THE HORSE. 191 



distant countries, of whose horses we can only 

 judge by report. We mentioned the wild horses 

 of America. Such as are tame, if we may credit 

 the latest reports,* are admirable. Great num- 

 bers of these are bred up to the chase, and are 

 chiefly kept for this purpose, particularly at Quito. 

 The hunters, as Ulloa informs us, are divided into 

 two classes ; one part on foot, the other on horse- 

 back : the business of the footmen is to rouse the 

 deer, and that of the horsemen to hunt it down. 

 They all, at break of day, repair to the place ap- 

 pointed, which is generally on the summit of a 

 hill, with every man his greyhound. The horse- 

 men place themselves on the highest peaks, whilst 

 those on foot range the precipices, making a hide- 

 ous noise, in order to start the deer. Thus the 

 company extend themselves three or four leagues, 

 or more, according to their numbers. On start- 

 ing any game, the horse which first perceives it 

 sets off, and the rider, being unable to guide or 

 stop him, pursues the chase, sometimes down such 

 a steep slope, that a man on foot with the greatest 

 care could hardly keep his legs : from thence he 

 flies up a dangerous ascent, or along the side of 

 a mountain, so that a person not used to this 

 exercise would think it much safer to throw him- 

 self out of the saddle, than commit his life to the 

 precipitate ardour of his horse. The other horses 

 which join in the chase do not wait for the riders 

 to animate them ; they set forward immediately 

 upon seeing another at full speed ; and it becomes 



* Ulloa's Voyage, vol. i. p. 464. 



