Gíi.V. SOUTH AMERICA. 24J 



profit n rifes from the hide, tije tallow, and the grafía, 

 a fufticient proof of their prodigious fatnefs when 

 killed. B'.it an idea of the fertility of this country 

 may be beft formed from the value of a live beaiV, 

 which, when 'fit to be killed, may be purchafed for 

 four dollars ; a price vaftly beneath that in any other 

 part of India; and may be fufficient to remove the 

 unjuft reproach of the poverty of this province. For 

 wtre the induftry of the people equal to the fertility 

 of the foil, this kingdom would be the moil opulent of 

 any in America. 



The manner of flauohterlns; the beans render 

 It a favourable diverfion to the perfons employed in 

 performing it, and it muft be owned that their 

 dexterity is really furprizing. The cattle intended 

 to be killed are drove into an inclofure. At the 

 gate are the Guafos on horfcback with their fpears 

 two or three toifes in length, and at one end a 

 very iharp piece of fteel in the form of a half 

 moon, the points of which are about a foot diilant 

 from each other. Every thing being ready, the gate 

 of the inclofure is opened, and a bead turned out^ 

 which naturally betakes itfclf to fiight, but is im- 

 mediately purfued by a Guafo, who wi:hout check- 

 ing his horl'c hamftrings it in one leg, and then 

 immediately in the other. He then alights, and 

 having difpatched his capture, Ikins it, takes ouE 

 the tallow, the fat for the GraiTa, and cuts up the 

 fieili for ialting and drying. This done he wraps up 

 the tallow in the hide, and loading it on his horfe, 

 carries it to the farm ; returning again for the fleih. 

 After this he fets out on another expedition. Some- 

 tin.es they turn out ac once as many beafts as there 

 are Guafos ready to kill them. And this is the daily 

 exercifc till all the cattle appointed for that year's 

 Daughter are di'patched. An European is furprized 

 not only at their dexterity in hamftringing the beaft, 

 when both are on full fpeed, but alfo to fee one man 

 R 2 ^ alone 



