in the preference they give to certain meats. The 
climate produces very great changes in the tender-* 
ness and the savour of several viands : that beef, 
for instance, which is so juicy and good in England, 
is extremely tough and dry when killed under the 
line ; on the contrary, that pork, which is w ith 
us so unpalatable in summer, in the warmer lati- 
tudes, where it is always hotter than here, is the 
finest eating they have, and much preferable to any 
hog’s flesh in Europe. 
The ass, like the horse, was originally imported 
into America by the Spaniards, and afterwards by 
other nations. That country seems to have been 
peculiarly favourable to this race of animals ; 
and where they have run wild, they have multi- 
plied in such numbers, that in some places they 
are become a nuisance. In the kingdom of 
Quito, the owners of the grounds where they are 
bred, suffer all persons to take away as many as 
they can, on paying a small acknowledgment, in 
proportion to the number of days their sport 
lasts. They catch them in the following maimer. 
A number of persons go on horseback, and are at- 
tended by Indians on foot : when arrived at the 
proper places, they form a circle in order to drive 
them into some valley ; where, at full speed, they 
throw the noose and endeavour to halter them. 
Those creatures, finding themselves enclosed, make 
very furious efforts to escape ; and, if only one 
forces his way through, they all follow with an 
irresistible impetuosity. However, when noosed, 
the hunters throw them down, and secure them 
with fetters, and thus leave them till the chase is 
over. Then, in order to bring them away with 
greater facility, they pair them with tame beasts? 
of the same kind ; but this is not easily performed, 
for they are so remarkably fierce, that they often 
hurt the persons who undertake to manage them. 
