In many parts of South America, not only plantations, but whole villages, have been abandoned solely from fear of the jaguars.
There are men, however, who can deal single-handed with the jaguar; and who do not fear to attack the brute in its own haunts.
They do not trust to fire-arms, but to a sharp spear. On their left arm they carry a strong shield.
This shield is held forward and is usually seized by the jaguar. While it is busied with this, the hunter thrusts at the animal with his sharp spear, and generally with deadly effect.
A traveler in South America relates the following incident as having come under his observation:
"Desiring to witness a jaguar hunt, I employed two well-known Indian hunters, and set out for the forest. The names of these hunters were Niño and Guapo. Both of them had long been accustomed to hunt the jaguar, and I felt perfectly safe in their company.
"Guapo, the larger of the two, was a man of wonderful muscular power, and had the reputation of having at one time killed a black jaguar with only a stout club.
"When all the preparations had been made for our start, we looked as if we might capture all the jaguars that came in our way.
"Some hours after we had entered the forest, the quick eye of Guapo discovered the trail of a large jaguar which he assured me was recently made.
"Stopping for a moment, both Guapo and Niño looked carefully about in every direction, and listened attentively, in order that they might see or hear the animal if he were near.