THE TAPIR. 123 



place in the food of the colony, particularly of the 

 labouring classes. 



" Before 1848 they did not hunt the tapir much. 

 The Indians alone gave attention to this sport, 

 because the Europeans and the slaves were occupied 

 in other works. Since the emancipation the hunt 

 has been taken up very actively and with success, 

 not only amongst the Indians, but near the city, in 

 the environs of which the animal is by no means 

 rare. I have very frequently seen them killed at a 

 distance of one or two leagues from the city. .Not 

 a week passes in which two or three are not brought 

 in ; and these are cut up and sold retail, like butcher's 

 meat. The price is from 5d. to 6d. per pound, 

 and its consumption is a real advantage to the 

 colony." 



The pincliaqiie tapirs are those of the Cordilleras. 

 They inhabit by preference the cold regions, whilst 

 the lower region is frequented by the common tapir : 

 otherwise their habits very much resemble those of 

 the latter. In their nocturnal expeditions they 

 ordinarily go in file, and thus form tracks across the 

 woods, of which the hunters often avail themselves, 

 and which the Indians pompously call royal routes. 



These beaten paths are found in regions between 

 1,400 and 4,400 metres above the level of the sea. 

 The ' pincliaqiies resort to lonely spots, where the soil 



