USE OF THE LASSO AND BOLAS. 105 



the kelp g-oose^ which has a very rank taste, derived 

 from its feeding" chiefly upon the filmy sea-weeds 

 covering" the tidal rocks, the upland g'oose is ex- 

 cellent eating-^ and formed a welcome addition to 

 our fare on board. Loa'o-erheads and other ducks, 

 cormorants, and g'rebes, were swimming- about 

 among- the beds of kelp, and oyster-catchers of 

 two kinds, g-ulls, kelp g-eese, and mau}^ other birds 

 frequented the shores. 



Meanwhile one of the g-auchos rode over from 

 Capt. Sulivan's establishment on the main by a ford 

 passable at low water, and was sent back for a com- 

 panion to assist him in catching- the cattle. He 

 was an old weather-beaten half-bred Pampas Indian 

 of the name of Escalante, whose capability of 

 enduring- fatig'ue and privations of every kind were 

 described as being- remarkable even in a g-aucho. 

 At leng"th the cattle were collected and driven up, 

 and althoug-h eig-ht hundred out of those composing- 

 the herd had been reclaimed only three months, yet 

 the whole were easily manag-ed by the two men on 

 horseback, who rounded them in without difficulty 

 upon the summit of a low hill close to the slaug-hter- 

 ing- place. A fine dun heifer four 3'ears old was 

 the first selected ; it was detached from the herd 

 after some trouble, and pursued by both g-auchos 

 who, throwing; off their ponchos, untwisted the bolas 

 from round the waist, and, after swing-ing- them 

 round the head several times, threw them in succes- 

 sion at the beast's hind leg's but without taking 



