THE RANCHOS. 



57 



eighteen, was consequently very roomy ; but 

 we seldom passed many nights without hear- 

 ing the roar of the panther, or more com- 

 monly of the puma lion, very near our " ran- 

 chos," and our dogs, who were very fierce, 

 were continually rushing into the surrounding 

 woods after sunset in pursuit of cuyotes,* or 

 other wild animals. It is true that, about 

 two miles off, I had about twenty Indians 

 located on the top of a mountain, from whence 

 one or two descended several times a week 

 for a load of provisions ; they had built them- 

 selves " small ramadas," which did very well 

 for them in fine weather, and, at the com- 

 mencement of the rainy season, they retired 

 to the villages until it was over. There was 

 also an establishment of a few cattle-herds 

 about seven miles off ; but, beyond these, it 

 was rare to see a human being except a 

 tigrero (panther-hunter) and a very few In- 

 dians dotted here and there, but whose huts, 

 far apart from each other, were difficult to 

 find. 



* Cuyotc. — The central American wolf ; but sup- 

 posed to be a large breed of dog, run wild, perhaps, 

 from the time of the first Spaniards. — See chapter or 

 Cuyotes. 



