WHAT THE JAGUARS DID. 149 



some neighbouring trees. Such is the thickness of 

 the forests in these regions that scarcely any ani- 

 mals are to be found there but such as climb trees, 

 including various species of the feline genus. Our 

 fires burning bright, and having by long habit be- 

 come tranquil respecting dangers, we paid little 

 attention to the cries of the jaguars. They were at- 

 tracted by the smell and voice of our dog. This 

 animal, which was of the mastiff breed, began at first 

 to bark, and, when the tiger drew nearer, to howl, 

 hiding himself beneath our hammocks. During 

 our halts on the banks of the Eio Apure we had 

 been accustomed to these alternations of courage 

 and fear in this young animal, which was gentle, 

 and extremely caressing. How great was our 

 chagrin when in the morning we learned from the 

 Indians that the dog had disappeared ! There 

 could be no doubt it had been carried off by the 

 jaguars : we were often assured by the inhabitants 

 of the banks of these rivers that the oldest jaguars, 

 those that have probably hunted at night for several 

 years, are sufficiently cunning to carry off animal s 

 from the midst of a halting-place, grasping the 

 neck so as to prevent their cries. All our researches 

 were vain ; the dog which "had accompanied us all 

 the way from Caraccas, and which had frequently 

 in swimming escaped the pursuit of the crocodiles, 

 had been devoured in the forest. I mention this 



