200 HISTORY OF 



killed under the Line ; on the contrary, that pork 

 which is with us so unpalatable in summer, in the 

 warmer latitudes, where it is always hotter than 

 here, is the finest eating they have, and much 

 preferable to any hog's flesh in Europe. 



The ass, like the horse, was originally imported 

 into America by the Spaniards, and afterwards by 

 other nations. That country seems to have been 

 peculiarly favourable to this race of animals, and 

 where they have run wild, they have multiplied 

 in such numbers, that in some places they are be- 

 come a nuisance.* In the kingdom of Quito, the 

 owners of the grounds where they are bred suffer 

 all persons to take away as many as they can, on 

 paying a small acknowledgment, in proportion to 

 the number of days their spor,t lasts. They catch 

 them in the following manner : A number of per- 

 sons go on horseback, and are attended by Indians 

 on foot ; when arrived at the proper places, they 

 form a circle in order to drive them into some 

 valley, where at full speed they throw the noose, 

 and endeavour to halter them. Those creatures, 

 finding themselves enclosed, make very furious 

 efforts to escape ; and if only one forces his way 

 through, they all follow with an irresistible im- 

 petuosity. However, when noosed, the hunters 

 throw them down and secure them with fetters, 

 and thus leave them till the chase is over. Then, 

 in order to bring them away with greater facility, 

 they pair them with tame beasts of the same kind ; 

 but this is not easily performed, for they are so 



* Ulloa, vol. i. p. 3 1C. 



