Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1833. HUNTING — PUMAS INDIANS. 313 In May, June, July, and August, the neighbourhood of this river swarms with wild fowl, which migrate from the south, for the winter, and return there to breed about September. The old people foretell a severe winter when they arrive early, and in greater numbers than usual. In 1833-4 they formed the staple article of food for the inhabitants of Carmen during the winter, as the Indians had deprived them of their cattle ; in the summer cavies and ostriches supplied their tables. Hunt- ing is a favourite amusement of the Carmenites. They sally forth in large parties on horseback, attended by a motley crowd of dogs, inclose a large extent of country, contract the circle gradually,* and at last drive a great number of ostriches, wolves, cavies, deer, foxes, and pumas, into a com- paratively small space, when the indiscriminate attack com- mences — balls and lassoes flying in every direction. Many accidents happen to the horses in these hunts, owing to the ground being so undermined, in some places, by the ' tucu- tucu,'"!" a little animal like a small rabbit ; but the riders are so skilful, that they generally save themselves, however awk- wardly their horses may fall. Pumas are an especial object of attack, not only for the risk attached to encountering them, but because they do so much damage to the young animals of all kinds : they have a peculiar method of instantly killing a young colt by breaking its neck with an adroit blow of one paw, vfhile the poor creature is held fast between the other and a most formidably ai'med mouth. In 1779 there were nume- rous herds of cattle and horses near the town of Carmen, but incursions of the Indians have diminished them to but few. During the time of the old Spaniards, after 1783, more than a thousand Indians attacked the settlement at one time. The in- habitants retreated to their caves,;!: where, defended by strong doors, with loop-holes for musketry, they were safe ; but their * As in eastern countries. t This Indian name, gutturally pronounced, expresses the curious sound made by these creatures while under ground — a noise somewhat like the blow of a distant hammer. J Mentioned in p, 299.