HUNTING DEER AND OSTRICHES. 



47 



As we travelled full speed over this barren 

 country^ we were continually starting the af- 

 frighted deer^ that would fly from us like the 

 wind. It was my custom to ride on horseback 

 ten or twelve leagues every morning. 1 some- 

 times amused myself hunting these beautiful 

 animals^ and found^ after a long chace, I could 

 generally come up with them. Not so with the 

 ostriches ; they would march away w ith the greatest 

 apparent ease from a horse at full speed : they 

 were not numerous, I only saw two during the 

 whole journey across the Pampas. This day 

 we travelled with amazing speed, and I could 

 not but feel for the poor cargo-horses, that car- 

 ried two heavy portmanteaus, and a bed each, 

 keeping up with the carriage at full gallop. They 

 lace the loads on as if the horses were made of 

 iron : frequently have I seen two men with their 

 feet against the horses^ sides, drawing the rope 

 of hide till it has literally been hid in its belly, 

 and the poor animal would stand and cough with 

 pain ; they then fasten one horse to the other^s 



