234 MULE-HUNTING EXPEDITION. 



I have seen the most wild and vicious horses ren- 

 dered gentle and docile in a minute, by simply 

 laying the lasso on the neck behind the ears. 



The breaking-in is a very simple affair : while 

 the animal is down the eyes are bandaged, and a 

 powerful Spanish bit placed in the mouth. This 

 accomplished, he is allowed to get up, and the 

 saddle is firmly ' synched.' The saddles commonly 

 used in California differs very little from those used 

 in Mexico. The stirrups are cut out from a block 

 of wood, allowing only the point of the toe to 

 be inserted ; they are set far back, and oblige the 

 rider to stand rather, than sit in the saddle. One 

 girth only is used, styled a 'synch,' made of 

 horsehair, and extremly wide; no buckles or 

 stitching is used, but all is fastened with strips 

 of raw hide. Everything being complete, the 

 rider fixes himself firmly in the saddle, and lean- 

 ing forward jerks off the blind; it is now an 

 open question who is to have the best of it. If 

 the man succeeds in sitting on the mustang until 

 he can spur him into a gallop, his wildness is 

 soon taken out of him, and one or two more 

 lessons complete the breaking. 



Joe by this time had made his appearance with 

 the mustangs. Mounting, away we went at a 

 raking gallop ! 



