128 



PROVINCE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL. 



the same species. Nothing is ever given them to eat ; they are shut in the fold 

 with the sheep, and on obtaining strength and vigour to attend the flock, 

 they are suffered to go at large, when they accompany it to the field. In a 

 little time, and without more instruction, they are so familiarized with the 

 sheep, that they never separate from them. When it happens that a ewe lambs in 

 the field, and the lamb cannot accompany the mother, in consequence of its 

 not yet having sufficient strength to follow her, one of the dogs watches near, and 

 if he finds that the lamb cannot follow the mother to the flock, he carries it in his 

 mouth, without doing it the least harm. No other animal or unknown person 

 can approach the sheep, of which these dogs are the guardians, without the risk of 

 being attacked. The other domestic dogs and the hordes of the chimarroe dogs 

 are the greatest enemies to the flock ; against them and the birds of prey, which 

 pick out the eyes of the lambs, the vigilance of the watch dogs is requisite. 



Amongst other species of birds are the Macuco partridge, the parrot, caroe, 

 inhuma, soco, tayugu, jaluera, heron, jacu, the araponga mutum, tucano, and 

 the quail. In the lakes are large numbers of wild ducks, and large wild geese, 

 some brown, some white, others with black necks, which when stripped of their 

 feathers, are covered with a fine long down, similar to the Armenian fur, and 

 serving for the same uses. The marine geese, which have a bill like a turkey, 

 with smaller wings and without feathers, for the most part go at the bottom of the 

 sea, and are seen occasionally upon this coast, as well as the sea calf. It is 

 said, that here the emu ostrich lays many eggs in one nest, to which they never 

 return after having finished laying ; the male then hatches them, after instinctively 

 breaking two, for the collection of a large quantity of flies ; thus the young find 

 sustenance till they are able to accompany their protector, when he remains 

 their guide for several days. The people do not generally follow hunting or 

 shooting, so that game is very abundant ; neither are they partial to fishing. 



The inhabitants are instructed in the use of the lafo, in order to catch wild 

 cattle. It is a cord of twisted leather, secured by one end of the saddle or 

 girth of the horse, upon which the la^ador is mounted, the other end forms a 

 noose through which the cord runs, and, curling it up, the horseman throws 

 with dexterity to a great distance, and secures the animal by the horns or 

 the neck. The sagacious horse instantly throws itself into a firmly inclining 

 posture, to resist the opposing power of the animal to escape. There are 

 men so skilled in this art, that they catch the wary ounce with the laco. The 

 la^ador as quickly dismounts and despatches it. 



They are not less dexterous in the management of the balls, which are two 



