Of the Armadillo* or by some called the Hog in Arhiou-r, the most
frequent brought to Pak*amaribOj, is o f a slender form, its body covered
with a strong crust e f scales or shells, in hexangular figures fend of ten
distinct moveable bands* hut of which the last is only half way upon each
side-; the head i f very oblong; the ears in proportion* likewise long and
erected; the claws are sharply pointed ; the tail is long; the snout; ears,
Mid belly, which have no scales, the anunaf covers when sleeping by rollihg
itself up into .a ball.. It is a harmless animal, will grow to the length of
hear a foot and a half, and thfe tail full as lo n g ; lives on roots, ground
worms, and ether insects ; its in eat is said to taste like that of a rabbit.
The Indians are fdnd of hunting them; but when the animal tries to make
its escape, rand isitoq far o ff from its own retreat, it will try quickly to
make a fresh buffow; with its sharp paws; and When the hunters discover
the armadillo just, in time to lay hold of the tail, it fastens itself with its
paws fast to the interior part o f the cave, and rather suffers that part to
he lorn off; but in that case it is said the’Indians tickle the armadillo with
a stick, when it will soon give way, and suffer itself to be taken from its
retreat.;
Of the deer kind there are two sorts at Surinam ; the first is called the
Stag, which is about the size of a fallow deer, which at resembles much in
shape, but, the antlers or branches to its horns, are only few,and the colour
o f the animal is o f a brown gray.
The second species is much like the European roe^buck: when young
it is o f a light brown colour, intermixed with white spots placed in longitudinal
lines;, and as this animal is difficult to hunt, living in the most
swampy parts o f the colony, and being very swift, only the young ones
are taken alive, which soon become very tame, when theyare brought to
Paramaribo ; but they do not in general livelong enough to change their;
colour, 'wherefore it has occasioned the opinion o f many that this species
o f deer is always o f a variegated colour; but a mulatto inhabitant
o f Paramaribo, who by much care had been able t© keep one alive for a
considerable length of -time, found that this animal changed to an uniform
light brown colour ; it was o f the size of a goat, was a female, and had no
horns, but of most delicate shape.
Having described those aniimals which are useful to,man in.assisting in
labour, or serviogas. nourishment, I now proceed to thosei which he
à reads, ' and i wit h whom he is in perpetual.hostility.
The Jaguar ris in genferak^41fed the .South America® tiger,: and which
Count Buffon, according to his system of the difference of the animals of
the abcient and the new iiseowsred. worlds, has declared, to be. inferior in
size and courage to the tiger of Asia ; though it is certain,. however, the
Jaguar cannot be called properly a tiger, but belongs more to the species
o f ounce ; it.comes tq be about the same size, and likewise pf .the same
shapes has a bright bioWmsh yellow colour, and the • top ;0.f*|he back- is
marked with long stripes o f a darker,colour, whilst the sides are beautifully
variegated with irregular oblong spots, which are ope» i nr the middle,
and marked, with shades of Tighter yellow. This animal, it is said, 4t
-Surinam,’ will attack with
which fact there are many instances on the plantations. That he is not so
dangerous to. the human species, it is supposed arises from the plenty of
prey .which he finds-! in general in the/.irnmense forests, and .fortunately
prefers the* flesh of animals to that of man ; but, like the African panther,
when he is disappointed in catching any fmltoal, and hot fidly. satiated,
he then willTail upon, the ; human species ; but it is remarked in such
cases, he rather-, singles out, an Indian than a European. Ifiitfei# is the
fact, it may bp occasioned by. the nakedness, of the former, and therefore
-the animal htas sooner the scant, o f Ahem, and pursttefc them first. Some
Indans/brought me a young jaguar to sell ; it was,not. bigger than a full
grown icat, and o f a very gentle appearance ; but the display of his future
character being too well known,, my landlady came and entreated me not
to b u y th ats pi t eful creature, which, after having; given me much trouble
to-rear, would at last recompose „me yifith the greatest ingratitude ;
and 1 parted with him the more willingly, a§ the-( other animals 1 kept
■were all .of a very tractable disposition, and lived very sociably together,
hut (»hewed all of fehem their ! abhorreneis *©£ibis'; new intruder, and were
not deceived by.Its splendid appearance. The 'brother of Mr. Limes,
told,me he had reared up a young jaguar, adhialfoimd. to follow him in
thfe woods with hie d®gs ; but when he grew up he had a dispute With
his dogs, in wMth the lattes» had much the disadvantage. Mr. Limes*