April 1833. wild cattle hunt. ^"79 



heavy heart and gloomy forebodings that I looked forward to 

 the months which might elapse without the presence of a man- 

 of-war, or the semblance of any regular authority. 



Our tender, the Adventure, sailed on the 4th of April, 

 under the charge of Mr. Chaffers, who was desired to call oflp 

 the River Negro, and thence go to Maldonado, moor his vessel 

 close to Gorriti Island, land every thing, and commence her 

 thorough refit. 



About this time one of the officers went to see some wild 

 cattle taken. After riding far beyond the hills seen from Port 

 Louis, a black speck was discerned in the distance — instantly 

 the three gauchos stopped, adjusted their saddle-gear, lassoes, 

 and balls, and then cantered off in different directions. While 

 stopping, my shipmate saw that the black spot moved and 

 doubled its size. Directly afterwards, he perceived five other 

 black things, and taking it for granted they were cattle, asked no 

 questions of his taciturn, though eager, companicms, but watched 

 their movements and galloped on with the capataz (Jean Simon), 

 the other two making a detour round some hills. Having got 

 down wind of the herd, Simon slackened his pace, and, lying 

 along his horse''s back, gradually ascended a slight eminence, 

 beyond which the cattle were feeding. For a moment he stop- 

 ped to look round : — there was a monstrous bull within a hun- 

 dred yards of him ; three hundred yards further, were about 

 twenty cows ; and in a valley beyond, was a large herd of 

 wild cattle. Just then the heads of the other two men were seen 

 a quarter of a mile on one side, also to leeward of the cattle, 

 which were still feeding unsuspiciously. With a sudden dash 

 onwards, such as those horses are trained to make, Simon was 

 within twenty yards of the overgrown, but far from unwieldy 

 brute, before he could ' get way on."* Whirling the balls around 

 his head, Simon hurled them so truly at the bull's fore-legs, 

 that down he came, with a blow that made the earth tremble, 

 and rolled over and over. Away went Simon at full gallop 

 after a fine cow ; and at the same time, each of the other men 

 were in full chase of their animals. The herd galloped off almost 

 a& fast as horses ; but in a few moments, another bull was bel- 



