1833. HUNTING — PUMAS INDIANS. 313 



In May, June, July, and August, the neighbourhood of this 

 river swarms with wild fowl, which migrate from the south, 

 for the winter, and return there to breed about September. 

 The old people foretell a severe winter when they arrive early, 

 and in greater numbers than usual. In 1833-4 they formed 

 the staple article of food for the inhabitants of Carmen during 

 the winter, as the Indians had deprived them of their cattle ; in 

 the summer cavies and ostriches supplied their tables. Hunt- 

 ing is a favourite amusement of the Carmenites. They sally 

 forth in large parties on horseback, attended by a motley 

 crowd of dogs, inclose a large extent of country, contract 

 the circle gradually,* and at last drive a great number of 

 ostriches, wolves, cavies, deer, foxes, and pumas, into a com- 

 paratively small space, when the indiscriminate attack com- 

 mences — balls and lassoes flying in every direction. Many 

 accidents happen to the horses in these hunts, owing to the 

 ground being so undermined, in some places, by the ' tucu- 

 tucu,'"!" a little animal like a small rabbit ; but the riders are 

 so skilful, that they generally save themselves, however awk- 

 wardly their horses may fall. Pumas are an especial object of 

 attack, not only for the risk attached to encountering them, 

 but because they do so much damage to the young animals of 

 all kinds : they have a peculiar method of instantly killing a 

 young colt by breaking its neck with an adroit blow of one 

 paw, vfhile the poor creature is held fast between the other and 

 a most formidably ai'med mouth. In 1779 there were nume- 

 rous herds of cattle and horses near the town of Carmen, but 

 incursions of the Indians have diminished them to but few. 



During the time of the old Spaniards, after 1783, more than a 

 thousand Indians attacked the settlement at one time. The in- 

 habitants retreated to their caves,;!: where, defended by strong 

 doors, with loop-holes for musketry, they were safe ; but their 



* As in eastern countries. 



t This Indian name, gutturally pronounced, expresses the curious 

 sound made by these creatures while under ground — a noise somewhat 

 like the blow of a distant hammer. 



J Mentioned in p, 299. 



