VENEZUELA. 051 



The animals, now separated with wonderful skill, are, with 

 their calves, urged towards the groups of their well- trained 

 kindred, who lead them on towards the destined corral. Often, 

 however, suspecting treachery, they turn round and attempt 

 to escape, rushing with mad fury towards the horsemen-- 

 many of whose steeds are thus pierced by their horns, and 

 the riders, overthrown, with difficulty escaping. 



Thus they at length reach the entrance of the corral, which 

 is in the shape of a funnel, composed of stout posts strength- 

 ened by thick rafters. Here the most desperate struggle often 

 ensues ; but the bulls are met by an array of the rattling 

 garrochas ; and though some may escape at the last, the great 

 mass are, by the skill of the Llaneros, at length secured within 

 the corral, many of the cattle receiving desperate wounds. 



These farms of the Llanos, built in the roughest and most 

 primitive style, are surrounded by fences, intended not only 

 to resist the rush of a herd of cattle, but the attack of human 

 foes. The inclosures are formed of huge trunks of trees, 

 driven close together into the ground. It would seem difficult 

 to account for the way in which they are brought across the 

 plain. This is done, however, during the inundation of the 

 savannahs, when they are transported to the spot on rafts 

 made of lighter wood, the timbers themselves being composed 

 of a species of acacia of extreme hardness, and from their 

 nature capable of resisting the effects of alternation of climate 

 for many years. Many of these corrals are sufficiently 

 spacious to contain three thousand head of cattle. 



When the animal is to be caught for slaughter, the horse- 

 men go in chase, the one securing it by his lasso over its head 

 and dragging it along, while the other urges it on with his 

 garrocha till it reaches the slaughter-post. The first then 



