Cu. V. SOUTH AMERICA. Q39 



that would be siiíficient to put them to flight, and 

 thus the place be open tor them to land. They had 

 no sooner discliarged their pieces, than one of the 

 ])easants, though the boat was at a consideral)le dis- 

 tance, threw his noose, and notwithstanding all in the 

 boat threw tliemselves on their faces, he noosed the 

 above-mentioned person, puiiinghim out of the boat 

 with the greatest rapidity ; whilst the others, in- 

 stead of endeavouring to save him, in their fright 

 thought of nothing but how to get out of danger as 

 soon as possible. It was the Englishman's good fortune 

 not to be strangled or killed by the bruises he received, 

 the slip-knot having passed from one shoulder under 

 the opposite arm, so that he recovered in a few days. 

 As it is very seldom that they miss, and are ob- 

 liged, on haltering a creature, to draw the knot, at 

 the same time that they throw the noose, they clap 

 spurs to their horse, and put him on his full speed; 

 that the creature is so far from having time to dis- 

 engage itself, that it is no sooner caught than 

 disabled. This is also one of the weapons, if I 

 may give it that name, used in their private ([nar- 

 réis, defending themselves with a lance of a mid- 

 dling length. And their address, on these occasions, 

 is so very remarkable, that very often, after a long 

 dispute, in which both parties are heartily tiretl, they 

 part, with no other hurt than a few bruises. This 

 is also the method they take to satisfy their revenge, 

 endeavouring to halter the object of their hatred, 

 either as he runs from them, or is not apprized of 

 their intention. In this case the only resource in 

 an open country on seeing him with his noose in his 

 hand, is, to throw oneself on the ground, keeping 

 the legs and arms as close to the surface as j)ossi- 

 ble, that the rope may have no room to get under 

 any part. The person may also save himself by 

 standing close to a tree, and, if in the street, by pla- 

 . cinghimself against the wall. A small distance, that 



is. 



