1 84 ■ .EIvDORADO 



the chief exports. Whole herds were slaughtered in 

 the field and the carcasses left where the animals were 

 slain. These cattle resembled wild beasts more than 

 domestic animals. They were of various colors, with 

 large dark circles around the eyes and nostrils ; lank 

 as greyhounds and fleet as deer. Their horns were im- 

 mense, sometimes measuring six pr eight feet from tip 

 to tip. As all the herders and vaqueros were always 

 mounted, the cattle not being accustomed to seeing a 

 man on foot, would, if they chanced to see one, encircle 

 and attack him with great fury. A friend, crossing the 

 plains east of Sacramento, on his way to the mines with 

 his blankets on his back, was pursued by a band of 

 Spanish cattle and only saved himself by jvimping 

 down a steep bank and disappearing from sight just 

 as the herd were upon him. There he had to remain 

 until nightfall before continuing his jovirney. I myself, 

 on one occasion, had a very narrow escape from death 

 by being pierced by the sharp horns of an infuriated 

 animal. 1 was wearing a red scarf (such as was uni- 

 versally worn in those days), leggings, and large Span- 

 ish spurs. I had alighted from the mule I was riding, 

 and before I could regain my saddle, the brute was 

 upon me. Fortunately my toe -caught in one of my 

 spurs, and I was thrown to the ground on one side, 

 when, possibly, a yard only intervened between us. 

 Before the animal coud slacken his speed and return. 1 

 was safe in the saddle. Then I began to feel fright- 

 ened as I realized my narrow escape. 



A general "rodeo," or round-up," took place once a 

 year, in order that the owner of every unmarked ani- 

 mal might imprint his "brand" upon it. There were 

 lew corrals in those days, so, several of the vaqueros 

 Avould- encircle the band of cattle, while one of their 



