Ch.V. south AMERIC A. 239 



that would be fufficient to put them to flight, and 

 thus the place be open for them to land. They had 

 no fooaer difcharged their pieces, than one of the 

 peafants, though the boat was at a confiderable diflance, 

 threw his noofe, and notwithilanding all in the 

 coat threw themfelves on their faces, he noofed the 

 above-mentioned perfon, pulling him out of the 

 boat with the greateffc rapidity whilft the others, in- 

 flead of endeavouring to jave him, in their fright 

 thought of nothing but hov/ to get out of danger as 

 foon as pofiible. It was the Englifhman's good fortune 

 not to be (Irsngled or killed by the bruifes he received, 

 the flip knot having pafled from one fhoulder under 

 the oppofite arm, fo that he recovered in a few days. 



As it is very feldom that they mifs, and are ob- 

 liged on haltering a creature, to draw the knot, at 

 the fame time that they throw the noofe, they clap 

 Ipurs ro their horfe, and put him on his full fpeed ; 

 that the creature is fo far from having time to dif- 

 ensao-e itfelf, that it is no fooner cauo;ht than 

 difabied. This is alfo one of the v/eapons, if I 

 may give it that name, ufed in their private quar- 

 rels, defending themfelves vAth a lance of a mid- 

 dling length. And their addrefs, on thefe occafions, 

 is fo very remarkable, that very often, after a long 

 difpute, in which both parties are heartily tired, they 

 part with no other hurt than a few bruifes. This 

 is alfo the method they take to fatisfy their revenge, 

 endeavouring to halter the obje6t of their hatred, 

 either as he runs from them, or is not apprized of 

 their intention. In this cafe the only refource in 

 an open country on feeing him with his noofe in his 

 hand, is, to throw one's felf on the ground, keeping 

 the legs and arms as clofe to the furface as pofii- 

 ble, that the rope may have no room to get under 

 any part. The perfon may alfo lave hirnfelf by 

 (landing clofe to a tree, and, if in the ftreet, by plac- 

 ing hirnfelf againfl: the v/all. A fmail difiance, that 



is. 



