WILAT TIIE JAGUARS DID. 149

some neighbouring trees. Such is the thickness of
the forests in these regions that scarcely any ani-
mals are to be found there but such as climb trees,
including various species of the feline genus. Our
fires burning bright, and having by long habit be-
come tranquil respecting dangers, we paid little
attention to the cries of the jaguars. They were at-
tracted by the smell and voice of our dog. This
animal, which was of the mastiff breed, began at first
to bark, and, when the tiger drew nearer, to howl,
hiding himself beneath our hammocks. During
our halts on the banks of the Rio Apure we had
been accustomed to these alternations of courage
and fear in this young animal, which was gentle,
and extremely caressing. How great was our
chagrin when in the morning we learned from the
Indians that the dog had disappeared! There
could be no doubt it had been carried off by the
Jaguars: we were often assured by the inhabitants
of the banks of these rivers that the oldest jaguars,
those that have probably hunted at night for several
years, are sufficiently cunning to carry off animals
from the midst of a halting-place, grasping the
neck so as to prevent their cries. All our researches
were vain; the dog which had accompanied us all
the way from Caraccas, and which had frequently
in swimming escaped the pursuit of the crocodiles,
lad been devoured in the forest. I mention this