers to the call of his keeper, and is 
obfervant of his commands ; takes meat from his 
hand, crawls out of the water, and firetches at full 
length, when he is bid > and, when order’d, returns 
P into 
