42 Charles Darwin. 



naturalist first encountered the rhea, the great bird 

 that is the ostrich of South America. They were so 

 tame that he approached within a few yards of a 

 flock, when they turned, spread their great wings, 

 and sped along like the wind. Putting his horse to 

 its greatest speed to keep up with them, Darwin en- 

 joyed the novelty of a race with thirty or more of 

 the huge birds, but even then they left him far 

 behind, with an ease that was surprising. 



The Gauchos employed a weapon that so aroused 

 the particular attention of our hero that he en- 

 deavoured to learn its use, finally succeeding after a 

 varied experience. The weapon was called the 

 bolas, and consisted of two or three balls of stone 

 bound in leather and connected to a common 

 centre by thongs of the same. In using it the 

 natives held one ball in the hand and whirled the 

 others about in a rotary motion, then let go, the 

 victim being completely wound up in the tangle that 

 ensued and falling helpless to the ground. The 

 bolas is of different sizes and material, according to 

 the game, large balls being used for the ostrich and 

 small ones for lesser forms. 



Darwin soon became an expert thrower of the 

 bolas on foot, but one day, in essaying a throw on 

 horseback, by some accident he hurled one of the 

 balls about the leg of his own horse, which jerked 

 the other balls from his hand, which went whirling 

 about his charger, who stood for a moment com- 

 pletely wound up. The Gauchos found much amuse- 

 ment in this, and laughed heartily at his discomfiture, 

 having never before seen a bolas thrower catch himself. 



