A VISIT TO THE COUNTRY. 



line. Then commences the sport. Kegardless of the inclination of the surface or its broken 

 character, a dozen horsemen make after him at the top of their speed, whirling their lassos at 

 the horns or heels of the flying fugitive the moment that they come within reach. Karely does 

 a skilful guaso miss his aim, and the wild brute, terrified by the presence of so many" men and 

 by the pinching of the thongs about his head, will start furiously down the hill, not unfre- 

 quently dragging horse and rider at a pace frightful to witness. But no sooner do they reach 

 the plain, where the speed of the horse is greater, than the rider suddenly wheels, and by the 

 quick tightening of the lasso the bull is thrown to his back, thoroughly subdued by the unex- 

 pected and violent shock. 



An English gentleman, owning an estate here, told me that on one occasion himself and 

 a party of friends were witnesses to a most exciting race of this kind. In order to obtain a good 

 view they took a position near the mouth of a ravine by which the herd must pass, and had 

 not been long there when they saw a solitary guaso coming down the hill at the top of his 

 horse's speed, his lasso fast to a heavy bull some five or six years old. Every leap of the ani- 

 mals made the fire fly, and the loose stones followed behind in a stream. At a hundred 

 yards from the spectators on the plain a large tree stood, with arms growing at right angles to 

 its trunk near the ground, for which, to their horror, the animal made a dash the moment that 

 he saw them. Onward he went desperately, never swerving an inch from a straight line, and 

 it was evident to the lookers-on that the space was too short for the rider to gain the ground 

 necessary to wheel his horse upon. To escape death seemed impossible for him. The heavy, 

 outstretched arms were apparently too near the ground for passage beneath them ; and to shouts 

 of " Cut your lasso," they could only gather that his knife had already fallen in an attempt to 

 do so. Intensely thrilling were the few seconds that elapsed after he passed them ; but whilst 

 their hearts throbbed painfully, just at the only spot where life could be saved he threw himself 

 along the side of his horse, leaving but the left ankle across the saddle, and holding by the 

 neck with his left arm. In a twinkling more he was careering safely across the plain amid 

 cordial cheers from the whole party, and in less than five minutes the big bull was rolling 

 amid a cloud of dust. When he returned with the captive soon after, it was found that the 

 horse, with the saddle fixtures adjusted, could not stand under the bough beneath which he had 

 passed, and there was sufficient diminution of height to accomplish it only when stretched in a 

 full run ! To relate all the feats which it is said an expert rider can perform would fill many 

 pages. I have often seen them pick up their hats while going at a quick gallop, and have no 

 reason to doubt that for a trifle they will permit you to draw a rope across the road suddenly, 

 and whilst they are at a rapid run their horses falling, but themselves alighting on their feet 

 bridle in hand ! It is related, too, that the daughter of the late Buenos Ayrean Dictator had 

 no hesitation in attempting this equestrian feat. 



Towards four o'clock we were notified that the cattle were coming down, and mounting ready- 

 saddled horses awaiting us, half an hour of sharp riding through the fields brought us to a 

 knoll, from which we could overlook everything near the mouth of the ravine. For some 

 time afterwards we could only distinguish the moving specks by their contrasts in color with the 

 foliage and hill-sides, and scarcely hear shouts echoing from side to side of the ravine when the 

 calm air permitted them to reach the ear. But each moment rendered individuals more definite, 

 and in an hour nearly a thousand heads were hurrying past us. Many of them, for the first time 

 looking on the bipeds by whose will they were controlled, came in disordered groups, startled 

 and terrified by the constant cries of the drivers. Beautiful creatures they were, too; of bright 

 colors all, gracefully formed and not too fat, yet sleek as though each had its groom fit sub- 

 jects for pictures ! Ouj horses had been so accustomed to participate in the rodeos, that 

 when the herd came in sight it was difficult to keep them from taking a place in the line, and 

 the air resounded with cheers and shouts from every side as the guasos urged the animals 

 downward. 



The separation began at daylight next morning. For this purpose there were four cor- 



