Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/422



392 TO THE TEBICUARY RIVER.

Tupi " jacare^^ — is said to be largest and fiercest about the Laguua Piris. The red species_, confined to the marshes of the interior^ and known to devour children, is probably the " papo amarello (yellow throat) of the Brazil. When we had collected enough hide to make alligator boots, we soon wearied of blowing off the skullcaps of the big lizards. One full-grown specimen gave us a little excitement : the crew of the captain's gig took it in, and, luckily enough, lashed it tightly by both ends to the thwarts. Presently Jacare began to recover, and soon afterwards he became lively enough, causing much merriment by clapping his fine set of teeth and wagging his tail, which had a raised crest like the eel's.

We then began to operate upon the water-hog, known in the Urazil as capivarha or capibara, and here capincho — not carpincho. Its soft and highly porous leather is a favourite tor the tirador or drawer, a belt universally worn, and best bought at special shops. It is so called because the lasso is held against it to prevent the man's side being cut by the dragging of the hide rope. The next idea was to support the loins when riding, for which purpose it is made six inches broad and even wider. Three pockets with flaps were added, so as to act as purse, portfolio, and cigarette-case. Lastly, came the ornamentation, a compli- cated affair. The usual style is to have front buttons com- posed of the various dollars from Spain to Mexico, and in some cases the leather is hidden by a scale-armour of silver overlapping like the armadillo's. Englishmen sometimes send for plates engraved with their crests — not unlike car- rying about one's card. One man whom you know used, by way of buckle, electrotyped facsimiles of his medals. He was threatened with death at the hand of the Gaucho, who always covets everything new in the shape of accoutrements ; but he was careful to carry his revolver to the fore.