THE RODEO OF THE LLANOS. 183 



in question, hastening or checking their progress through 

 the herd as the case demanded. Thus, by repeated evolu- 

 tions of the sort, they finally brought the animals to the 

 edge of the ring, where an opening was purposely left for 

 their escape, and then the nearest horseman drove them in 

 among a small band of tame cattle stationed a short 

 distance from the rodeo. These violent, manoeuvrings 

 could not be accomplished, however, without endangering 

 at every step the security of the entire herd. 



11. Each time the drivers turned out an animal, the 

 whole mass was thrown into the utmost confusion, and it 

 required the most consummate skill on the part of the 

 men to prevent the entire dispersion of the cattle. The 

 fearlessness with which the drivers plunged into the laby- 

 rinth of savage, panting brutes, advancing close upon the 

 wall of bristling horns, which barred their progress, and 

 boldly driving the infuriated creatures before them like 

 a pack of sheep, was truly worthy of admiration. The 

 readiness with which they detected at a distance the mark 

 on the animals' ears was also no less noticeable, singling 

 out such at a glance, and immediately driving them away 

 to their respective groups. When all the brands had been 

 thus apportioned, each owner proceeded to drive away his 

 own herd. 



12. We found in these cases, as indeed in all similar 

 ones, the assistance of madrineros, or trained oxen, of 

 great service in driving a large body of cattle across the 

 plains. But one of the most dangerous parts of the pro- 

 ceedings yet remained, that of forcing the cattle into the 

 corrals. The entrance to the corral, shaped like a great 

 funnel, was, like the rest of the fences, made of very strong 

 posts, driven into the ground, and barred across at inter- 

 vals with thick rafters of bamboo. Through this funnel, 

 the cattle in small lots were driven at full speed, headed 



