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received us hospitably, and accommodated us for the night. The 

 weather was so cold, that a double supply of bed-clothes scarcely 

 produced sufficient warmth ; in the morning the thermometer was 

 at 48° Fahrenheit. After the heavy dew cleared away, we took a 

 view of the grounds, in company with the manager ; they ap- 

 peared well-suited for a grazing-farm, but the temperature of the 

 atmosphere is too severe for growing the common produce of the 

 country; particularly cotton, coffee and bananas, which are frequently 

 blasted. I was informed that some wheat has been grown here, 

 though the people are quite unacquainted with the European me- 

 thod of farming. Indian corn, for the feed of hogs, is the staple 

 article. This plantation is infested by ounces, which at times prey 

 upon young cattle ; the manager, who is a great hunter, keeps 

 dogs, though of a poor race, for the express purpose of destroying 

 them, which is thus practised: — When the carcase of a Avorried ani- 

 mal has been found, or when an ounce has been seen prowling 

 about, the news is soon proclaimed among the neighbours, two or 

 three of whom take fire arms loaded with heavy slugs, and go out 

 with the dogs in quest of the animal, who generally lurks in some 

 thicket, near the carcase he has killed, and leaves so strong a scent, 

 that the dogs soon find. When disturbed he retreats to his den, if 

 he has one, the dogs never attempting to fasten on him, or even to 

 face him, but, on the contrarj', endeavouring to get out of his way, 

 which is not difficult, as the ounce is heavy and slow of motion. 

 If he caves, the sport is at an end, and the hunters make up the 

 entrance ; but he more commonly has recourse to a large tree, 

 wJiich he climbs with great facility ; here his fate is generally de- 

 cided, for the hunters get near enough to take a steady aim, and 

 seldom fail to bring him down, one of them reserving his fire to dis- 

 patch him, if required, after he has fallen. It generally happens, 

 that one or two of the dogs are killed in coming too near, for even 

 in his dying struggles, a single stroke of his paw proves mortal. 

 The skin is carried home as a trophy, and the neighbours meet 

 and congratulate each other on the occasion. 



