New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31

st;ne.eIv kept avay Finally the moon came up. aud
by and by rose above the trees-and stlll tapr
Nv seat on the tree became uncomfortable, and
instituted COMPARISON between tapir and manitus
hunting largely to the advantage of the Ia ter and
finally, when Antonio whispered he Il coming !"
felt a wlful disposition 10 contradict him. But my
ear meanwhile, caught the same duh sound which
had arrested my attention in the morning. aud few
moments afterwlrd could make out tue beast in the
dim light driving at the same swinging trot Right
on be came needless and kcadiong. Crash - crash :
There was a plunge and struggle, and a crushing
ana trampling Of branches. then Q dull sound OF the
heavy beast striking against the uIyledlng trunks OF
the fallen trees. lie Wa no fairly stopped, a1d with
shout nv companions drove cosn upon him with
their lances which rang out sharp metallic sound
when they struck his thick, hard hide. IL was an
exciting moment, aud my esgerness overcoming my
prudence, slipped down the tree aud joined IN the
attack. Blow upon blow Of the aoces, and could
feel that m1e struck deeply into the feshit seemed
to ne into the very yitals Of the animal But the
strokes only appeared TO give him new strength and
gathering back be drove again full upon the opposing
tree bearing # down before him. bad Just leapei
on The trunk the better 70 aim my lance, aud went
down with il hesdloBg almost under the feet q tie
struggling aLimal one tramp OF whose feet would
have crushed me like a worm. could have touched
him with nv arm be was so near heard the alasmed
shrek Of Antonio when be saw me fall but IN an
instant he eaped TO my side, aud shortening his lance
drove il with desperate force clean through the animal
bringing him to his knees. This done. be grapplet
me as be might i.fant and before was aware Of
II had dragged me CT hr OF the lhIien umbct. Inc
blow Of Antonio proved fatal; The tapir EEL over on
his side and in a feg moments Eas quite dead.
The Power boy was dispatched 20 the camp for fire
and pine spliuts, which stuck in the ground around
the ta,ir answered for torches. BY their light my
comparions proceeded 10 Gu up the spoil-a tedious
operaiion-which occupied them until daylight did
not wait bur went back 20 my hammock, leaving
them to fuish their work undisturOed by ny ques-
tors. ,
When I awOke in the morning found Antonio had
the taprs head baking In the ground, whence rose
bot but fragrant steam. II proved 10 be very good
eating as did also the feet and the ne but the tesh
of the animal in eeDral abominabiy cOarse and
nsivid, although my companions seemed to relish 1t
greey. found il, ike that of the manitus, exceed
inely laxative.
Some idea may be formed Of the taprs ienaciy Of
lie when say that counted upward Of thirty lance
hrusts in the body of the one we killed, none OF
which were less than six inches deep and nearly all
penetrating into the cavity of the body 1t rarely
happens therefore that the animal is killed by the
individual hunter The hide If quite 4s thick and |
think harder than thst of the manius, which, when
dried it ClOsely resembles.
In spite of the reckless, rolicking spirit
which animates the narrative, the writer shows
great keenDess of observation and a sturdy com
mon sense, which no affe station of gayety can
disguise. His book abounds in important con-
t,ibutions to the Geography aud Natural History
az well as the customs and manners OF that pOr-
tiOn Of Central America 10 which il is devoted,
and Will be read widely for information as well
as amusement.