SOUTH AMERICA. 
7 
grass grows under the trees ; and few weeds, except first 
m the swamps. - 
The high grounds are pretty clear of underwood, 
and with a cutlass to sever the small bush-ropes, it 
is not difficult walking among the trees. 
The soil, chiefly formed by the fallen leaves and Soils, 
decayed trees, is very rich and fertile in the valleys. 
On the hills, it is little better than sand. The rains 
seem to have carried away, and swept into the valleys, 
every particle which nature intended to have formed 
a mould. 
Four-footed animals are scarce, considering how Four- 
very thinly these forests are inhabited by men. animals. 
Several species of the animal, commonly called 
tiger, though in reality it approaches nearer to the 
leopard, are found here; and tw r o of their diminu¬ 
tives, named tiger cats. The tapir, the lobba, and 
deer, afford excellent food, and chiefly frequent the 
swamps and low ground, near the sides of the river 
and creeks. 
In stating that four-footed animals are scarce, the 
peccari must be excepted. Three or four hundred 
of them herd together, and traverse the wilds in all 
directions, in quest of roots and fallen seeds. The 
Indians mostly shoot them with poisoned arrows. 
When wounded, they run about one hundred and 
fifty paces; they then drop, and make wholesome food. 
The red monkey, erroneously called the baboon, 
is heard oftener than it is seen; while the common 
brown monkey, the bisa, and sacawinki, rove from 
tree to tree, and amuse the stranger as he journeys on. 
