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I 
HUNTING AND FISHING IN THE PROVINCE OP AMAZON. lOa 
livers, arc sure to shelter that (limiautive of the elephant. At early dawn 
it leaves its quiet nook behind thorny bambusaceje, or leafy bushes, and 
walks gravely to the river by deeply trodden paths of its ownengineeriug, 
for it thoroughly enjoys a cold bath in the morning ; and often, when 
quickly doublmg some shai-p bend in the river, ive surprised it sitting iu 
quiet majesty up to the neck in the water. It swims and dives with 
astonishing agility ; and it may be the sense of greater security iu the 
aqueous element, or it may be a longing for a refreshing bath after a 
tumultuous flight, which impels it always to take the shoidcst cut to the 
river, when pursued by the dogs. But it rims to its own destruction ; for 
there stands the hunter, motionless and ready for his shot, in his light 
canoe, which is screened from observation by overhanging boughs. Eiflc 
and bow, however, are scarcely wanted. If the river is of any breadth, 
the snorting and panting animal, vainly diving here and there to escape 
the furiously biting and barking hounds, is soon overtaken and killed, 
mostly either with a long hunting-knife, or with a pistol, by the occupant 
of the nutshell. If possible, it is harpooned before receiving the fatal 
blow ; else it would sink to the bottom, and the hunter would have to 
await its rising again. 
Only the female anta, with lier young one, never flies before the dogs. 
She remains courageously in her retreat, endeavouring to protect with her 
own body the trembling little creature that creeps between her legs, and 
vents its anxiety in shriU whistling sounds. Woe to the hardy cur that 
dares to leave the semicirele of its companions, barldng in these cases from 
a safe distance, and to come within reach of the grim dam. Her elevated 
short jaw bares some teeth that demand I'cspect, and under her powerful 
fore-legs the weak ribs of a dog would snap like thin reeds. At last, 
riddled with bullets, she falls down, a victim to maternal tenderness, on 
the body of her ten-ifled offspring. 
If the hunter succeeds in jirotccting the latter against the fury of tlic 
pack, who are courageous enough now, and if he does not handle it too 
roughly, it wtU become as tame as a dog, even on the second or third day 
of its captivity (as I witnessed myself), and soon will abandon all thought 
of retimning to its native wilds. As its food (grass, pumpkins, fruits, etc.) 
is easily jirocurable, it is not only possible but very ea.sy to make it quite 
a domestic animal. 
In Curitiba, the capital of the province of Parana, a stray tapii- ran 
about the streets, and the negro boys used to ride upon it from morning 
