BAHIA. 99 



of cattle were being driven into the market as we approached. 

 A vaqueiro rides in front of each herd, one on each side, and one 

 or more behind. They keep up a constant shouting, and bring 

 the animals along at a fair pace. 



Every now and then, a beast wilder than the rest, or less 

 exhausted by the long journey from the interior, breaks away, 

 and goes off at full gallop over the open market-place or up the 

 street. Off gallop two or three vaquieros, in full chase, with 

 outstretched arms, spurring their horses to the utmost. They 

 try to drive the beast back into the herd, and often succeed 

 forthwith ; but often it gets in amongst another herd, and then 

 it is wonderful to see how rapidly they manage to single it out, 

 get it on the outside of the herd, and start it afresh. 



Sometimes the animals are very fresh and wild, and make off 

 at full pace, and cannot be headed. The vaqueiros then strain 

 every effort to come up behind them, catch hold of their tails, 

 and spurring their horses forward so as to get up alongside the 

 beasts, give a sudden violent pull, which twists the animals round, 

 and throws them sprawling on their sides. 



The cattle, though they fall so heavily that this expedient is 

 resorted to as little as possible at the fair, because it bruises the 

 meat, are often up after a fall and off again in an instant ; but 

 two or three falls knock the breath out of them, and they are 

 then driven back to the herd quietly. Sometimes, even this 

 treatment does not subdue them, and then they are lassoed 

 round the horns and dragged back. 



The various herds were driven in compact bodies against the 

 walls bounding the market, and some of the vaqueiros dis- 

 mounted, and kept the cattle together by the use of their thongs 

 and shouting, but one at least at every herd remained mounted 

 ready to chase any animal which might break away. The scene 

 was most exciting. Often three or four cattle were loose at once 

 and careering madly in all directions, jumping over obstacles 

 like deer, and with two or three vaqueiros after each, at full 

 gallop, spurring their little horses to the utmost, twisting and 

 turning with wonderful dexterity. 



One wild cow went right up the main street. She was very 

 fast, and five vaqueiros had a sort of race after her ; now one 



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