12 Hunting Trips of a Ranchman 



use of the rope they are only excelled by the Mex- 

 icans. On the other hand, they are prone to drink, 

 and when drunk, to shoot. Many Kansans, and 

 others from the Northern States, have also taken 

 up the life of late years, and though these scarcely 

 reach, in point of skill and dash, the standard of the 

 Southerners, who may be said to be born in the 

 saddle, yet they are to the full as resolute and even 

 more trustworthy. My own foremen were originally 

 Eastern backwoodsmen. 



The cowboy's dress is both picturesque and ser- 

 viceable, and, like many of the terms of his pursuit, 

 is partly of Hispano-Mexican origin. It consists 

 of a broad felt hat, a flannel shirt, with a bright silk 

 handkerchief loosely knotted round the neck, trou- 

 sers tucked into high-heeled boots, and a pair of 

 leather "chaps" (chaperajos) or heavy riding over- 

 alls. Great spurs and a large-calibre revolver com- 

 plete the costume. For horse gear there is a cruel 

 curb bit, and a very strong, heavy saddle with high 

 pommel and cantle. This saddle seems needlessly 

 weighty, but the work is so rough as to make 

 strength the first requisite. A small pack is usually 

 carried behind it; also saddle pockets, or small sad- 

 dle-bags ; and there are leather strings wherewith to 

 fasten the loops of the rawhide lariat. The pom- 

 mel has to be stout, as one end of the lariat is twisted 

 round it when work is to be done, and the strain 

 upon it is tremendous when a vigorous steer has 

 been roped, or when, as is often the case, a wagon 

 gets stuck and the team has to be helped out by 



