[5] A platted lash, about twenty yards long, with an iron ring at one end, through which the other end being passed forms a noose.
[6] Such indeed is their excessive propensity to gambling, that they frequently carry cards in their pocket, and, when an opportunity occurs, form parties, and retire to a convenient place, where one of them spreads his poncho or mantle on the ground, in lieu of a table. When the loser has parted with his money, he will stake his clothes, so that the game generally continues until one of them goes away almost naked. This bad practice often leads to serious consequences. I once observed a party playing in the neighbourhood of a chapel after mass had been said, when the clergyman came and kicked away the cards in order to put an end to the game. On this, one of the Peons rose up, and retiring a few paces, thus accosted the intruder: “Father, I will obey you as a priest; but” (laying his hand on his knife) “you must beware how you molest our diversion.” The clergyman knew the desperate character of these men too well to remonstrate, and retired very hastily, not a little chagrined.
On another occasion a Peon was gambling with a Spanish corporal in the prison-yard, when a dispute arising, the latter drew his sword on his unarmed antagonist, and wounded him so severely in the arm, that he was obliged to undergo amputation the day following.
It is usual for a Peon who has been fortunate at play, to go to Monte Video and clothe himself anew in the shop of a slop-seller. While the shopman is looking out the articles he calls for, he deliberately places his dollars on the counter, in separate piles, assigning each to its destined purpose. He then retires to a corner, and attires himself; an unfortunate comrade invariably attends him, who examines his cast clothes, and, if better than his own, puts them on. After passing a few days in idleness, he sets out on his return home, where he appears in his new dress.
[7] Among the many daring and active feats performed by the Peons, one of the most extraordinary of late years, was the capture of a tiger by a female of that tribe. She was a mulatto-woman, brought up in the vicinity of Barriga Negra. She was accustomed at an early age to ride horses, and prided herself in doing offices which belonged to the stronger sex, such as catching cattle with the noose, killing them, &c. Her form was masculine, and she became so inured to men’s work, that she was hired as a Peon, and fulfilled that office much to the satisfaction of her employers. She was noted for selecting spirited horses, and for riding them at full speed. One day on her return from labor, as she was passing a rivulet, she observed a large tiger at no great distance. Surprised that the animal did not steal away, as is generally the case when he sees a person mounted, she drew nearer, still keeping her horse’s head from him, so as to be ready to gallop off if he should make a spring. He was still inattentive and motionless; the woman observing this, and thinking he ailed something, after some minutes’ pause backed her horse until she came within twenty yards of him, loosening at the same time her noose from the saddle, which she threw most dexterously over his neck, and immediately galloped away with him to a considerable distance. Whether maimed or not before, she knew he must now be dead; she therefore alighted, flayed him, and carried home the skin as a trophy. The animal was above the ordinary size, and not smaller than a calf six weeks old. This exploit was long the talk of the neighbourhood, and I have heard the woman herself relate the adventure.
[8] Sus Tajassu.—Lin. Tajaçu.—Buffon.
[9] One mode which they adopted for displaying their triumph over their late conquerors was singular enough; they collected all the sign boards belonging to the English warehouses and shops, and made a bonfire of them. A great quantity of these boards was from the pulperias, the masters of which had been obliged to have on them the following inscription, painted in large characters, “Licensed to sell liquor.”
[10] The fishery of the baugre here is very considerable, and the mode of catching the fish, by means of a curved line of boats, by night, (from each of which is held a flambeau of straw to scare the fish toward the shore), is singularly picturesque, and might remind the imaginative spectator of a crescent of wild fire dancing on the waves. The fish is called at Rio de Janeiro the mulatto velho; the negroes eat it during Lent, and on Fridays and Saturdays.
[11] This very rarely happens.
[12] Forty years ago they caught a whale a day; but they now catch only one in the course of a month.