THE WILD HORSE OF SOUTH AMERICA. 39 



the weight of the iron ring at the end of the noose assisting in giving to it, by a 

 continued circular motion, a sufficient force to project it the whole length of the 

 line." 



When the Gauchos wish to have a grand breaking -in, they drive a whole herd 

 of wild horses into the corral : *' The corral was quite full of horses, most of 

 which were young ones about two or three years old. The capitar (chief 

 Gaucho), mounted on a strong steady horse, rode into the corral, and threw his 

 lasso over the neck of a young horse, and dragged him to the gate. For some 

 time he was very unwilling to lose his comrades ; but the moment he was 

 forced out of the corral, his first idea was to gallop away : however a timely 

 jerk of the lasso checked him in the most effectual way. The peons now ran 

 after him on foot, and threw a lasso over his fore-legs just above the fetlock, 

 and twitching it, they pulled his legs from under him so suddenly, that I really 

 thought the fall he got had killed him. In an instant a Gaucho was seated on 

 his head, and with his long knife, in a few seconds, cut off the whole of the 

 horse's mane, while another cut the hair from the end of his tail : this, they 

 told me, was a mark that the horse had been once mounted. They then put a 

 piece of hide into his mouth to serve for a bit, and a strong hide halter on his 

 head. The Gaucho who was to mount arranged his spurs, which were unusually 

 long and sharp *, and while two men held the horse by his ears, he put on the 

 saddle, which he girthed extremely tight. He then caught hold of the horse's 

 ear, and in an instant vaulted into the saddle ; upon which the man who held 

 the horse by the halter threw the end to the rider, and from that moment no 

 one seemed to take any further notice of him. 



" The horse instantly began to jump in a manner which made it very difficult 

 for the rider to keep his seat, and quite different from the kick or plunge of an 

 English horse : however, the Gaucho's spurs soon set him going, and off he 

 galloped, doing everything in his power to throw his rider. 



" Another horse was immediately brought from the corral ; and so quick was 

 the operation, that twelve Gauchos were mounted in a space which I think 

 hardly exceeded an hour. It was wonderful to see the different manner in 

 which different horses behaved. Some would actually scream while the Gau- 

 chos were girding the saddle upon their backs ; some would instantly lie down 

 and roll upon it ; while some would stand without being held, their legs stiff 

 and in unnatural positions, their necks half bent towards their tails, and looking 

 vicious and obstinate : and I could not help thinking that I would not have 

 mounted one of those for any reward that could be offered me, for they were 

 invariably the most difficult to subdue. 



" It was now curious to look around and see the Gauchos on the horizon in 

 different directions, trying to bring their horses back to the corral, which is the 

 most difficult part of their work, for the poor creatures had been so scared there 

 that they were unwilling to return to the place. It was amusing to see the 

 antics of the horses ; they were jumping and dancing in different ways, while 

 the right arm of the Gauchos was seen flogging them. At last they brought 

 the horses back, apparently subdued and broken in. The saddles and bridles 

 were taken off, and the young horses trotted off towards the corral, neighing to 

 one another 1* ." 



* The manufacture of the Gaucho's boots is texture and appearance. The ham forms th 



somewhat singular: "Theboots of the Gauchos calf of the boot; the hock easily adopts itsell 



are formed of the ham and part of the leg-skiu to the heel, and the leg above the fetlock con- 



of a colt taken reeking from the mother, which stitutes the foot; the whole making a neat 



is said to be sacrificed for the sole purpose, just and elegant half-boot, with an aperture suffi- 



at the time of bearing, when the hair has not cient for the great toe to project through." 



begun to grow. At this stage, the skin strips Andrews's Journey in South America^ 



off easily, and is very white and beautiful in vol. i. p. 26. 



f Head's Journey across the Pampas, p. 258, 



