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ANIMALS. 



cern — " Come die, and have done with your 

 nonsense."* 



The creole negro of whom I have above 

 spoken, was fond of shooting the larger kinds 

 of game, such as antelopes, which are called in 

 the country veados, and pacas (cavia paca). 

 This was done in the following manner : — A 

 platform of thick twigs was made among the 

 branches of a tree, at the height of several feet 

 from the ground, near to some one of those 

 plants upon whose leaves or fruit these animals 

 feed. At night two men placed themselves 

 upon this platform, and when the footsteps of 

 the animal were heard, one of the men would 

 light a small taper prepared for the occasion, 

 and the other, with his gun ready, looked round 

 for the game. The animal was allowed to 

 come as near as it seemed inclined to do unmo- 

 lested, and was then fired at. The men imme- 

 diately descended, and oftentimes did not at- 

 tempt to find their prey until the morning ; 

 returning to the spot for the purpose. This is the 

 usual manner of obtaining these animals. The 

 tatu verdadeiro, or legitimate armadillo, was also 

 sometimes caught by him. I requested him to 

 obtain for me a tamandud, which is a small 

 species of ant-eater ; he brought me one of 

 which the body was about six inches in length, 



* " Morra e deixe de bobagcms." 

 10 



