338 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



under the hottest sun of summer he works away in clothing 

 that would well protect him in midwinter. Over the drawers 

 he wears a pair of ordinary cloth trousers, the ends of which he 

 tucks into Wellington boots, standing upon heels of a height 

 that would put any Parisian damsel to shame. Then he adds 

 an outer covering to his legs in the shape of enormous " shaps," 

 thick leather overalls, bearing a fringe down the outer seam. 

 Spurs, with blunt rowels an inch in length and chains that 

 jingle whenever he walks, complete the equipment of his 

 nether man. His body he clothes further in a short shirt of 

 coloured flannel, with wide turn-down collar of the same 

 material and with laces fastening the front. When the 

 weather gets colder, a loose cloth jacket is added. En grande 

 tenue he will wear a small silk handkerchief of brightest 

 possible hue — having its extreme ends tied round the neck, 

 dbove the level of the collar, and coaxed to flutter loosely in 

 the breeze. A soft, but heavy, round felt hat of enormous 

 breadth of brim, light drab or dusty in colour — the shade 

 varying according to its age — is his head-covering ; the crown 

 being bound round either with a leathern strap and buckle, or 

 with a horsehair band curiously plaited. It will be gathered 

 that the cowboy is in his way something of a dandy, and loves 

 to maintain his calling by means of due attention to all items 

 of class adornment. 



His saddle and trappings are, still more than his clothes, a 

 happy combination between the requirements of rough service 

 and those of fanciful ornamentation. The pommel of his 

 saddle rises in a horn before him, and answers the purpose of, 

 as it were, a post to which to affix the end of his lariat (or 

 lasso) when he has " roped " a horse or cow ; besides at other 

 times coming in useful in various ways as a means of carrying 

 sundries. The cantle also turns up high behind him, and he 

 is thus wedged in a seat that should be secure against the 

 " pitching " of any " broncho " or half-tamed horse. His 

 stirrups are broad of make, and are built of wood {far warmer, 

 by the bye, than our English hunting stirrups) ; and suspended 



