The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-13


The MANATEE.-In regard to the strange ami
NAL recently caught in the waters on the Florida
coast the Philadelphia North American has the
following interesting article
The sea cow, or Mauatee, (which Is its an
tent y y est Indian name,l called also Lamaufin In
.us pa reach colonies, z0f estacsosfs animal
80 ~ - DsionBlnE % the same natural family as the
wnais' oo'Pain pospose, etc.-as erroneouslv
sG,h IN y soMe q the papers; does it belong,
mentioned by Others. Il 4 a.so-;.t.s ,,,h - ~.
hipPopotzmus, (althoueh verv ualiE, ,h., .n,n.h
under the class Paehydsmata faI- -,kisl .k;sr.E
forming the subdivision named, after it.ef ,,<.-
"4esa0 mere are several different kinds found
on the coasts Of America, Africa ~ - -.
Indies, including the Greater Oceaniez. he M.n..
tee proper, being, however, the mo.s co,n,u,,, 81
best known Il used to be very abandant 1, the
mouths Of most rivers OF America, wIhie or near.
the tropics, but ITS nesh being highly prired ior
food both BY savage and civilized men. some ~
the latter OF whom esteem il superior 10 beef h "a
been every where hunted down, 20 that in All
quarters II is now comparatively rare, and in apv
localities it has been entirely exterminated. Il
was once quite abundant in the estuafies OF Florida
and stil more so in those Of Central America and
especially the Mosquito coast, where the Indians
OF that name were employed by the old Bucca-
nlers to hsh Tor 1t, and were uneommoulv dexser-3
Gus in the pursuit Old Dampier, the free ooter.
described y, correctly as Of the thickness Of a
nurse m iengih ten or twelve feet, (s0metimes
nileen,l with mouth like that Of a cow with very
thick lips, eyes no bigger than pea and two
small holes for ears. frequenting creeks nets, and
mouths Of rivers, living on kind OF sea-srass. and
never leaving the water for any length Of time II
has broad fiat TAIL by which to propeI itself ike
hsh, and two short arms, or hippers. These ami
mails have wonderfully strong attachment for
their mates and their young; and noswlthstand-
ing their ugly faces, they have sometimes al dis
lance, sort Of nermaid-iike look having often
been taken Tor sea nymphs--as by Columbas who
IN the Journal Of his First Voyage, is at great
pans TO chronicle the numerous mermaids which
he saw, while exploring the coast OF Hixpaniola.
They seem TO have been peculiarly numerous in
that island AT the first coming OF the Spaniasds
who found the taste OF their meat too captivating
to be resisted especially on fast days and the
venerable Acosta, the historian confessed some
scrupes on the subject. being certain whether
to regard it "a ish or flesh.
But besides being plentiful in ST Domingo.
the Manaiees would appear TO have beea ON IN.
common good terms with the islanders or native
Indians, one Of the old writers giving an account
OF one which was ta1ssd BY Caeique and kept in
lake, where il lived for twenty -iive years. grew
to vast size, feeding yucca roots, which were
| supplied to II, answered to the name Of Matnss.
and was very gentle, playful, and useful--as NAV
| be supposed, since it officiafed as ferryuan was
always willing to carry an Indian, Amphon- like.
across the lake its back, and once accomolisbed
the feat Of floating ten persoas al a time. an
OF them, says Peter Martyr, singing and play
ing.'' -