General Fedreman marching in this Countrey at the Head of his Army, was assaulted by a Tyger, which in despight of them all killing a Spaniard, and three Indians, escap’d from them; no Trees serve for a refuge against their fury, for they climb up to the top thereof, and fetch down their Prey; their Claws are so exceeding Venomous, that whoever is scratch’d with the same, is never to be cur’d; there is no Beast but they will venture upon, wherefore they lie in the Bushes, from whence they rush out upon them; but this disadvantage they have, that most other Beasts are too nimble Footed for them, for they are a very heavy Creature, whatever hath been deliver’d by the Ancients concerning the Tygers swiftness.
As to the difference which they make in Humane Flesh, it is thus far true: That they find more sweetness in Womens Breasts than other parts, and chose a Black Man before a White: Concerning the first, France gives a sufficient testimony, when two Tygers, in the time of King Lewis the Twelfth, breaking loose, left a great number of Women lying Breastless in the Road. The second is confirm’d by John Johnston’s Relation of a strange accident that happen’d in Bengale, viz. A Moor dreaming that a Tyger fetch’d him out of the Ship, hid himself the next Night between Decks, of which the Master asking the reason, was inform’d concerning his Dream, which prov’d prophetick, for about Mid-night a Tyger leapt into the Ship, and devouring the Moor, went away without touching any one of the Hollanders, of which there were thirty: But a Sea-man walking on the shore escap’d more wonderfully, for a Tyger setting upon him behind, and a Crocodile before, he leaping from betwixt them, discover’d to the Tyger the Crocodile, to whom the Tyger directly running, and ingaging with the Crocodile, spar’d the Sea-mans life: Notwithstanding the cruelty and mischief of these Tygers, the Indians are led by their sottish Superstition to worship them; because, as they say, the Devil often appears to them in that shape.
Squerrils.
Besides the Tygers, the Inhabitants of Mechaocan are exceedingly molested with Squerrils, which not only carry much Fruit into their Holes, but also under-mine the Houses, so that they often sink or fall on one side, the mischief being the worse, because they increase daily. Most of them bear four young at a time, which on the third day run about for Prey, and can scarce be taken, because of their exceeding swiftness, leaping a great distance from one Tree to another; their Tails serve them on divers occasions; for leaping they use it like a Wing, and at their crossing over a River, for a Sail; in tempestuous Weather, they stop their holes therewith, to keep out the Wind.
Several kinds of them.
There are six several sorts of these Squerrils; the first call’d Tlilic, cover themselves with their Tails; the second Quapatchli, is as big again, and can never be made tame; the third Techallotl, with a bald Tail and great Eyes; the fourth Talmototly, hath a thick Head, and a Tail full of black and white streaks; the fifth Quimitchpatlan, hath a little Head and long Legs, and leaping from one Tree to another, seems to flie; the last sort call’d Yztactechalotl, is whitish.
Foxes.
The Foxes do also great mischief here, their Urine smells so horribly, that forty days after, none are able to abide near the place where they have urin’d, and on whatsoever Stuff or Cloth a drop thereof chanceth to light, the stink can never be wash’d away.
The Bird Auras.
Here breeds also a sort of Birds, call’d Auras, which are not unlike Moore-Hens; they flie exceeding high in the Air, feed on nought but stinking Carrion, which they scent at a great distance; they have a hairy Head and Neck, and ugly Face: Some of the Fowls of this Countrey stay here all the year long, others go away, and return at certain times.