26 HUNTING CAMPS. 



edge of the circle to mark out their positions and partly 

 to keep the wild animals from breaking back. As the 

 ring of men and fires draw in, the frightened game 

 crowd together in the middle of it. There may be as 

 many as five hundred guanaco or more, many ostriches, 

 and even puma. Captain Musters saw two pumas 

 killed in such a hunt. The guanaco bucks show spirit 

 and stamp and neigh defiance in front of their herds. 

 As soon as the Indians have approached sufficiently 

 near they mount their fresh horses and gallop at full 

 speed upon the startled game. The yells of the 

 hunters, the flying boleadores, the dogs and horses in 

 fierce pursuit after the frenzied animals, all go to make 

 up a scene of extraordinary excitement. 



The game breaks in every direction, and the 

 Tehuelches follow for leagues over the wide pampa, 

 their nimble-footed horses covering the most difficult 

 ground steep, stony slopes, or thickly-bushed levels 

 with astonishing accuracy. A large quantity of game 

 is killed, much meat is secured, and in addition the 

 feathers of the ostriches. The pelts of young guanaco, 

 tendons, meat, etc., are all collected for their various 

 uses and carried back to the toldos, where a feast takes 

 place amid general rejoicing. 



