THE AMERICAN TAPIR. 
203 
The protection afforded by its coat of mail, as its 
tough skin has been not unaptly termed, together with 
its great muscular strength, enables the Tapir to pene- 
trate through the most densely compacted underwood 
with little difficulty. Every thing gives way before its 
efforts, and thus it soon clears itself a path in whatever 
direction it chooses to proceed. But when once its 
path is made it seems to prefer the beaten road to the 
formation of a new one, and goes backwards and 
forwards in the same track, which the native huntsmen 
and travellers always select as the easiest passage 
through the forest. They are, however, cautious not 
to remain in it during the night, nor to swing their 
hammocks across it, as in that case they would be 
liable to receive considerable injury from the shock of 
the animal as it rushes past in its nocturnal rambles. 
The Tapir is far, however, from being a mischievous 
animal. In its natural disposition it is remarkably 
quiet, and never attacks man or beast except in self- 
defence or under circumstances of great provocation. 
It is frequently hunted for its flesh, which, although 
coarse, dry, and unsavoury to a European palate, is 
regarded as a great luxury by the native Indians and 
negroes. Its skin is also highly valued on account of 
its great thickness and strength. The lasso is seldom 
employed to take it; for it snaps asunder at a single 
effort a cord strong enough to interrupt a bull in the 
height of his headlong course. The most common 
mode of catching them is to attract them by an imitation 
of their voice, consisting in a sharp but not very shrill 
whistle, and thus to bring them so close to the hunts- 
man that his shot rarely fails of its effect. The Indians 
use poisoned arrows for the same purpose. Another 
plan, which is also frequently pursued, is for the hunters 
to station themselves towards evening with their dogs 
by the side of the Tapir's path, to intercept him in his 
