652 VENEZUELA. 



secures the animal by a few turns of the lasso round it, while 

 a matador strikes his dagger into the vertebrae at the back of 

 the head, when the animal drops as if struck by an electric 

 spaik. 



These wild horsemen, when crossing a river, hesitate 

 not to plunge in, in spite of the alligators which may be 

 swarming on every side. While their clothes are carried 

 across in a hide-formed canoe, put together at the moment, 

 they dash into the stream without clothes or saddles, and then 

 slipping from the backs of their horses, support themselves on 

 the animals' haunches with one hand, while they guide them 

 l)y means of the halter with the other ^ — -their companions 

 on the shore shouting, yelling, and shaking theii' ponchos, 

 to dnve the rest of the herd into the water. The caymans, 

 alarmed by the uproar, keep at a distance ; but the savage 

 little caribes frequently attack them, and many thus fall. 



Besides cattle, horses, and mules, vast numbers of hogs range 

 over the plain, — the descendants of those introduced by the 

 early settlers, and which are now, from their ferocity, and the 

 formidable size of their tusks, considered foes worthy of the 

 lances of the bold horsemen. These lances, generally used in 

 hunting, have played no insignificant part in the hands of the 

 Llaneros, as well as in those of some of the fierce tribes of 

 the desert, durino- the civil wars which so lono- disturbed the 

 countrv. 



A profusion of fruits in a state of nature gTow in the woods 

 and plains. Among them are several species of wild guavas. 

 Some are of exquisite flavour and aroma. One sort bears in 

 rich profusion a number of brilliant scarlet, highly perfumed, 

 and acidulous fruits. There are various kinds of custard 

 a])ples, the inside a sweet and highly aromatic pulp filled with 



