446 A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



rider to give him his way, and at the fame time to 

 let him feel the fpur to carry him over the precipices* 

 But, at the fame time, let him be very attentive to 

 keep the faddle; for on fuch declivities the leaft 

 negledt throws the rider over the horfe's head : the 

 confequence of which, either by the fall or by being 

 trampled upon, is generally fatal. Thefe horfes are 

 called paramos, being backed and exercifed in run- 

 ning over fuch dangerous places. Their ufual pace 

 is trotting. I'here is indeed another fpecies called 

 aguilillas, equally remarkable for their fwiftnefs and 

 fecurity. Though the aguilillas only pace, they equal 

 the longeft trot of the others : and fome of them are 

 fo fleet, that no other horfe can match them even at 

 full gallop. I once was mafter of one of this kind ^ 

 and which, though none of the racers, often carried 

 me in twenty-nine minutes from Callao to Lima, 

 which is two meafured leagues and a half, though 

 notv;ithftanding great part of the road was very bad 

 and ftony ; and in twenty-eight or twenty-nine mi- 

 riutes brought me back again, without ever taking 

 off the bridle. This I can affert from my own ex- 

 perience. Thefe horfes are very feldom known to 

 gallop or trot ; and it is a very difficult matter even to 

 bring them to it by teaching, though the trotting 

 horfes foon come in to pacing. The pace of the 

 aguilillas is by lifting up the fore and hind leg of 

 the fame fide at once; but inftead of putting the 

 hinder foot in the place w^here the fore foot was, as 

 is the ufual way of other pacing horfes, they advance 

 it farther, equal to that on the contrary fide, or fome- 

 thing beyond it that thus, in each motion, they ad- 

 vance twice the fpace of the common horfes. Be- 

 fides, they are very quick in their motions, and re- 

 markably eafy to the rider. 



Other horfes, not of this breed, are taught the 

 fame manner of pacing, and perform it with eafe and 

 expedition, as thofe in whom it is a natural quality ; 

 7 neither 



