422 TRINIDAD. 



would prove superior. Whenever the lapo has a long run to its 

 retreat, or, more generally to the river, whither it invariably 

 resorts for safety, it may be caught by fleet dogs ; otherwise it is 

 killed in its own fastness, which is commonly a hollow tree, or a 

 cave in the midst of a labyrinth of roots, or under the bank of 

 some stream the two latter with several outlets. The tatou is 

 always killed in its burrow, and it is necessary to dig or smoke it 

 out, when there is too great a difficulty in reaching it. The agouti 

 is either shot, when pursued by dogs, or on the watch ; sometimes 

 also in its retreat almost invariably the hollows of the decayed 

 interior of some fallen timber, or beneath the roots of trees. 



The chase of the pecari resembles, on a small scale, that of the 

 wild boar in Europe. "When in numbers, the pecaris not only 

 show fight to the dogs, but sometimes give them chase, should the 

 latter be few and of small size ; several of these animals may be 

 shot, when met in a land ; but they are generally killed with the 

 spear or cutlass when at bay, seldom with the fowling-piece. 

 The most pleasant sport, however, is deer-hunting, for which the 

 best dogs are unquestionably hounds. The deer behaves, when 

 chased, exactly like the roebuck : after one hour or more of 

 chase, it returns by a circuit, to the very spot whence it was 

 started, and then makes a dart in a straight line. If within the 

 proximity of a river, it crosses the stream several times ; or, if 

 shallow, walks down the bed, probably with a view, by checking 

 the scent, to set the hounds at fault, or to divert the pursuer from 

 the track ; if on the sea-board, it generally seeks refuge in the 

 water, and sometimes swims out for more than a mile ; it is 

 nevertheless easily caught, if a canoe be at hand, as in that 

 element it is slow in its movements ; or it may be turned, and 

 again compelled to seek the land. The deer is also very com- 

 monly shot on the watch, particularly during the full moon ; and 

 this method is preferred by the peons, as they find the chase of 

 this animal very trying to their dogs. The manati is, in a like 

 manner, shot whilst at graze : but if only wounded, it rushes to 

 the water, and thus escapes ; it is sometimes watched at the mouth 

 of the Guataro and speared with the harpoon. 



