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Gatto de Algagle1 o vero di Mustio di questi ve ne sono quantità; ma alla campagnia sono molto Fieri; se poi presi da piccoli si adomesticano sono la delizia di una casa e basta haverne uno p[er] porre l’udore a t[u]tta la casa; sera e mattina se li tira il muschio con in chuchiaro; havendo p[er] la parte di dreto una borsetta quali essi medemi l’aprano accio li sia purgata; e non purgandoglene essi medemi se la purgano ad un sasso o troncho; e questo humore che se li tira e il mustio; questi negri  però niente fan[n]o stima di simile delizia e se li possano havere se li mangiano. 

Civet or in fact musk cat there are many of them; but they are very Wild as a pet; but if caught young they are domesticated they are the delight of a house and it is enough to have one to scent the entire house; evening and morning one draws the musk from them with a spoon; they have in the rear end a little pouch which they open by themselves so that it may be emptied; and if it is not emptied for them they empty it themselves on a stone or a trunk; and this humour that you draw is the musk these blacks however do not appreciate such a delicacy and if they can get it, they eat it

 

  • 1. From the Portuguese, algália, civet [Civettictis civetta].
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