148 



PASSAGE ACROSS 



was surrounded by his dogs, which were a very odd 

 pack. Some of them were very large, and some 

 quite small, and they seemed to be all of different 

 breeds ; many had been lamed by the lions and 

 tigers, and several bore honourable scars. I re- 

 gretted very much indeed that I had not time to 

 follow the sport, which must have been highly 

 interesting. 



As soon as the dogs unkennel a lion or a tiger, 

 they pursue him until he stops to defend himself. 

 If the dogs fly upon him, the Gaucho jumps off his 

 horse, and while the animal is contending v*^ith his 

 enemies, he strikes him on the head with the balls, 

 to which an extraordinary momentum can be given. 

 If the dogs are at bay, and afraid to attack their 

 foe, the Gaucho then hurls the lasso over him, and 

 galloping away, he drags him along the ground, 

 while the hounds rush upon him and tear him. 



The mountains now seemed to be really over our 

 heads, and we expected that we should have imme- 

 diately to climb them, but for many hours we went 

 over a plain as dry and barren as the country 

 already described on the other side of Uspallata, 

 and which wound its course among the mountains. 



