234 THE LIFZ OF 



a thong of plaited leather, from thirty to forty 

 feet in length ; a ring of iron at one end ferves 

 to pafs the other end through, and thus form a 

 running noofe. The Indian who ufes this, gets 

 within reach of a horfe or bullock, and taking a 

 large coil of the thong in his right hand, and 

 leveral others ready to veer away in his left ; he 

 dexteroufly thro\\s it over the animal's head, 

 while he is flying from him full fpeed, and by a 

 fudden check brings him to the ground. Their 

 Cither method is by three balls connected by a 

 thong, two of which are about three inches in 

 diameter, and the third, which is to be held in 

 the hand about two inches. The hunter, when 

 Jiewifhes to ufe this, takes the fmall ball in his 

 right-hand, and fwings the other two round his 

 head till he has got the proper aim and velocity; 

 he then throws it at the legs of the animal he is 

 purfuing, with fuch dexterity, as either to break 

 or entangle them as he thinks fit. With thefe 

 inftruments, it is computed that from three to 

 four hundred thoufand head of cattle are finng- 

 ally flaughtered. 



"We were feveral days detained by contrary 

 winds, and it being the general opinion of all 

 who knew the coafl:, that the wind would not 

 fhift till the moon changed, my anxiety to re- 

 turn to Europe increafed, and my natural im 

 patience of temper rendered me quite unhappy. 



X 



