120 THE COWBOY'S PICTURESQUENESS 



stant habit, swaying about in the saddle much like a 

 drunken man, but with a graceful method in his reeling. 

 He does not, however, ride all over his horse like the Ind- 

 ian on his pad or bareback. When he ropes a steer or a 

 pony, he gets well over on the nigh side, and throws his 

 weight against the strain, resting the back of the right 

 thigh in the saddle. He can perform all the tricks of the 

 Indian, and much of his fun as well as his work is astride 

 his ponies. On foot he reminds one of Jack ashore, part- 

 ly from the stiffness of his chaparajos, partly from his 

 own stiffness bred of the saddle habit ; but with his loose 

 garments, his bright kerchief, and his jingling spurs, he is 

 a most attractive fellow, in perfect keeping Avith his sur- 

 roundings. 



The best cowboys are usually bred to the business, 

 which is by no means an easy one to learn. The South- 

 west yields the best supply. They are apt to claim kin- 

 ship with the South rather than the East. The term 

 " round-up " originated in the southern Alleghanies, " cor- 

 ral " in Mexico. The cattle business is of Mexican origin, 

 and the dress and method of riding are unquestionably of 

 Spanish descent ; but, as in every other business, there 

 are men from every section who succeed, and vastly more 

 who fail. As a whole, with all his virtues and all his 

 faults, he is distinctly an American product, and one, take 

 him for what he is, and what he has done, to be distinctly 

 proud of. 



I fear I have unintentionally given the bronco a bad 

 reputation for manners. He has no worse than any wild 

 horse with equal grit and strength would have ; and I 

 have been referring mostly to the simon-pure, uncracked 

 article. After much use and care, the pony often becomes 

 very reliable. Roosevelt speaks with great affection of 

 his pet hunting-pony, and many a ranchman I have known 



