152 BAND A ORIENTAL. [CHAP. TIII. 



moment that he throws his leg over the animal's back, he pulls 

 the slip-knot binding the front legs, and the beast is free. Some 

 " domidors" pull the knot while the animal is lying on the 

 ground, and, standing over the saddle, allow him to rise beneath 

 them. The horse, wild with dread, gives a few most violent 

 bounds, and then starts off at full gallop : when quite exhausted, 

 the man, by patience, brings him back to the corral, where, 

 reeking hot and scarcely alive, the poor beast is let free. Those 

 animals which will not gallop away, but obstinately throw them- 

 selves on the ground, are by far the most troublesome. This 

 process is tremendously severe, but in two or three trials the 

 horse is tamed. It is not, however, for some weeks that the 

 animal is ridden with the iron bit and solid ring, for it must 

 learn to associate the will of its rider with the feel of the rein, 

 before the most powerful bridle can be of any service. 



Animals are so abundant in these countries, that humanity and 

 self-interest are not closely united ; therefore I fear it is that the 

 former is here scarcely known. One day, riding in the Pampas 

 with a very respectable " Estanciero," my horse, being tired, 

 lagged behind. The man often shouted to me to spur him. 

 When I remonstrated that it was a pity, for the horse was quite 

 exhausted, he cried out, " Why not ? never mind spur him 

 it is my horse." I had then some difficulty in making him 

 comprehend that it was for the horse's sake, and not on his ac- 

 count, that I did not choose to use my spurs. He" exclaimed, 

 with a look of great surprise, " Ah, Don Carlos, que cosa !" It 

 was clear that such an idea had never before entered his head. 



The Gauchos are well known to be perfect riders. The idea 

 of being thrown, let the horse do what it likes, never enters their 

 head. Their criterion of a good rider is, a man who can manage 

 an untamed colt, or who, if his horse falls, alights on his own 

 feet, or can perform other such exploits. I have heard of a man 

 betting that he would throw his horse down twenty times, and 

 that nineteen times he would not fall himself. I recollect seeing 

 a Gaucho riding a very stubborn horse, which three times suc- 

 cessively reared so high as to fall backwards with great violence. 

 The man judged with uncommon coolness the proper moment 

 for slipping off, not an instant before or after the right time ; 

 and as soon as the horse got up, the man jumped on his back, and 



