CHAP. Ill] JAGUAR-HUNTING 77 



a big, powerfully-built creature, giving the same effect 

 of strength that a tiger or lion does, and that the lithe 

 leopards 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 1 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 clamour, they were 

 not sufficiently staunch 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 capybara, looking like a blunt-nosed pig, 

 its wet hide shining black. I killed it, and it shd 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 horsemen. He 

 lay flat on the ground, panting, unable to catch the 

 scent. Kermit threw water over him, and when he 

 was thoroughly drenched and freshened, thrust his nose 

 into the jaguar's footprints. The game old hound at 

 once and eagerly responded. As he snuffed the scent 

 he challenged loudly, while still lying down. Then he 



