Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-09

The chance now came to try them. We were
steamng between long stretches of coarse
grass, about three feet high, when we spied
from the deck black object, very conspicuous
against the vivid green 1t was a giant ant
eater, or tamandua bandeira, one of the most
extraordinary creatures of the latter-day
world
The Giant Anteater.
1t is about the size of rather small black
bear. 1t has very long, narrow, toothless
snout, with tongue it can project a couple
of feet; it is covered with coarse, black hair,
save for couple of white stripes; it has
long bushy tail and very powerful claws on its
fore feer. 1t walks the sides of its fore
feet witt. these claws curved in under the foot
The claws are used in digging out anthills;
but the beast has courage, and in a grapple is
a rather unpleasant enemy in spite of its
toothless mouth, for it can strike formidable
blow with these claws. 1t sometimes hugs n
foe, gripping him tight; but its ordinary
method of defending itself is to strike with its
long, stout curved claws, which, driven by
its muscular forearm, can rip open man or
beast
Several of our companions had had dogs
killed by these anteaters; and we came across
enc man with very ugly scar down his back,
where he Lad been hit by one, which charged
him when he came up to kill it at close quar-
tors.
AS soon as we saw the giant tamandua we
pushed off iii a rowboat, and landed only a
couple of hundred yards distant from our
clumsy quarry
The tamandua throughout most of its hab-
itat rarely leaves the forest, and it is a help
less animal in the open plain. The two dogs
ran ahead followed by Colonel Rondon and
Kermit. with me behind carrying the rife In
minute or two the hounds overlook the can
tering, shutting creature, and promptly began
fight with it; the combatants were so mixed
up that l had to wait another minute or so
before l could fire without risk of hitting a
dog. We carried our prize back to the bank
and hoisted it aboard the steamer The sun
was just about to set, behind dim mountains
many miles distant across the marsh.
A Night With the Cowboys
Soon afterward we reached one of the sta
tons Of the huge ranch we were about to visit.
and hauled up alongside the bank for the night.
There was a landing place, and sheds and cor
rails. Several of the poems or gauchos had
come to meet us. After dark they kndled
fires, and sat beside them singing songs in a .
strange minor key and strumning guitars.
The red freight hickered over their wild fig
ures as they squatted away from the blaze,
where the light and the shadow met
1t was still and hot There were mosquitoes,
of course and other insects of all kinds
swarmed round every light but the steamboat
was comfortable, and we passed a pleasant
night
AT sunrise we were off for the "fazenda."
the ranch of M. de Barros
The baggage went in an OK cart-which
had RI r77olra +r;o Ill r L.
longings reached the ranch day later than
l did. We rode small, tough ranch horses
The distance was some 20 miles The whole
country was marsh, varied by stretches of
higher ground; and although they rose only
three or four feet above the marsh, they were
covered with thick jungle, largely palmetto
scrub or else with open palm forest. For
three or four miles we splashtd through the
marsh, now and then crossing Doggy pools
where the little horses labored hard not to
mire down.
Our dusky guide was clad in a shirt, trous-
ers and fringed leather apron, and wore spurs
on his bare feet; he had rope for bride,
and two or three toes of each foot were thrust
into little iron stirrups
The Birds Banquet.
The pools in the marsh were drying. They
were filled with fish, most of them dead or
dying; and the birds had gathered to the ban
quet The most notable dinner guests were
the great jabiru storks the stately creatures
dotted the marsh. But ibis and herons
abounded; the former uttered queer, quer-
ufous cries when they discovered our pres
ence.
The spurred lapwings were as noisy as they
always are. The ibis and plover did not pay
any heed to the fish, but the black carrion vul-
lures Toasted on them in the r1ud and in the