An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)

I do not agree with those who call elks equi-cervi, mongrel creatures born of a stag and a mare. This cannot be imagined for a moment of the Paraguayrian antas, which inhabit the roughest and most rugged forests, not only unknown but almost inaccessible both to horses and stags. The antas choose plains full one hundred leagues distant, where they can never meet with either of those animals. However this may be, I advise giving credit to those who, in the present age, have written more fully on natural history from authority.

THE HUANACO

This animal, which the Spaniards call Guanáco, and the Abipones Hakahátak, as it has no name in Latin, may be called ελαφοκαμηλον, a cameleopard, as the ostrich is called a camel. For whilst it resembles a stag in other particulars, its head, neck, the bunch on its back, the fissure of the upper lip, and the tail a span long, are like those of a camel. Its feet are cloven, and its skin shaggy, and for the most part of a reddish colour. The hair of this beast serves to make hats with. Its flesh is eaten both by Spaniards and Indians. Its swiftness stands it in the stead of arms. It never attempts to kick or bite, but when offended by any one, spits at him in a rage; this saliva is commonly said first to create a red pustule, and afterwards to bring on the mange. Like goats, these animals inhabit rocks and high mountains, but come down in flocks, at pleasure, for the sake of the pasture in the plains below the mountains; mean time one of the males occupies a high place, whence, like a watchman from a tower, he sees if any danger is near, and surveys every part of the neighbourhood. The whole flock hurries away upon any alarm, the females going before, and the males closing the company. This is seldom a panic terror, for the huanacos, whilst occupying the pastures in the plain, are often caught by the Spanish horsemen; but very swift horses are necessary for this business, as they run extremely quick. I have often seen flocks of these animals, when travelling in Tucuman, on the Cordoban mountains. Hearing the sound of approaching horses, they crowd to the highest summits of the rocks, whence, ranged like soldiers in a long file, they look down upon the horses as they pass underneath, neigh for some time in a manner strongly resembling human laughter, and presently, struck with sudden terror, for they are extremely timorous, scour off in all directions. This spectacle frequently amused and delighted us Europeans. Huanacos, though very wild and shy, may be easily tamed in the towns, when young. Besides the skin and flesh of the huanacos, the bezoar stone, which is often found in their insides, is of value. It sometimes weighs more than a pound, is always oval, scarce smaller than a hen's egg, and painted, like marble, with most exquisite colours. Most probably it derives this medicinal property from the animal's feeding upon wholesome herbs, which grow in the mountains: its virtues, however, are thought little of by the physicians of these times, who despise old prescriptions.

THE PERUVIAN SHEEP LLAMÁS

Peru, the neighbour of Paraguay, produces wild animals, in which the bezoar of various colours, forms, and sizes, is found: namely, the native sheep, which the Indians call Llamás, the Spaniards Carneros de la Tierra, and which are used, like beasts of burden, for carrying weights, not exceeding one hundred pounds.

THE VICUÑA

This country likewise produces Vicuñas, animals equal in size to a goat in our country, but not horned, and clothed with wool of a darkish yellow colour, softer than silk, and much esteemed by Europeans. A garment made of this wool cools the body when the sun is oppressively hot. It is said to cure pains in the kidneys, and to assuage the torture of the gout. The flesh of the vicuña, though unsavoury to the palate, is eaten by the Indians; it is also used as medicine. A man who had got a disorder in his eyes, from walking for a long time amidst snow in Peru, was presently relieved of the pain by a piece of vicuña's flesh, applied to the part affected, by an Indian woman.

THE PACO, MACOMORO, & TARÙGA

Peru also boasts of pacos, macomoros, and tarùgas, which are almost of the same use and appearance as the former, and in like manner produce the bezoar stone.

THE TAMANDUA, OR ANT-EATER

The tamandua obtains its name from the ants upon which it feeds. But it does not eat every kind of ant, but only those which the Guaranies call cupis, and their eggs. When these are not to be had, it takes up with little worms, winged insects, honey, and meat cut into very small particles. In bulk it is equal to a very large pig, but superior in length and height. Its head does not correspond to the size of its body. A very small fissure, which is seen in its long snout, serves it for a mouth, under which is concealed a blackish, smooth tongue, slenderer than the goose's quill I am writing with, but twenty-five inches long. This he dips into a hill of ants, scraped together with his nails, and when covered with those insects, or their little eggs, draws back again into his mouth, and swallows them instantly. This animal has small black eyes, middle-sized, and almost round ears, and a blackish skin, interspersed here and there with white, and for the most part hairy. From the extremity of the fore-feet project four curved nails, of which the two middle are very strong, and three inches in length; they are quite necessary arms to the tamandua, for with them he digs up, and removes the turf under which the ants' nests lie. The hind feet have five fingers, furnished with as many nails, and in walking make the same footsteps as a boy. The tail, which is covered with stiff bristles, longer than the hairs in a horse's mane, is as long as his whole body, and so wide that, bent towards the neck, with the hairs expanded on each side like a fan, or fly-flap, it covers his whole body when he sleeps, and defends him not only against cold, but even against rain. This beast is not able to keep running for any length of time, and may be easily caught by a person on horseback, or even on foot. Its flesh is eaten by the Indians, but not reckoned a dainty. When young it is very soon tamed in the colonies of the Indians, but seldom brought up by them, because it must be chiefly fed upon ants, which are very troublesome to procure.

THE WILD BOAR

Four different species of boars abound in Paraguay. The most remarkable are those which have upon their backs a spungy, glandulous little piece of flesh, swelled with a white liquor resembling milk, and scented like musk. This boss is immediately amputated after the animal's death, before the intolerable odour of musk has infected the flesh, and rendered it unfit for use. In woods, near marshes, and marshy fields, wander herds of boars, which are killed, either with a stake, or with arrows, by the Indians. Herds of boars sometimes rushed into the colony of St. Ferdinand, perhaps from the hope of finding food there, perhaps from some other motive. But the Abipones, assembling together, killed a great number of them, and feasted sumptuously upon their flesh for some days. I was told that boars entered the towns of the Uruguay in the same manner. The Abiponian women make themselves travelling dresses of the skins of this animal, and its bristles are collected into small bundles, and used as combs.

VARIOUS KINDS OF LITTLE FOXES

THE ZORRINO

There are three sorts of foxes here, different from those of our country. The Abipones call the larger ones Kaalk, the lesser Licheran, and the least Lichera, which last is named Zorrino by the Spaniards, and by the French Canadians Bête Puante, the stinking beast, or Enfant du Diable, child of the devil; appellations which it justly deserves. This animal, which is equal in size to a small rabbit, of a chesnut colour, and marked on each side by two white lines, though it pleases the eyes by its elegant form, offends the nostrils by its excessive stink. It may be commended for beauty, but not for politeness; for at every passer-by it squirts, with certain aim, a liquor so pestilent, that dogs, if sprinkled with it, will howl dreadfully, and roll themselves for some time on the ground, as if scalded with boiling water. If it touch the eyes, blindness is the certain consequence. If a woollen or linen garment, a stick, or any thing else, be sprinkled with it, no farther use can be made of the article on account of the stink, which no art will ever take away. If one of these animals shed his urine in the open plain, the stench is carried by the wind the space of a league. That white liquor shines in the night like phosphorus, and wherever it passes, looks like a ray of fire. If a skunk creep into a house, and scatter any of that terrible liquor, the inhabitants, one and all, rush out, as if the house was on fire, and fly into the street or open plain, to breathe freely, that they may not be stifled with the stench. Therefore, although this animal is very little and weak, it is dreaded extremely by tigers, mastiffs, and all mortals. Its unequalled stink is its means of defence. Whoever desires to possess its most beautiful skin, in order to catch it, without injury to himself, must take it by the tail, and hold it with its head towards the ground; for, by this means, it loses the use of its pestiferous syringe, and cannot squirt out that horrible liquid. Some assert that the fat in the kidneys of the skunk is either the cause, or the receptacle of the stink, and that if this be taken away, the flesh may be eaten, and is not of an unpleasant savour: I envy no one such a dainty.

Many have written of the skunk, but generally from the accounts of others: I, alas! from my own experience. I feel both shame and grief in refreshing the sad remembrance of my disaster; but will, nevertheless, relate it, to show you my candour. When, with some fifty companions, we journeyed from the port of Buenos-Ayres, where we first landed, through an immense plain of an hundred and forty leagues, to Cordoba, we were all conveyed in waggons, drawn by four oxen; for a waggon in those deserts serves both for house and bed. Reclining, day and night, upon a mattress, we pursued our journey according to the season, the roads, and the weather. The jolting of this rude vehicle creates nausea, and fatigues the whole frame, so that quitting it at evening, to enjoy the fresh air, was quite a relief. As I was walking with two Spaniards, I spied a skunk gently approaching us: "Look," cried I, "what a beautiful animal is that!" We trusted too much to external appearance. Not one of us perceived what a pest was concealed under this elegant skin. Hastening our steps we all emulously ran to catch the animal, and my ill stars directed that I should outstrip both the Spaniards. The cunning skunk, spying me near him, feigned submission, stood still, and, as it were, offered himself my captive. Distrusting the blandishments of an animal that was unknown to me, I gently touched it with a stick. In a moment it lifted up its leg, and discharged at me that Stygian pest. It sprinkled my left cheek all over, and then victorious, took to flight immediately. That my eyes were spared may be accounted a blessing. I stood thunderstruck, become, in an instant, intolerable to myself; for the horrid stench had diffused itself from my cheek into every part of my body, to my very inner garments; and spreading in a moment through the plain, far and wide, announced what had happened to my companions. Some on foot, some on horseback, they all hastened to look at me, amidst peals of laughter; but, smelling me from a distance, returned a long way back, with greater speed than they had come. Like an excommunicated person, I was shunned by all, and was forbidden to enter the very tent where I used to sup with the rest. I, therefore, betook myself to my own waggon. On asking the Spanish driver if he smelt any thing amiss, he replied that he had been deprived of the power of smell for four years. "Oh! fortunate circumstance!" cried I, for if the driver had been in possession of this faculty, I should have been banished from my own waggon also. Throwing off all my clothes, I washed, wiped, and rubbed my face over and over again. But this was washing the blackamoor white. That night I wished I could have been separated from my body, so entirely had that liquid exhalation penetrated my very fibres, especially my cheek, which it burnt like fire. My clothes, all of which I had entirely thrown off, though daily exposed to wind, rain, sun, and dust, for more than a month, on the top of the waggon, always retained the vile scent, and could be made no possible use of. Had I a hundred tongues I should think them all insufficient to convey an adequate idea of the stench of this ill-scented beast. Whether it be urine which it discharges, or any other liquid, I am at a loss to determine. This is indubitable, – that if Theophrastus, Paracelsus, and any other chemist, had conspired together, in all their furnaces and shops, and with all their arts, they could never have composed a stink more intolerable than that which the skunk exhales by nature. Spirit of hartshorn, or any more powerful odour, if there be such, will be called aromatic scents, frankincense, balm of Gilead, and the most fragrant carnations and roses, by him that has once smelt the skunk. Europe may be congratulated upon her good fortune in being unacquainted with this cursed beast.

THE BISCACHA

Let this fetid animal be succeeded by the ridiculous biscacha, which closely resembles a hare, has a tail like that of a fox, and is marked with black and white spots. Its hair is exceedingly soft. In the plains, particularly in the more elevated situations, these animals dig themselves burrows so artfully, that no part of them is exposed to the rain. They are divided into separate apartments, as several families usually inhabit the same place. On the surface of the earth many doors are opened into the cave, at which crowds of them sit at sun-set, and carefully listen if any one be approaching; but if all is quiet they go out to pasture on moonlight nights, and make deplorable havoc in the neighbouring plains; for they are extremely fond of wheat and maize, and if either of these is to be had, will not feed on grass. At the doors of their burrows they heap up dry bones, bits of wood, and any other rubbish they can light upon, but for what purpose, no one hitherto has been able even to conjecture. The Spanish rustics sometimes amuse themselves with hunting these animals. They pour many pitchers of water into their subterranean dwellings, so that, to avoid drowning, the creatures leap out into the plain, and, no opportunity of escape being allowed them, are killed with stakes. Their flesh, unless they be very old, is not despised, even by the Spaniards.

THE HARE

Hares, differing from those of Europe, in size alone, do exist in Paraguay; but I imagine there must be very few, because, though I have often traversed the whole province, and have lived chiefly amongst the Indians, who spare no kinds of animals, I never saw but one. In Tucuman, where it looks towards Peru, I understand that hares are not so scarce.

VARIOUS KINDS OF RABBITS

As rabbits are extremely numerous in every part of this country, there is likewise great variety amongst them. Some, of various colours, like those of our country, live under ground. Others, which hide themselves under shrubs and bushes, are less than hares, larger than our rabbits, and of a bay, or rather a chesnut colour. Their flesh, which is extremely well tasted, may be seen at the tables even of the more wealthy. Several pairs of these rabbits are said to have been brought from Spain by some person who, in travelling through Paraguay into Peru, took rabbits of each sex out of their coop, and set them loose on the plain to feed, at which time some of them escaped and ran away. Their posterity is, at this day, extremely numerous in Tucuman, especially in the land of St. Iago. Other kinds of rabbits, scarce bigger than dormice, conceal themselves sometimes in the hedges of fields, sometimes in holes under ground, and, being innumerable, are extremely pernicious to wheat. The Abipones, who undertake most of their journeys without provisions, when they wish to dine or sup, set fire to the tall dry grass in the plain, in order to kill and roast the animals concealed underneath it, which leap out for fear of the fire. Were tigers, deer, stags, and emus, not to be had, there would never be a deficiency of rabbits, a hundred of which they easily take, and hang upon a string, after a chase of this kind. I was told by Barreda, the old General of the St. Iagans, that in hasty marches in search of the enemy, when there was no time for hunting, rabbits, dried in the air, served the Abipones for victuals.

THE STAG

The shores of the Parana and Paraguay, and the larger islands of these rivers, abound in stags, which, in no respect, differ from those of Europe. Not one is to be seen in any other part of Paraguay. The Abipones pursue the stags on swift horses, and laying hold of their horns, kill them either with a knife or a spear; they also pierce them with thick arrows, when hunting in a wood impervious to horses. Formerly, before the savages were acquainted with iron, they prefixed a stag's horn to their spears, instead of an iron point, and this weapon inflicted very deep wounds. Whilst I dwelt amongst them, some of the elder Abipones still used spears pointed with stags' horn, and were the more dreaded on that account. Stags' skins, which are used for various purposes, the Spaniards soften and polish with the melted fat of mares. They also entertain an idea that the smallest piece of stag's skin, worn close to the body, is a powerful preservative against the bites of serpents, as it is well known that stags and deer have frequent conflicts with these animals.

ROEBUCKS

On entering the plain, wherever you turn your eyes you will see nothing but roebucks, exactly like European ones. Those which inhabit the plains are of a chesnut colour, but brighter; those which live in the woods, of a darker chesnut, but both are marked with white spots. When young they are easily tamed at home. I once nourished a little fawn, only a few days old, brought me by an Indian, on cow's milk, and reared it in my own apartment. When grown older, it went daily into the plain to pasture along with the cows, which are milked in the court-yard, but returned to my room of its own accord. When he found it shut he signified his arrival by knocking against the door with his feet, often in the middle of the night. He followed me, whether walking or riding, like a dog. He beheld a crowd of dogs running after him without alarm, and often put them to flight by stamping on the ground with his feet. By tinkling a collar of bells which I placed round his neck, he frightened all the dogs, and deceived them into thinking him some strange and formidable animal. He fed upon meat, bread, roots, and grass, but a sheet of paper was quite a treat to him, and sweeter than honey to his taste. The collar, which many months before I had fitted to his neck, beginning to squeeze him as he grew older, I endeavoured to loosen it; when the little animal, imagining that I did it with the intent of causing his death, and believing me to be his enemy, took to flight, and wandered up and down the more distant plains, without revisiting me for a month. He was often seen by the Indians. At length I directed my attention towards recalling and reconciling him. Allured by a sheet of paper, which I showed him from a distance, he approached me, though with a trembling foot, and being presented at intervals with fresh sheets of paper, followed me to the house, unmindful of his terror and offence, and ever after remained, as long as he lived, with the utmost fidelity in my house. He would often fight with mules for half an hour together, affording a spectacle worthy to be seen and applauded by the assembled Indians; for resting on his fore-feet, he kicked the head of the mule every now and then with his hinder ones, and whilst his antagonist with bites and kicks endeavoured to render like for like, the fawn, by leaping backwards and forwards with incredible celerity, eluded the threats and anger of the enraged beast. After obtaining so many victories, to the astonishment and applause of the whole town, engaging in the plain with an untamed mule, his back was broken by the kicks of his adversary, which occasioned his death, at two years of age, when, being a male, he had very large horns. You will scarce believe how we grieved for his death. I still have in my possession a music-book bound with his skin.

THE YKIPARÀ

The ykiparà, a species of mole lurking in holes under ground, makes a horrid noise, like the sound of a great drum beat at a distance, which is scarce heard without alarm by strangers. I cannot describe the appearance of this little animal, never having seen, though frequently heard it. I imagine that its voice must sound the louder from being re-echoed by the hollow corners and windings of the earth.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF APES

Were I individually to describe the names, forms, and properties of all the apes which inhabit the North of Paraguay, this subject alone would fill a volume. Those called caraya are the most numerous and the ugliest species. Their hair is tawny, they are full of melancholy, always querulous, always morose, always snappish. As they howl incessantly day and night no one chooses to take them home and tame them. They sit by crowds on trees, and wander about in search of food. When they howl with most pertinacity it is a sign of rain or storms; the sound they utter resembles the creaking of waggons with ungreased wheels, and as hundreds howl in concert, may be heard many leagues off. They are of a middle size.

THE CÀYÍ

The little apes called càyí are scarce a span long, when full grown; they are merry, playful, and, if tamed young, extremely docile. But they can seldom be allowed to walk up and down the house at large, for, wanting to touch and taste every thing, they throw down ink-stands and other vessels, spill liquors, tear books, and break every thing made of glass. They put their fingers into boxes, lamps, and jugs, smell them, and dirt the table and people's clothes. They steal every thing fit to eat that they can lay hands on. They are, therefore, tied with a long slender cord in such a manner that they may be able to go up and down. We had a little ape of this kind in the town of St. Joachim, which readily unclasped the men's spurs when they returned from riding. I have seen others take a journey seated on the back of a dog, and by mimicking the actions of men, like buffoons, excite both anger and ridicule. It is, therefore, no wonder that apes of this kind should be prized both by Indians and Europeans, and bought at a high price. Potatoes are their daily fare, but they also feed sometimes on flesh, bread, or any thing made of flour. Great care must be taken not to give them too large a portion, otherwise they will eat till they burst. In the woods, when quite young, they are carried about on the backs of their mothers, round whose necks they put their arms, like infants, and in this manner are borne along the boughs of trees, wherever there is any chance of finding food. An Indian, therefore, who wants a live ape, kills the mother with an arrow, and the little one never suffers itself to be torn from her without howling. I will tell you something still more surprizing, and which seems almost incredible. The Guaranies sometimes remain in the woods four days together, employed in hunting wild beasts. Having killed a number of apes, they consume part of them on the journey, and roasting the rest to prevent their growing putrid from the heat of the sun, carry them to the town to be eaten at home. The little apes, which are kept alive for diversion, know their mothers when roasted and blacker than a coal, and adhere so tenaciously to their shoulders, that their running away is not the least to be apprehended. Who does not admire the filial affection of these animals, which, though imitators of mankind in other respects, may certainly be their instructors in this?