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when closely pursued. If on killing the animal, the part be instan- 

 taneously cut out, the flesh affords good eating, but should that 

 operation be neglected, even for a short period, the taint con- 

 taminates the whole carcase. The domestic pigs are by no means 

 good ; they feed so much upon beef that their flesh is very hard and 

 coarse. There is an animal of the opossum kind, about the size of 

 a rabbit, called a zurilla, the skin of which is streaked black and 

 white, and is considered of some value. When attacked, it ejects a 

 fetid liquor, which is of so pungent a nature, that if it falls on any 

 part of the dress of its pursuers, there is no possibihty of getting rid 

 of the stench but by continual exposure to the weather for some 

 months. The zurilla is very fond of eggs and poultry, and some- 

 times enters a house in quest of its prey ; the inhabitants imme- 

 diately hasten out and leave their unwelcome visitant in quiet pos- 

 session as long as she chooses to stay ; well aware that the slightest 

 attempt to drive her out, would expose them to an ejectment from 

 the premises for ever. Eagles both of the grey and blue species, as 

 well as other birds of prey, are found here in great numbers. Here 

 are also parroquets in immense flocks, pigeons, great red-legged 

 partridges, small partridges, wild ducks, and wild turkies. Ostriches 

 of a large species are very numerous ; they are so fleet and active that 

 even when well mounted I could never get near them but by sur- 

 prise ; the stroke of their wing is said to be inconceivablj^ strong. 



Here are considerable herds of small deer, which in this fine country 

 would afford the sportsman excellent diversion, but unfortunately 

 the dogs are good for nothing, as there is no attention paid to 

 the preservation of the breed. The rivers produce tortoises and 

 other amphibious animals, but they are chiefly noted for a variety of 

 singularly ugly fish, which afford tolerable but by no means good 

 eating. 



During a residence of six months in this remote district, as a 

 prisoner at large, or in fact as a welcome guest at the house of a 

 most hospitable man, my life passed away in an equable tenour, un- 



9 



