WILD BREEDS. 7 



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

 the saddle, wliich he girthed extremely tight. He then cauglit hold of the 

 horse's ear, and in an instant vaulted into the saddle ; upon whicii 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 veiy 

 difficult for the rider to keep his seat, and quite ditferent 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 whicii I 

 think hardly exceeded an hour. It was wonderful to see the ditlerent 

 manner in which difFerent horses behaved. Some would actually scream 

 while the Gauchos 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 stifT, 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 anuising 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. "f 



When the Gaucho wishes to take a wild horse, he mounts one that has been 

 used to the sport, and gallops over the plain. As soon as he comes suffi- 

 ciently near his prey, "the lasso is thrown round the two hind legs and as 

 the Gaucho rides a little on one side, the jerk pulls the entangled horse's 

 feet laterally, so as to throw him on his side, without endangering his knees 

 or his face. Before the horse can recover the shock, the rider dismounts, 

 and snatching his poncho or cloak from his shoulders, wraps it round the 

 prostrate animal's head. He then forces into his mouth one of the power- 

 ful bridles of the country, straps a saddle on his back, and bestriding him, 

 removes the poncho ; upon which the astonished horse springs on his legs, 

 and endeavours by a thousand vain efTorts to disencumber himself of his 

 new master, who sits quite composedly on his back, and, by a discipline 

 which never fails, reduces the horse to such complete obedience, that he is 

 soon trained to lend his whole speed and strength to the capture of his 

 cnmpanions.":}: 



* The manufacture of the Gaucho's boots is somewhat sing^ular. — "The bootnofthe 

 Gauchos are formed of the ham and part of the Icar-skin of a colt taken reeking from the 

 mother, wliich is said to be sacrificed for the sole purpose, just at the time of bearing" 

 when the hair has not bejj-un to grow. At this stage, tiie skin strips off easily, and is very 

 white and beautiful in texiure and appearance. Tlie ham forms the calf of tlie boot; the 

 iiock easily adopts itself to the heel, and the leg above the fetlock constitutes the foot; 

 the whole making a neat and elegant half-bof>t, with an aperture suffieien' for the great 

 toe, to project through."-— Andrews's Journey in South America, vol. i. p. 26. 



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



J Basil Hall's Journey to Peru and MexicO; vol. i. p. 151. The Jesuit Dobrizhoffer, 

 in his History of the Abipones, a nation of Paraguay, and speaking of the tamed horse, 

 'vol. ii. p. 113,) says, that " stirrups are not in general use. The men leap on theii 



