MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 243 



of nature. The inhabitants keep a feWy and but 

 a few domellic ones, and when they want any 

 for the King's fervice, for which demands are 

 frequently made^ they catch the wild ones, 

 and among the number thus colledled, the tra- 

 veller muft feled: thofe he means to ride. As 

 neither of my Britifli companions nor my fer- 

 vant were expert horfemen, I always defired that 

 they fhould have the tameft horfes. Little 

 Richards, on account of his youth, I mounted 

 on the mofi: tradable, Mr. Black claimed the 

 next preference, and then my Brazilian fervant ; 

 as to myfelf, the dragoons, and the Indians, we 

 took any that offered, if they only appeared to 

 be able to perform their work. 



Next day we reached the houfe of an auxiliary 

 Captain, where we dined, and were entertained 

 in a plain hofpitable manner j after dinner we 

 again proceeded, ^nd I was eye-witnefs to a. 

 piece of Indian dexterity and addrefs, which I 

 cannot forbear relating at full length, as it will 

 more forcibly than any defcription exemplify 

 the manner in which they ufe their plaited 

 thong, called in that country lace, and their 



Towards evening one of the horfes which we 

 were driving before us, contrary to the common 

 practice of thofe animals, feemed determined to 

 efcape from his companions. After feveral 



R 2 fruitlefs 



