JAGUAR-HUNTING 489 



any personal risk. Like the cayman, the jaguar, after having 

 once tasted the flesh of man, is said to prefer it to anything 

 else. During his first solitary journeys through the American 

 wilds, the traveller's sensations, on meeting with the fresh foot- 

 marks of the monster, are like those of Eobinson Crusoe when 

 he discovered the vestiges of the savage on the beach of his lonely 

 island ; but as the animal itself very rarely crosses the wan- 

 derer's path, he at length becomes completely indifferent, and 

 roams about the wilderness as unconcernedly as if no beasts of 

 prey existed under the forest shade, or among the high grasses 

 of the savannah. During his long residence in Yuarmangua 

 Poppig met but one jaguar, who, not deeming it advisable to 

 engage in hostilities, slowly retreated into the woods. 



In the Brazilian campos great devastations are caused 

 among the herds by the jaguar, who has strength enough to 

 drag an ox to some distance. He frequently kills several bul- 

 locks in one night, and sucks their blood, leaving their flesh 

 for a future repast. When, after having satiated himself, he 

 retires to a neigh})ouring thicket, the vaqueros or herdsmen 

 follow his bloody trail with their hoimds, and as soon as the 

 jaguar sees the pack approach, he seeks to climb the inclined 

 trunk of a tree, and is then shot down from his insecure 

 station. But the chase does not always terminate without 

 accident or loss of life, as very strong jaguars will face the dogs, 

 kill several of them, and frequently carry them away and devour 

 them. 



While Prince Maximilian of Neu Wied was travelling through 

 the campos, he heard of the heroic conflict of three vaqueros 

 with a monstrous jaguar that had never been known to re- 

 treat. One day, while following their herds through the 

 woods, their dogs discovered the fresh foot-prints of the beast, 

 and following the scent, soon brought it to a stand. Armed 

 merely with their long lance-like varas, the bold men did not 

 long deliberate, but resolutely advanced towards the jaguar, who 

 stood confronting the dogs, and immediately bounding upon his 

 new antagonists, w^ounded them one after the other, though not 

 without receiving repeated thrusts of their lances and knives. 

 The least determined of the three, appalled by his wounds, at first 

 retreated, but seeing the boldest of his companions lying, 

 prostrate under the paws of the monster, his courage revived, 



