Il8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



leaving on the middle of the plain a white motionless 

 lump ; but whether it was a man, or only tvliat liad 

 teen a man, that was carried past us, we were unable 

 to ascertain. 



' This was not the only tragical incident of the 

 day. As we were returning up the slopes of the 

 Mansourah there was a sudden halt, and then a rush 

 to a ravine on the left. We joined the crowd, and 

 found the attraction was the dead body of an Arab. 

 While we had been enjoying ourselves at the races 

 there had been foul murder committed on the hill- 

 side not a mile from us, and the blood was hardly 

 dry on the stones which had been used to beat the 

 victim's brains out,' 



The practice of horse-racing among the Patago- 

 nian Indians is thus described by George Chaworth 

 Musters, Commander R.N., in his book. At Home 

 with the Patago7iians. Mr. Musters spent a long 

 time with the big men, adopted their dress, spoke 

 their language, and lived after their fashion. 



'The manner of racing is something similar to 

 that in vogue among the Guachos in the provinces 

 of Rio de la Plata, except that it is generally conducted 

 on principles of fair play. The stakes are always 

 deposited before the race comes off; if horses, they 

 are tied out handy ; if ornaments, bolas, weapons, 

 &c., they are placed in a heap, the winners removing 

 them directly the race is decided. The horses are 

 run barebacked, the two riders starting themselves 



