
NATURAL HISTORY. 37 
The fkin is fo thick as to refift the edge of a {word or 
fabre. Contrary toall other amphibious animals, its 
feet are not webbed. In figure itis between the ox 
and hog; and is found near lakes and rivers, from the 
*‘Wiger to the Cape of Good Hope, in Africa. 
is This animal purfues its prey with great rapidity in 
the water, under which it will remain thirty or forty 
minutes. They do great injury to the African plan- 
tation. Dampier fays they are fo ftrong, that he has 
feen oné overturn a boat with fix men in it; notwith- 
ftanding which, they are inoffenfive to all except their 
natural prey. A convincing proof that providence 
has formed the ftrongeft animals to be the moft harm- 
efs! They never leave the mouth of the frefh water 
rivers. The female brings forth her young, which is 
afingle offspring, onland. They are taken in pit 
falls, and have been often tamed. Their flefh, which 
is as delicate as veal, is fold like other meat, in the 
public market. monet 
This animal is the Behemoth of Job. It was known 
to the Romans, and introduced by Auguftus among 
other foreignanimals that graced his triumph over 
Cloepatra. 
It was worfhipped by the Egyptains, at the city of 
Papremis, as a fuperftitious caution of avoiding any 
affront to this animal, which they feared might be the 
cafe, if they refufed him that deification with which 
they had honoured fo many other favage beafts. 
MOO 
ELEPHANT. 
Tue elephant is reckoned the largeftof all land an- 
imals, and, next to man, the moft fagacious. They, | 
grow from feven to fifteen feet in height; and, not-— 
with{tanding their unwieldy bulk, they will fwim. 
The trunk with which nature has provided them, and 
which anfwers os purpofe of hands to feed them. 
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