82 Through the Brazilian Wilderness 



fierce creatures which stand at the head of the big game 

 of Africa and Asia. This one was an adult female. It 

 was heavier and more powerful than a full-grown male 

 cougar, or African panther or leopard. It was a big, 

 powerfully built creature, giving the same effect of 

 strength that a tiger or lion does, and that the lithe leop- 

 ards and pumas do not. Its flesh, by the way, proved 

 good eating, when we had it for supper, although it was 

 not cooked in the way it ought to have been. I tried it 

 because I had found cougars such good eating; I have 

 always regretted that in Africa I did not try lion's flesh, 

 which I am sure must be excellent. 



Next day came Kermit's turn. We had the miscel- 

 laneous pack with us, all much enjoying themselves; but, 

 although they could help in a jaguar-hunt to the extent 

 of giving tongue and following the chase for half a mile, 

 cowing the quarry by their clamor, they were not suffi- 

 ciently stanch to be of use if there was any difficulty in 

 the hunt. The only two dogs we could trust were the 

 two borrowed jaguar hounds. This was the black dog's 

 day. About ten in the morning we came to a long, deep, 

 winding bayou. On the opposite bank stood a capybaira, 

 looking like a blunt-nosed pig, its wet hide shining black. 

 I killed it, and it slid into the water. Then I found that 

 the bayou extended for a mile or two in each direction, 

 and the two hunter-guides said they did not wish to swim 

 across for fear of the piranhas. Just at this moment we 

 came across fresh jaguar tracks. It was hot, we had 

 been travelling for five hours, and the dogs were much 

 exhausted. The black hound in particular was nearly 

 done up, for he had been led in a leash by one of the 



