56 MALDONADO. 



mon vegetables. The evening was spent in smo- 

 king, with a little impromptu singing, accompanied 

 by the guitar. The signoritas all sat together in 

 one corner of the room, and did not sup with the 

 men. 



So many works have been written about these 

 countries, that it is almost superfluous to describe 

 either the lazo or the bolas. The lazo consists of 

 a very strong, but thin, well-plaited rope, made of 

 raw hide. One end is attached to the broad sur- 

 cingle, which fastens together the complicated gear 

 of the recado, or saddle used in the Pampas ; the 

 other is terminated by a small ring of iron or brass, 

 by which a noose can be formed. The Gaucho, 

 when he is going to use the lazo, keeps a small 

 coil in his bridle-hand, and in the other holds the 

 running noose, which is made very large, general- 

 ly having a diameter of about eight feet. This he 

 whirls round his head, and by the dexterous move- 

 ment of his wrist keeps the noose open ; then, 

 throwing it, he causes it to fall on any particular 

 spot he chooses. The lazo, when not used, is tied 

 up in a small coil to the after part of the recado. 

 The bolas, or balls, are of two kinds : the simplest, 

 which is chiefly used for catching ostriches, consists 

 of two round stones, covered with leather, and uni- 

 ted by a thin plaited thong, about eight feet long. 

 The other kind differs only in having three balls 

 united by the thongs to a common centre. The 

 Gaucho holds the smallest of the three in his hand, 

 and whirls the other two round and round his head; 

 then, taking aim, sends them like chain-shot re- 

 volving through the air. The balls no sooner strike 

 any object, than, winding round it, they cross each 

 other, and become firmly hitched. The size and 

 weight of the balls vary, according to the purpose 

 for which they are made : when of stone, although 



