VENEZUELA. 647 



they have passed their summer sleep, in search of prey ; ibises, 

 cranes, flamingoes, and numberless water-fowl, swarm on the 

 newly-formed pools ; the cattle of the Llaneros luxuriate in 

 the abundant grasses which everywhere appear ; while multi- 

 tudes of insects crawl forth, seeking refuge from the flood in the 

 higher grounds. The swollen rivers now inundate the plains, 

 and the spots where the cattle wandered in vain to quench 

 their thirst can now be passed for miles together by boats ; 

 and alligators lie in wait to seize in their savage jaws the 

 horses and oxen compelled to swim across the flooded land in 

 search of pasture. 



THE LLANEROS. 



Sterile as the Llanos appear during the dry season, nume- 

 rous cattle-farms exist, scattered widely over large portions. 

 The Llaneros, as the inhabitants are called — descendants of the 

 white settlers, with an admixture of Indians and blacks — are 

 a hardy, bold race, living almost entirely on horseback, en- 

 gaged in watching over their herds, and in battling with the 

 spotted jaguar, the savage cayman, the huge boa and ana- 

 conda, and occasionally the fierce natives of the surrounding 

 deserts. Often, too, they have to struggle for their lives 

 against the sudden inroads of the vast inundations which 

 sweep off their herds and frail habitations. Armed with their 

 unerring lasso and garrocha, or sharp lance, blunderbuss and 

 sword, they fear no foes. These lances, formed of the tough 

 stem of a small palm, are weapons of no slight importance to 

 them. They are sharpened to a point at one end, and har- 

 dened in the fire, or sometimes have an iron head. Round 

 the point a number of loose metal rings are secured, which 

 when shaken produce a loud rattling sound. 



