100 A NATURALIST ON THE " CHALLENGER." 



gained a little, now another, and it appeared as if the beast were 

 going to make off altogether ; but at last a big black vaqueiro 

 shot ahead, and threw her sprawling in the road. I kept close 

 to a sheltering corner, ready to retreat round it when a beast 

 came in my direction. 



The cattle dealers rode round from herd to herd, on their 

 mules and horses, and most of the dealing was done on horseback. 

 As soon as a herd was sold, it was driven off, one or more 

 vaqueiros accompanying the drovers, according to the wildness 

 of the cattle. 



In the middle of the open space, horses and mules were 

 being sold. The sellers of the horses were mounted on them, 

 and were showing off their paces in an open lane formed 

 amongst a crowd of buyers and lookers-on. The sellers made 

 their horses amble full pace up the lane, turn sharp round, and 

 return : and on reaching the starting-point, stop suddenly, 

 without slacking pace in the least beforehand, in doing which 

 the animals were thrown almost back upon their haunches. The 

 being able to stop thus suddenly when in full pace is one 

 of the points most admired in horses by Brazilians. 



The horses are small, but well made. Good well-trained 

 horses cost about £40. Good riding mules are worth as much or 

 even more. The Brazilians of the better class ride their ambling 

 horses, with their legs straight and stiff and carried right forward, 

 with the toes turned up and the tips of the toes only resting on 

 the stirrup irons. The vaqueiros, however, ride much in the 

 usual English fashion. 



Sheep are used as beasts of burden in a small way in Feira 

 St. Anna. I saw three or four laden with small barrels of water 

 slung across their backs. They were driven by children, who 

 were thus taking water from the well outside the town round to 

 the various houses. The sheep seemed perfectly trained, and 

 went along at a smart pace. Sheep are used as beasts of burden 

 in Ladak to transport goods over the mountains of Little Thibet, 

 and carry from 20 to 30 lbs. ; * but their use for such purpose is 

 very uncommon. 



In the crowd we met with a German farmer, who was a 



* " The Middle Kingdom," Williams, Vol. I, p. 204. 



