44 MALDONADO. [CHAP. in. 



the fatal lazo, they *ed the horses a long and laborious chase. 

 After witnessing the rude wealth displayed in the number of 

 cattle, men, and horses, Don Juan's miserable house was quite 

 curious. The floor consisted of hardened mud, and the windows 

 were without glass ; the sitting-room boasted only of a few of 

 the roughest chairs and stools, with a couple of tables. The 

 supper, although several strangers were present, consisted of two 

 huge piles, one of roast beef, the other of boiled, with some 

 pieces of pumpkin : besides this latter there was no other vege- 

 table, and not even a morsel of bread. For drinking, a large 

 earthenware jug of water served the whole party. Yet this man 

 was the owner of several square miles of land, of which nearly 

 every acre would produce corn, and, with a little trouble, all the 

 common vegetables. The evening was spent in smoking, with a 

 little impromptu singing, accompanied by the guitar. The sig- 

 noritas all sat together in one corner of the room, and did not 

 sup with the men. 



So many works have been written about these countries, that 

 it is almost superfluous to describe either the lazo or the bolas. 

 The lazo consists of a very strong, but thin, well-plaited rope, 

 made of raw hide. One end is attached to the broad surcingle, 

 which fastens together the complicated gear of the recado, or 

 saddle used in the Pampas ; the other is terminated by a small 

 ring of iron or brass, by which a noose can be formed. The 

 Gaucho, when he is going to use the lazo, keeps a small coil in 

 his bridle-hand, and in the other holds the running noose, which 

 is made very large, generally having a diameter of about eight 

 feet. This he whirls round his head, and by the dexterous move- 

 ment of his wrist keeps the noose open ; then, throwing it, he 

 causes it to fall on any particular spot he chooses. The lazo, 

 when not used, is tied up in a small coil to the after part of the 

 recado. The bolas, or balls, are of two kinds : the simplest, 

 which is chiefly used for catching ostriches, consists of two 

 round stones, covered with leather, and united by a thin plaited 

 thong, about eight feet long. The other kind differs only in 

 having three balls united by the thongs to a common centre. 

 The Gaucho holds the smallest of the three in his hand, and 

 whirls the other two round and round his head ; then, taking 

 aim, sends them like chain shot revolving through the air. The 



