of the Llanos--rising to the height of one hundred feet above the
plain, sprout forth in rich luxuriance.

Animal life, too, wakes up. The savage alligator and the huge anaconda
crawl forth from the bed of clay in which they have passed their summer
sleep, in search of prey; ibises, cranes, flamingoes, and numberless
water-fowl, swarm on the newly-formed pools; the cattle of the Llaneros
luxuriate in the abundant grasses which everywhere appear; while
multitudes of insects crawl forth, seeking refuge from the flood in the
higher grounds. The swollen rivers now inundate the plains, and the
spots where the cattle wandered in vain to quench their thirst can now
be passed for miles together by boats; and alligators lie in wait to
seize in their savage jaws the horses and oxen compelled to swim across
the flooded land in search of pasture.

THE LLANEROS.

Sterile as the Llanos appear during the dry season, numerous
cattle-farms exist, scattered widely over large portions. The Llaneros,
as the inhabitants are called--descendants of the white settlers, with
an admixture of Indians and blacks--are a hardy, bold race, living
almost entirely on horseback, engaged in watching over their herds, and
in battling with the spotted jaguar, the savage cayman, the huge boa and
anaconda, and occasionally the fierce natives of the surrounding
deserts. Often, too, they have to struggle for their lives against the
sudden inroads of the vast inundations which sweep off their herds and
frail habitations. Armed with their unerring lasso and garrocha, or
sharp lance, blunderbuss and sword, they fear no foes. These lances,
formed of the tough stem of a small palm, are weapons of no slight
importance to them. They are sharpened to a point at one end, and
hardened in the fire, or sometimes have an iron head. Round the point a
number of loose metal rings are secured, which when shaken produce a
loud rattling sound.

See a band of these hardy horsemen in chase of the wild cattle which
roam at large over the plains. In bands of six or ten, they form a
circle of fifteen miles or so in circumference--bivouacking during the
previous night at their respective stations. At early dawn they mount
their horses; and now, shouting and shrieking, with their lasso coiled
before them on their saddle, and their garrocha in their hand, whirled
round and round, they advance, closing in towards the centre of the
circle, and driving before them all the an