648 VENEZUELA. 



See a band of these hardy horsemen in chase of the wild 

 cattle which roam at large over the plains. In bands of six or 

 ten, they form a circle of fifteen miles or so in circumference 

 bivouacking during the previous night at their respective 

 stations. At early dawn they mount their horses ; and now, 

 shouting and shrieking, with their lasso coiled before them 

 on their saddle, and their garrocha in their hand, whirled 

 round and round, they advance, closing in towards the centre of 

 the circle, and driving before them all the animals they meet. 

 The animals, terrified by the cries and whirling spears, dash 

 madly forward, some endeavouring to break away from the 

 circle, when they are speedily turned back by the sharp goads 

 of the horsemen. Not only the cattle, but wild boars, deer, 

 and other quadrupeds, starting up from the ground where 

 they have been resting, dash on amid the confused herd. 

 And now perhaps several thousand head of cattle are collected 

 within the circle formed by a hundred or more horsemen. If 

 a fierce bull, turning round, ventures to encounter them, they 

 shake their rattling spears in his ears, and quickly again turn 

 him. 



When a bull is overtaken, the Llanero thrusts the point 

 of his spear into the animal's shoulder, and, leaning forward 

 with the whole weight of his body upon the shaft, over- 

 throws the savage creature, who rolls headlong on the plain, 

 where he is quickly secured. Sometimes a fiercer bull than 

 ordinary charges the horsemen, who fly on either side ; but 

 wheeling round speedily, with their lassos whirling round 



their heads, the noose id.throwjj over the animal's horns, and, 



f\ ' ' 



the well-trained steeds assisting their riders, he is speedily 



brought to the ground. A hole being then pierced in the 

 thick cartilage of the nostrils, a thong is passed through it, 



