2o6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



pulls tlie slip-knot, and the beast is free. The horse, 

 wild with dread, gives a few most violent bounds, 

 and then starts off at full gallop : when quite ex- 

 hausted, the man, by patience, brings him back to the 

 corral, where, reeking hot and scarcely alive, the poor 

 beast is let free.' 



The Patagonian Indians pride themselves on their 

 horsemanship, and, generally speaking, believe them- 

 selves the finest equestrians and horse-breakers in 

 the world ; and they are very good ones. But occa- 

 sionally a stranger gets among them, and shows them 

 that the art of riding is not confined to their country. 

 Captain Chaworth Musters, E.N., spent a consider- 

 able time among the Patagonians, and being a first- 

 class horseman, volunteered to break one of their 

 horses. His account is this : 



' Conde's stepfather, generally known as Paliki, 

 had a three-year-old iron gray, a very fine animal, 

 tied up ready to be mounted for the first time. 

 Paliki entered our toldo (tent) to borrow my girth, 

 and chaflPed me, asking me if I would venture to 

 '^domar" (break) him. Orkeke (the chief with whom 

 Mr. Musters lived) seconded the proposal, and having 

 stripped off mantle and boots, I proceeded to take 

 the lazo and reins, and mount. The instant he felt 

 the unwonted encumbrance he buck-jumped for 

 several yards, finally jumping into the middle of the 

 brook, and nearly losing his footing. I spurred him 

 out, and once on tlie bank he commenced to whirl 



