HUNTING PARTY. 137 



course are thrown out. About three o'clock 

 we returned to a substantial repast, and 

 amused ourselves during the afternoon by 

 shooting tortolas for supper, which we much 

 enjoyed, and talked over a bowl of punch of 

 the adventures of the day, anticipating better 

 sport on the morrow. The next day we pro- 

 ceeded to the Paramos, or high table-land, 

 on the left of the valley, where there is but 

 little vegetation. Here we were delayed by 

 a heavy fog which hung on the top of the 

 mountain ; we did not lose any time however, 

 but regaled ourselves with Bologna sausages 

 and some spirits which we had brought with 

 us. When the fog cleared, we started seve- 

 ral deer, and the paramo being level, we 

 had some good runs in sight, but the deer 

 escaped by taking refuge in the woods of 

 the low grounds. On the third day, being 

 Saturday, and a holiday with the farmers, 

 we were joined by numerous other sportsmen 

 and their dogs. With this reinforcement the 



