make the water rise high enough, the natural syphon drains it off the other way, and the only water that can run through the ordinary vent, comes during the intervals between the emptying and filling of the hollow. If the cavern is fed with water by the runners E E E (see cut,) and these, from the drought, are not sufficient

to raise its level as high as I K, the syphon outlet F B cannot act at all; but the stream H will flow constantly. If the runners, during the wet weather, fill the cavern up to the level I K, the syphon outlet will act, and drain off the water, which may escape by various small rills at B; if this outlet begins below the level of the common outlet, suppo ing it to be at H'.

instead of H, it will carry off the water, while none can escape through H; and if it carries off as much as the runners E E E pour in, the water will not rise as high as H', and none will flow through it, until the cavern is drained, and it is filled again as high as the point H'.

OX-CHASE IN BRAZIL. ́·

This hazardous sport is common in Brazil, where it is called, Throwing the Lasso. The most spirited description of its enterprise is found in Mr. Luccock's valuable "Notes on Brazil.”

"After a ride of three or four miles on a large open plain, (says Mr. L.) we found about four hundred head of cattle. We rode gently round to bring them into a more compact body, and made the animal which was to be chased distinctly known to every individual of the party. Our settled object was to drive him to the house; and to render the sport as complete as possible, the lasso was not

* "The lasso is made of narrow thongs, plaited in the same way as the bridles, and is about 7 or 8 yards long. One end of it is firmly fixed to the hinder part of the saddle, generally on the right side: at the other end is an iron ring, about two inches in diameter. The horseman about to use the lasso forms a sort of running noose by passing a portion of it through the ring; this is taken in the right hand, so as that the ring may be at the opposite part of the circle; the noose is then swung with care over the head, until the extreme part of it, including the ring, acquires a considerable momentum. The instrument thus prepared, as the man advances towards his selected victim, is in due time discharged, carries off the remainder of the string, which before hung loosely in coils on the fingers of the left hand, and seldom fails to entangle the beast. A well-trained horse, though at full speed when the lasso is thrown, instantly stops, and turning round, pulls against the animal, which is now attached to him. The balls are three in number, round, and nearly three inches in diameter. The external part of each is a sort of purse made of hide, rendered pliable by soaking: the purse is filled with sand, and the aperture drawn close. In drying, the leather contracts, and the whole becomes as hard as a stone. To each ball a string is attached three or four feet long, made of plaited thongs, like the lasso; and

to be used until there appeared a probability that he would otherwise escape. Some of the people then dashed into the midst of the herd, attentively observing the selected animal. One half of the oxen were thus driven at once from the spot, and others which chose to do so were permitted to follow without molestation; but wherever the victim turned, a horseman met him and stopped his career. The work was easy until the remaining group was reduced to about twenty, which then made violent attempts to rejoin their comrades, and fiercely attacked the huntsmen who intercepted them.. In a short time, four of them being hard pressed, plunged into some watery ground about two miles from the house, and among them was the object of the chase. When driven from the water, this small number were anore harassed than before, and perceiving their danger, exerted themselves with redoubled violence. Sometimes we were obliged to ride hard; and great coolness, and address were necessary to prevent their escape behind us, and into a wood, which we were now approachang. In this last respect our efforts were vain, they gained this refuge, and we could no longer act in concert. The wood was full of thick bushes of myrtle, and many trees spread their arms horizontally seven or eight feet from the ground. It was matter of high gratification as well as wonder, to observe how our huntsmen rounded the bushes, and bent under the branches, so as sometimes to hang on the side of their horses. Though unable to follow, I soon encountered our chief, who had made an

the three strings are united by a knot, at two feet distance from the balls. This may be called the handle of the instrument; for the person using it takes the knot in his right hand, and having given it the necessary velocity, by swinging it over his head with all his might, throws it at the legs of the horse or ox which he wishes to secure. In their pro gress, the balls spread to the utmost distance which the strings will allow, and, reaching the leg, generally pass round it; and though, perhaps, only slightly entangling the animal, sufficiently impede its flight." The custom was derived from the Maraocato and other Indian tribes, who used the lasso and balls with great effect against Mendoza, when he landed, and founded the city of Buenos Ayres.

unsuccessful cast with his lasso, and was disentangling it from the branches of a tree. I shall never forget the

ardour and rapidity with which he afterward darted and wheeled among the trees, nor lose the conviction fixed upon my mind, what execution such men, so trained, must be capable of in a country like this. My musings were soon interrupted by reaching the beach, and seeing at a distance our young hero, with his ox securely attached to his horse by the lasso, and leading the captive toward the house. The instrument had gone round his horns, and was fixed close to the crown of his head. The animal thus entangled advanced with the most malicious vexation, and made many ferocious efforts to gore the horse which had before pursued and now led him; but the wary creature, which had often before been yoked to an unnatural and violent mate, kept his eye upon the ox, and pulled at the lasso so as to keep it always on the stretch, and himself two springs in advance. In his precautions he was greatly assisted by his rider, who with equal care watched the maddening spirit of the beast, and gave signals to the horse. Convinced at length that his attempts to gore his leader were vain, the ox became sullen, and was partly dragged onward. While he was in this mood, the horse passed to the right of a detached bush, and the ox by a sudden spring got nearly abreast of him on the left: thus the lasso was brought over his back, and he was enabled to employ his utmost might to draw the horse round the bush; the horse also used all his power to counteract this manoeuvre; and thus the great strength of the lasso was proved. By this time the whole party was again collected, and another lasso applied to assist in conduct, ing the captive, which, seemingly conscious that he was completely subdued, walked along quietly. A boat had just reached the beach; and the people were still on board, when the treacherous animal, as soon as he came near enough, made an unexpected attack, and caused them to tumble one over another into the water, to the great amusement of the spectators.

"Returning to the hut after a chase of three hours,