836 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



groups is especially curious in the more populous regions, as the south- 

 ern part of Rio Grande or Montevideo, where herds may be seen al- 

 most in contact without mixing, coming together and making them- 

 selves up generally without trouble ; and they live thus side by side 

 for years without becoming acquainted with each other. Each herd 

 is so coherent that, when one of its members takes fright and runs 

 away, all will follow it. In consequence of this habit, it is very diffi- 

 cult, when cattle are sold, to separate them from the herds and to get 

 them along for the first few leagues. If they are not watched, they 

 will escape, pass by thousands of other animals without noticing them, 

 and join their companions again. They cease, however, to seek to go 

 back after they have been driven to a considerable distance. 



The cattle in these herds also 2)ropagate in freedom. Traveling in 

 Parana at a time when the pasturage was excellent and the cattle were 

 in good condition, in January, I saw numerous vigorous bulls living 

 as peacefully as could be with the cows. 



The care given by man to the cattle enjoying this freedom of life 

 and procreation, although very restricted, is greater than has been 

 represented. A rodeo, or gathering of the different herds at a single 

 point, is held at determined periods, both in Parana and the Oriental 

 Republic. The assemblage may take place near the buildings in an 

 estancia of moderate size, often in an inclosed space of suitable capaci- 

 ty called the mangueira. In extensive estancias having numerous 

 herds, as it would be almost impossible to collect ten or twenty thou- 

 sand head at a single j^oint, several rodeos are made in different parts 

 of the campo, always at the same points. In other estancias, notably 

 in Parana, one or two grand rodeos a year are made at the mangueira, 

 and several smaller rodeos at less intervals. The task of driving the 

 cattle up to the rodeo is not a har^ one. The beasts stagger along, 

 and go in a mass toward the habitual point of gathering, generally 

 with the bulls at their head The assemblies are kept up for a greater 

 or less length of time, and the peons circulate around the herd, shout- 

 ing sa as to accustom the animals to the presence of man, and to the 

 custom of coming up. The rodeo gives an ojDportunity to judge of the 

 condition of the flocks, when and what proportion of them may be 

 ready for sale ; to practice treatment or different operations ; to give 

 the stock salt in Parana, and medical attention in other regions ; to 

 mark them and castrate them. Each estancia has its particular mark 

 often several marks ; for in many estancias all the children have their 

 share of the cattle, and, as the slaves also are sometimes allowed to own 

 stock, confusion would result if means were not taken to prevent it. 



The intervention of man is also illustrated in the efforts at cross- 

 breeding. I was surprised at the manner in which this is attempted 

 in South America. Everybody wants to acclimatize the races of Eu- 

 rope, and to improve the meat and fattening qualities of the stock ; 

 and, to this end, thorough-bred bulls (Herefords, and especially Dur- 



