314 
Brutal Method of Killing Cattle. 
keep its tormentor continually in view, but owing to its restrained 
position was prevented doing so, the vaqueiro in the meanwhile prowling 
round it like a eat awaiting a fresh and favourable opportunity for the 
furious creature to stop kicking out behind, kicks which he only escaped 
through his really admirable agility. The tendons of both hind feet 
being hacked through at last, the steer now bellowing wildly fell on its 
haunches to the ground where it supported itself half upright with its 
forefeet, the tendons of which had now also to be divided. The tortured 
and furious beast, the whole of its huge carcase trembling with rage and 
its muzzle sweating with dense blobs of white foam, could now follow 
every movement of the vaqueiro and watch the blade quivering in its 
descent, which it tried to avoid by continually stamping its feet. When 
finally one of these was likewise hacked across, the exhausted animal yet 
supported itself upon the last remaining one, when it tumbled on its side 
and still tried several times to rise. With gruesome and revolting laughter 
the remaining va'queiros next surrounded the now harmless animal which, 
quivering and bathed in sweat, tossed its head in all directions, and with 
a dull heart-rending moan attempted to stand erect, until one of the 
executioners stuck his long knife several times into its chest. They 
had tormented the poor brute for more than half-an-hour in the most 
cruel fashion only because, as the vaqueiros maintained, the flesh became 
more tender and soft in this way. 
875. The perilous and hard life of the vaqueiros who for the most 
part consist of Xegroes, whites, or mulattoes, seems to show its effects 
upon their disposition and habits. The vaqueiro has always to be in the 
saddle, the supervision of the immense herds requiring his presence 
everywhere along the boundaries of his master’s estate, here to protect 
them from the onslaughts of jaguars, there to gallop after the straying 
cattle which he follows at heel through savannah and forest. In the 
latter case everything depends upon his riding through the opening 
made in the thicket by the animal breaking a way in before it closes 
again; he must keep pressing hard behind the beast until an open 
space gives him room to throw bis lasso. Besides this continual 
supervision, which often necessitates his changing horses several times a 
day, he has to see to the branding of his master’s animals, and to bring 
the cattle in for killing. Every farm has its stock-yard, its Bodeio, 
into which the cattle are annually driven; this is effected by the 
vaqueiros having previously drawn a cordon around the scattered herds 
and then gradually closing in as they reach it. It is in the rodeio where 
the young animals then get their brand-numbers and the required cattle 
slaughtered. 
876. Owing to the Brazilian Government, as already mentioned, 
having caused a great quantity of cattle to be driven over to the village 
savannahs when they took possession of Pirara, the Commandant had 
brought this large number of vaqueiros with him to return not only the 
Government animals but also those belonging to Friar Jose back to their 
old pasture-grounds. Mr. Youd bought six cows from the latter, and 
three horses from the Commandant, from whom the officers also ordered 
a riding horse for their common use. 
