72 TRAVELS IN 
the fraud, fo that certainty of profit Is added to 
that of Impunity. 
Meanwhile, were thefe contraband traders 
guilty only of Infrmging the fifcal laws, the bu- 
finefs would be a trifle. But what daring ini- 
quities, what horrible crimes, do they not com- 
mit ! A few colonifts, well armed, aflfemble to- 
gether : then, falling fuddenly on fome folitary 
horde, they compel thofe who compofe it to 
bring them all their cattle, from which they 
feleft fuch as may fult them, and give in return 
what they think proper. What can poor fa- 
vages, to whom fire-arms are unknown, do 
againft fuch formidable banditti ? If they at- 
tempt to refift, or even venture to complain, 
their lives are In danger. Accordingly, no 
fooner Is it known that a party of fuch fmug- 
glers is out upon an expedition, than they 
haften to remove their herds, which they 
fend Into the woods and mountains, where 
they keep them concealed. This is the only 
mode they have of prefcrving them from 
plunder, and to this th-e favages all have re- 
courfe. 
Often have I arrived at a horde without 
find- 
