16 



DESCRIPTIVE OUTLINE 



generally a number of idle-looking vultures or 

 hawks and the ground around the hut and 

 corral is covered with bones and carcasses of horses, 

 bullocks' horns, wool, &c., which give it the smell 

 and appearance of an ill-kept dog-kennel in Eng- 

 land. 



The hut consists generally of one room, in which 

 all the family live, boys, girls, men, women, and 

 children, all huddled together. The kitchen is a 

 detached shed a few yards off : there are always 

 holes, both in the walls and in the roof of the hut, 

 which one at first considers as singular marks of 

 the indolence of the people. In the summer this 



* The hawks are very tame, and they are seldom to be seen 

 except at the huts; but occasionally they have followed me 

 for many leagues, keeping just before me, and with their round 

 black eyes gazing intently on my face, which 1 fancied attracted 

 their notice from being burnt by the sun, and I literally often 

 thought they were a little inclined to taste it. They are con- 

 stantly in the habit of attacking the horses and mules who have 

 sore backs ; and I have often observed these birds hovering 

 about six inches above them. It is curious to compare the 

 countenance of the two animals. The hawk, with his head bent 

 downwards, and his eye earnestly fixed upon the wound : the 

 mule with his back crouched down, his ears lying back, whisk- 

 ing his tail, afraid to eat, and apparently not knowing whether to 

 rear or kick. 



