THE TAPIRS 1049 



frequently do much harm to the crops of sugar cane, melons, etc. , and they are espe- 

 cially dreaded by the proprietors of cacao plantations for the amount of damage they 

 inflict on the young plants. Salt seems especially grateful to their palate, and in 

 order to obtain it they will eat the saline earth found in many parts of South 

 America. In captivity they are fond of any sweet substances, and it is also said 

 that in this condition they frequently become almost as omnivorous as swine The 

 American species can be as easily tamed as their Asiatic cousin, and tame individu- 

 als may sometimes be seen at large in the streets of some of the South- American 

 towns. 



Although on account of their affording no trophies in the shape of 

 horns, antlers, or tusks, tapirs offer no attraction to European sports- 

 men, yet they are much sought after by the native South- American hunters for the 

 sake of their flesh and hide. The flesh is said to be juicy and well flavored, and 

 both in appearance and taste resembles beef. The skin, which is of great thickness 

 and strength, is cut into long thongs, which, after being rounded and treated with 

 fat, are used for reins and bridles. It is, however, unsuited for shoe leather, as it 

 becomes very hard and unyielding when dry, and very soft and spongy when wet. 

 The hair, hoofs, and certain other parts are used by the natives as medicine; the 

 hoofs being sometimes hung round the neck as charms, and in other cases ground 

 to powder and taken internally. 



In South America, tapirs are generally hunted with the aid of dogs, which chase 

 the animals through the forest until they enter the water. Here they are attacked 

 by the hunters, who have lain concealed among the reeds on the river bank, and by 

 them they are pursued as they dive and swim in the water. When the area of 

 water is not too large, the chase is frequently of short duration, and the animal is 

 before long dispatched either with a club or a hunting knife. Sometimes, however, 

 the hunt is more protracted, the tapir leaving the water and breaking away from 

 the dogs among the dense reeds or bushes, until again brought to bay in another 

 pool or river. The traveler Schomburgk gives a graphic account of a tapir hunt he 

 once witnessed when in South America. As his vessel rounded a headland on the 

 river, a female tapir with her young came into view standing on a sandbank. 

 Scarcely, however, had his Indians time to utter the word " Maipuri " (the native 

 name of the common species), than the two animals caught sight of the party, and 

 dashed into the thick cover on the bank. This cover was in the form of giant reeds 

 and grass, with sharp, cutting edges, some seven feet in height, which formed a 

 formidable obstacle to the progress of Europeans. The Indians, however, wriggled 

 their way between the stems like snakes; and soon two shots in quick succession, 

 followed by a shout of triumph, told that they had come up with their quarry. 

 When Schomburgk reached the scene, he passed the female tapir lying dead with a 

 bullet through the lungs. The dogs then took up the trail of the young one, which 

 was concealed among the reeds. As soon as the creature perceived that it was dis- 

 covered by the dogs, it uttered the peculiar, whistling cry, mentioned above, by 

 which the hunters were guided to its place of concealment. Eventually the young 

 tapir, which was about the size of an ordinary full-grown pig, broke cover, and 

 after an exciting although short chase was dispatched. 



