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We had alſo a very odd Animal called an Opoſſom on Board. This Creature in Shape and Size ſomewhat reſembles our Badger, but of a light dun Colour, with a long Tail like a Rat's, but thicker. The Skin of his Belly is very large, and folded ſo as to meet like a Purſe, where it ſecures its Young while little. It was kept in a Cage, and two young ones which went into this falſe Belly of the Mother all the Night, and came out again in the Morning. It feeds upon Fiſh, and breeds in Virginia. Our Captain was offered ſix Pounds Sterling for the Animal at Greenock, by a Show-man, but refuſed to part with it; tho' it was carried off from the Ship afterwards, none could tell how, which the Captain was very angry for.
During the Storm in our Outward bound Paſſage, we obſerved three Crows, which had been driven off the Land by it, which flew around our Ship, and reſted upon our Tops; we took Pity on them, and put up Berly for them to feed upon, which they did, and being quite wearied out, we catched them in the Night, and brought them down, cliped their Wings, and fed them among the Pidgeons, and they became very tame; but one Day, poor Creatures! when the Ship was rolling, they all plumped over Board, and periſhed, after all our Hoſpitality and Attempts to preſerve them, and it would have been impoſſible for us at that Time to have ſaved the beſt Man in Europe, if he had fallen over Board.
Once beating the Windward Paſſage Home from amaica, one of our Hands, a brisk youngFellow,
