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An.1681
The Manatee, or Sea-Cow.
Privateers commonly roast them ; as they do also great pieces cut out of the Bellies of the old ones.
The Skin of the Manatee is of great use to Priva- teers, for they cut them out into straps, which they make fast on the sides of their Canoas, through which they put their Oars in rowing, instead of tholes or pegs. The Skin of the Bull, or of the back of the Cow is too thick for this use ; but of it they make Horse-whips, cutting them 2 or 3 foot long : at the handle they leave the full substance of the Skin, and from thence cut it away tapering, but very even and square all the four sides. While the Thongs are green they twist them, and hang them to dry ; which in a weeks time become as hard as Wood. The Moskito-men have always a small Canoa for their use to strike Fish, Tortoise, or Manatee, which they keep usually to themselves, and very neat and clean. They use no Oars but Paddles, the broad part of which doth not go tapering towards the staff, pole, or handle of it, as in the Oar ; nor do they use it in the same manner, by laying it on the side of the Vessel ; but hold it perpendicularly, griping the staff hard with both hands, and putting back the water by main strength, and very quick strokes. One of the Moskitoes (for there go but two in a Canoa) sits in the stern, the other kneels down in the head, and both paddle till they come to the place where they expect their game. Then they lye still, or paddle very softly, looking well about them ; and he that is in the head of the Canoa lays down his paddle, and stands up with his striking staff in his hand. This staff is, about 8 foot long, almost as big as a mans Arm, at the great end, in which there is a hole to place his Harpoon in. At the other end of his staff there is a piece of light Wood called Bobwood, with a hole in it, through which the small end of the staff comes, and on this piece of Bobwood, there is a line of 10 or 12 fa- thom