76 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



so, after making a detour to get the further 

 side of the river, they were seen grazing on 

 a flat piece of land, studded with a round 

 clump-shaped tree, that bears a fruit like 

 a very large and most fragrant apple, but 

 nauseous to the taste. On seeing the ap- 

 proaching party, the whole troop, horses and 

 mules, started off at score and made for the 

 forest. But a hunted horse has not the same 

 advantage in a thick covert that cattle have : 

 the short horns, massive forehead, and pon- 

 derous weight of the latter, especially of the 

 bulls, who generally form the advanced guard, 

 bear down the entangled briars and under- 

 wood much more easily than the horse is able 

 to do, who runs with his head higher, and 

 consequently gets more resistance from them 

 round his neck. This troop, which consisted 

 of five horses and five mules, kept well toge- 

 ther ; and during the first half hour's hard 

 riding, in which time they were turned two 

 or three times, they were pressed strongly 

 towards the pass of the river where the 

 lassos were hanging ; they all passed the 

 nooses on the nearest side of the river with- 

 out any accident, or even disturbing one, 

 which was most likely owing to their having 

 been so hotly pursued that they had no time 



