Chap, iv.] DRIVINC; TATTLE IN THE P.USH. Sy 



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. 

 This power of stopping suddenly when in full pace is one of 

 the points most admired in horses by Brazilians. 



The horses are small, but well made, (iood 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 moun- 

 tains 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 

 friend of my companion, and he invited us to pass the night 

 at his house, his farm lying on the road to St. Amaro, by 

 which we were to travel. We had our mules brought up to 

 the inn door, and there gave them a feed of maize to make 

 sure that they got it. We saddled them ourselves in front of 

 the inn, and after much ceremonious shaking of hands with 

 the host, and polite speeches, rode off. 



On the road we passed several herds of cattle, which were 

 being driven towards Bahia. In one of these some of the 

 cattle were very wild. There were three vaqueiros in charge 

 of it, a man, and two lads of from 16 to 18 years of age. There 

 was thick bush on either side of the road, and every now and 

 then the cattle broke away into this. The use of the rough 

 lurcher-like dogs which follow the vaqueiros now appeared. In 

 the thick scrub the vaqueiro could do nothing without his dog. 

 The cattle are out of sight in an instant, and go off dashing 

 full pace through the bushes. The dogs are after them at 

 their heels at once, and drive them to the vaqueiros, who dash 

 off into the thick of the bushes in pursuit, bending right forward 

 in the saddle, and stooping till their heads are beside their 

 horses' necks, to avoid the branches. 



One cow came full charge down the road behind me, and I 



* "The Middle Kingdom," Wilh.Ttns, Vol. I., p. 204. 



