050 VENEZUELA. 



suddenly turning in an oblique direction, by a powerful jerk 

 —from the impetuosity imparted by their rapid speed — 

 the bull is brought to the ground. Here, too, the horse, 

 knowing what is about to be done, starts forward at the pro- 

 per moment, and assists in accomplishing the work. Some- 

 times the daring Llanero will throw himself from his seat, 

 still holding on to the tail of the bull, and seldom fails ulti- 

 mately to overthrow it. 



The whole scene is one of the wildest confusion. Clouds 

 of dust rise from the dry plain, trampled on by the hoofs of 

 numberless animals. The bulls, driven to fury, tear up the 

 earth, and with deep, savage bellowings rush at their fellows 

 as well as at their foes, unable to distinguish one from the 

 other — often piercing the former with their sharp horns. The 

 uproar is increased by the yells and shouts of the Llaneros 

 galloping in all directions over the ground, rattling their gar- 

 rochas, waving their ponchos, and whirling their lassos. Yet 

 further to increase the turmoil and uproar, flocks of cranes and 

 herons, startled by the hoofs of the horses and shouts of the 

 riders as they rush onward, rise from the stunted trees of a 

 neighbouring marsh, with loud cries and clashing of wings, into 

 the air, hovering above the heads of the actors in such numbers 

 as almost to darken the sky as they circle round and round. 



The object of the hunt is to separate the cattle of the dif- 

 ferent owners, and to drive them into their respective corrals 

 or majadas. Tame cattle are employed to assist in the opera- 

 tion, and are stationed at various places round the circle. The 

 horsemen, dashing in among the mass of excited animals, fear- 

 less of the points of their sharp horns, drive out with their 

 lances those they recognize as their own property — known by 

 the notches on their ears — goading them with their lances. 



