NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



mounted by a boy of twelve years of age, he could run, and was 

 easily guided by turning his head to the direction in which the rider 

 wished him to proceed. 



Soon after this chace of the Emus, we were in pursuit of game 

 of a different description. Our guide, whose perceptions were perhaps 

 quickened by the hope of profit, discovered the haunt of a herd of wild 

 hogs, and having stationed us so as to cut off their retreat into the wood, 

 he roused the prey, rode into the midst of them with his Lasso, and 

 secured five females. He then cut three gashes in the right ear of each, 

 and set them at liberty, saying that they were now his, that, so 

 marked, no one would meddle with them, and that he would return 

 at the time when each might be expected to be followed by a litter of 

 pigs, and take them away, or set his mark on the young ones. 



The great docility which the horses manifest in these sports, is 

 doubtless owing to the power of the curb ; but this operates disadvan- 

 tageously another way, preventing them from leaping over a bush or a 

 bog. It is true they wheel round the one, and flounder through the 

 other, with spirit and perseverance; but this occasions delay » and the 

 game is thereby frequently lost. In galloping too, they seem afraid of 

 feeling the bit, and dare not stretch themselves out ; but advance by 

 bounds like a stag, which occasions them soon to tire, and to fall into a 

 kind of pacing. Yet is their docility remarkable, and that not only 

 when they are in action, but when they are at rest. Their riders having 

 dismounted, and contrived some shade, in which they may repose, some- 

 times for two or three hours, the horses never stray, but stand sleeping 

 themselves. Indeed, in Brazil, these animals are seldom allowed to lie 

 down, even in stables ; nor do they change their modes in this respect 

 when left at their own pleasure. It. may be also, in some instinctive 

 sense of superior safety that they choose to sleep standing; for 

 they are thus better prepared for the attacks of the Ounce, or of Snakes ; 

 and when alarmed can immediately fly from danger. If in opposition 

 to this feeling a horse stretch himself upon the ground, it is that, from 



experience of a particular situation, he is become free from apprehension^ 



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