WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 35 



The rains seem to have carried away, and swept 

 into the valleys, every particle which nature in- 

 tended to have formed a mould. 



Four-footed animals are scarce, considering how 

 very thinly these forests are inhabited by men. 



•Several species of the animal, commonly called 

 Tiger, though in reality it approaches nearer to 

 the leopard, are found here; and two of their 

 diminutives, named Tiger-cats. The Tapir, the 

 Labba, and Deer, afford excellent food, and chiefly 

 frequent the swamps and low ground, near the 

 sides of the river and creeks. 



In stating that four-footed animals are scarce, 

 the Peccari must be excepted. Three or four 

 hundred of them herd together, and traverse the 

 wilds in all directions, in quest of roots and fallen 

 seeds. The Indians mostly shoot them with poi- 

 soned arrows. When wounded, they run about 

 one hundred and fifty paces ; they then drop, and 

 make wholesome food. 



The Red Monkey, erroneously called the ba- 

 boon, is heard oftener than it is seen; while the 

 common Brown Monkey, the Bisa, and Sacawinki, 

 rove from tree to tree, and amuse the stranger as 

 he journeys on. 



A species of the Polecat, and another of the 

 Fox, are destructive to the Indian's poultry; while 

 the Opossum, the Guana, and Salempenta, afford 

 him a delicious morsel. 



The small Ant-bear, and the large one, remarka- 

 ble for his long, broad, bushy tail, are sometimes 

 seen on the tops of the wood-ants' nests; the 

 Armadillos bore in the sand-liills, like rabbits in 



