HO BANDA ORIENTAL. [CHAP. vin. 



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 re- 

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

 with a look of great surprise, " Ah, Don Carlos, que cosa 1 " 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 him- 

 self. I recollect seeing a Gaucho riding a very stubborn horse, which 

 three times successively 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 

 at last they started at a gallop. The Gaucho never appears to exert 

 any muscular force. I was one day watching a good rider, as we were 

 galloping along at a rapid pace, and thought to myself, " Surely if the 

 horse starts, you appear so careless on your seat, you must fall." At 

 this moment, a male ostrich sprang from its nest right beneath the 

 horse's nose : the young colt bounded on one side like a stag ; but as 

 for the man, all that could be said was, that he started and took fright 

 with his horse. 



In Chile and Peru more pains are taken with the mouth of the horse 

 than in La Plata, and this is evidently a consequence of the more intricate 

 nature of the country. In Chile a horse is not considered perfectly 

 broken, till he can be brought up standing, in the midst of his full speed, 

 on any particular spot, for instance, on a cloak thrown on the ground : 

 or, again, he will charge a wall, and rearing, scrape the surface with 

 his hoofs. I have seen an animal bounding with spirit, yet merely 

 reined by a fore-finger and thumb, taken at full gallop across a court- 

 yard, and then made to wheel round the post of a veranda with great 

 speed, but at 'so equal a distance, that the rider, with outstretched arm, 

 all the while kept one finger rubbing the post. Then making a demi- 

 volte in the air, with the other arm outstretched in a like manner, he 

 wheeled round, with astonishing force, in an opposite direction. 



Such a horse is well broken ; and although this at first may appear 



