194 BANDA ORIENTAL. 



wise the trouble is much greater), he holds the ani- 

 mal's head, whilst the first puts on the horsecloths 

 and saddle, and girths the whole together. During 

 this operation, the horse, from dread and astonish- 

 ment at thus being bound round the waist, throws 

 himself over and over again on the ground, and, till 

 beaten, is unwilling to rise. At last, when the sad- 

 dling is finished, the poor animal can hardly breathe 

 from fear, and is white with foam and sweat. The 

 man now prepares to mount by pressing heavily 

 on the stiiTup, so that the horse may not lose its 

 balance ; and at the moment that he throws his leg 

 over the animal's back, he pulls the slip-knot bind- 

 ing the front legs, and the beast is free. Some 

 " domidors" pull the knot while the animal is ly- 

 ing on the ground, and, standing over the saddle, 

 allow him to rise beneath them. The hoi'se, wild 

 with dread, gives a few most violent bounds, and 

 then starts off at full gallop : when quite exhaust- 

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

 coiTal, whei'e, reeking hot and scarcely alive, the 

 poor beast is let free. Those animals which will 

 not gallop away, but obstinately throw themselves 

 on the ground, are by far the most troublesome. 

 This process is tremendously severe, but in two 

 or three trials the horse is tamed. It is not, how- 

 ever, for some weeks that the animal is ridden with 

 the iron bit and solid ring, for it must learn to as- 

 sociate the will of its rider with the feel of the rein, 

 before the most powerful bridle can be of any ser- 

 vice. 



Animals are so abundant in these countries that 

 humanity and self-interest are not closely united ; 

 therefore I fear it is that the former is here scarce- 

 ly known. One day, riding in the Pampas with a 

 very respectable " Estanciero," my horse, being 

 tired, lagged behind. The man often shouted to 



