Cu. IX. SOUTH AMERICA. 445 



the celerity with which those of America run ovéí 

 mountains and precipices. 



The hunting is performed by a great number of 

 people, who are divided into two classes; oneon horse- 

 back, the otlier on foot, who are generally Indians. 

 The business of the latter is, to rouse the beast ; and 

 that of the others, to hunt it. They all, at break of 

 day, repair to the place appointed, which is generally 

 on the summit of the paramos. Every one brings 

 his greyhound ; and the horsemen place themselves on 

 the highest peaks, whilst those on foot range about 

 the breaches, making a hideous noise in order to start 

 the deer. Thus the company extend themselves three 

 or four leagues, or more, according to their numbers. 

 On the starting of any game, the horse which first 

 perceives it sets oif ; and the rider, being unable to 

 guide or stop hhn, pursues the chace sometimes down 

 such a steep slope, that aman on foot, with the great- 

 est care, could hardly keep his legs; from thence up 

 a dangerous ascent, or a long side of a mountain, that 

 a person, not used to this exercise, would think it 

 much safer to throw himself out of the saddle, than 

 commit his life to the precipitate ardour of the horse. 

 Thus they continue till they come up with the game, 

 or till, after following it four or five leagues, the 

 horses tire. Thosein the other stations, on perceiving 

 one horse on its speed, immediately start ; and thus 

 the whole company are soon in motion; some hasten- 

 ing to meet the beast, and others following the chace ; 

 so that in such multitudes it is very seldom his good 

 fortune to escape. The horses here do not wait for 

 the riders to animate them ; they set forward imme- 

 diately on seeing another on full speed on a different 

 mountain, or at the shouts of the huntsmen, or cries of 

 the dogs, though at ever so great a distance, or even 

 by observing in a dog the least motion that he scents 

 the game. One such circumstance is sufiiicient for 

 these horses: and it then bf comes prudence in the 

 • ' rider 



