252 



WILD ANIMALS OF THE PLAINS. 



attach a man when he is alone, but seldom when in company. Few 

 persons escape when engaged in the death-struggle with him. The 

 Indians usually go together, or take dogs along, who attract his attention 

 and prevent his seeking an engagement with the man. The tigers make 

 dreadful work among the calves when they are allowed to go abroad in 

 the grass. They are generally kept up in the day and watched by the 

 Indians and dogs. At night they are put with their mothers in an 

 enclosure, where a tiger dare not go. His only chance of killing cattle 

 is between the time he catches and when the herd come up to the 

 sufferer, who rushes off at full speed the moment the tiger touches him* 

 The work of death is speedily done. 



As the sun was going down, we came upon a plain stretching far off 

 to the west. Deer were grazing in pairs. We all put spurs to our 

 horses and gave chase, but they showed their white tails and bounded 

 out of reach of a rifle. The horses soon became worried down running 

 through the grass. The tapir, or Brazil elk, is found on these plains, 

 keeping close to the ri^r. It is called "gran bestia" by the Spaniards. 

 Its color is iron gray, with a short coat of coarse hair. The meat makes 

 very tender beef. The hoof is divided into three parts like toes. On 

 the inside of the fore-foot there is a fourth toe ; and the hind legs double 

 up at the joint like those of the llama and' elephant. The strength of 

 this animal is very great. The Indians sometimes lasso him, but take 

 care not to have the end of the lasso fastened to the saddle, as is usual, 

 for the tapir will manage three or four horsemen with ease. The tapir 

 lives on grass, and although he is harmless, the Indians are excited upon 

 meeting one, as though they feared the animal's strength. He can only 

 be taken by a ball or arrow. Although his skin is thick, he is not very 

 difficult to kill. In Brazil there are great numbers of these animals. 

 The Indians say the tapirs and the mules are cousins, because their 

 heads somewhat resemble each other when looked at full in the face. 

 The tapir holds his head about as high as a mule ; his hinder parts are 

 more like the elephant. 



Night overtook us amidst the beasts of the prairie. As the road was 

 reported dry by the guide, we galloped in a line for a long time through 

 the silent plains, and finally reached the small town of Loreto. On the 

 outskirts we passed enclosures filled with cattle. It was after eight 

 o'clock, and the inhabitants had gone to bed. A death-like silence 

 reigned as we dismounted at the door of the government house, where 

 Indians had already arrived with our beds and provisions. 



The correjidor was a fine-looking Indian, dressed in jacket and trow- 

 sers, becoming to him. Being of domestic materials, he was more at 



