An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)Dobrizhoffer, Martin
History
An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)
Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Abipon Indians; Jesuits -- Missions; Paraguay -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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