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[Page 2]
I have employed a man of late to procure me such animals as you are in want of. But unluckily the man has not been well of late to go out in the woods. I have not the least doubt but what I could have answered your enquiries concerning the Water Mole, as the natives are more partial to this man than any other in the colony. The Natives who inhabit the banks of the Hawkesbury are best acquainted with this animal, and he brings intelligence + of their laying eggs, this corroborates what I have been told by a Native before, & which I communicated to you. I have asked the Natives how they copulated, & their answer was like a duck, but yet they were ignorant how they produced their young. This animal & the Porcupine may be considered as very scarce, at least to be procured by the white people, though I have reason to believe that the Porcupine ant eater forms a great part of the food of the Natives who inhabit the rocky parts of the country. I have now by me a young water mole in spirits; and about a fortnight ago a man came with a Porcupine for me to purchase, but his price was enormous. But this was not what prevented me from purchasing it. When I heard that such a thing was brought in to Parramatta I sent word to the place where it was, that if the owner would bring it to me I would give him as good a price for it as any other person, I received for an answer that he would bring it to me in the morning, but instead of that he posted away to Sydney, but his demand being exorbitant he did not meet with a customer, & he hasted back to Parramatta, & thinking to make me believe that he had not offered it yet for sale. Several people I believe tried to purchase it, but as he wanted 5 gallons of rum for it, it still kept upon his hands. The animal is still alive, & there is not the least doubt but what it will shortly fall into my hands, as this very day a man has proffered to get it me for a gallon and a half of rum. I have great reason to believe that the Porcupine ant eater which inhabits the islands in Bass's Straits [Bass Strait] is different from the one here. If ever an opportunity offers of gaining the knowledge how they generate you may depend that I will not let it slip, but I do not think I shall be able to accomplish it here. As the Porcupine ant eater is said to be very common in the islands in Bass's Straits [Bass Strait], I think the best way will be to go to there & open all that one chances to fall in with
+ See letter April 28 1803