Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-04-19
NorE.-sLooD HOUNDS.


The .f3Nozving is the mode otreoyfng blood,
hounds in Sc. Domingo, and the manner
OF exercising them by Chasseurs
Ibe moment the blood hounds are taken
from the dam they are confined in kennels,
with IRON bars in front, like the dens used
by show men, for combining wild beasts,
where they are sparingly fed on blood and
entraiis of animals. AS they grow up their
keepers frequently expose in front of their
cage a figure resembling a negro, male and
female, and of the same color and dress,
the body of which contains the blood and
entrails OF beasts, which being occasionally
suffered to Sush out, the figure attracts the
attention OF the dogs as the source If their
1000. They are then gradually reduced in
their meals till they are almost famished,
whiie the image IS frequently exposed to
their view; when they struggle with re-
doubled ferocity against their prey, the
image Is brought nearer at intervals. till at
last AZ is abandoned to their hunger, and
beng OF wicker work, ia in an instant torn
to pieces, and thus they arrive at copious
meal. While they gorge themselves with
TINS the keeper and ms colleagues caress
and encourage them BY this execrable ar
tihce the white people ingratiate themselves
with the dogs, and teach them to regard a
negro as their proper prey.--Ass DON as tn G
young dogs are thus initiated, they are ia
ken out to be exercised Oh living objects,
and are trained with great care, till they
arrive at the necessary nicely and exact
ness in the pursuit of the poor wretches
whom they are doomed to destroy. The
common use of these dogs in the Spanish
islands was in the chase for run away ne
groes IN the mountains.-When once thew
got scent Of the object, they speedily ran
him down and IevonpaI h;,,, r.
could evadc the pursuit by climbing a tree,
IN which case the dogs remained at the foot
OF the tree yelPmg IN the m ost horrid man.
ner till their keepers arrived. 1t the VIC
tim was to be preserved for public exhi-
bition or a cruel punishment, the dogs were
then muzzied and the prisoner loaded with
caans.--On ms neck was placed a collar
with spikes inward and hooks outward
the latter for the purpose of intangling him
III the bushes if he should attempt to cs-
cape. 1T the unhappy wretch proceeded
laser than his guard, it was construed in
to an attempt to run from them, and he was
gwen up tn the dogs, who instantly deyour-
ed him. Not seldom on journey of consi-
derab!e length, these causes we're ieigned
by their keepers to relieve them from their
prisoners and the inhuman monster, who
perpetrated the act, received a reward of
o'S' ''~ So'o'J oIt milking oaIn
OF his having destroyed his fellow creature
The keepers in general acquire an absolute
command over these dogs but while the
French army used them in their late wcr
against st. Domingo, while they had pos
session OF the Cape, the dogs frequently
broke loose In that neighborhood and chill
dren were devoured in the public way and
sometimes they surprised harmless fami-
iy OF laborers (wlIo had submitted and fur
nished themselves with necessaries) at their
simple meal, tore the babe from the breast
OF its mother, and involved the whole par
ty in one common and cruel death and re-
turned when gorged, with their horrid Jaws
drenched in human blood. Even the de-
fenceiess huts of the snegroes have been
broken into by these dreadful animals and
the sleeping inhabitants have shared the
like fate.