1832.] THE LAZO. 55 



chairs and stools, with a couple of tables. The supper, 

 although several strangers were present, consisted of two 

 huge piles, one of roast beef, the other of boiled, with some 

 pieces of pumpkin ; beside this latter there was no other 

 vegetable, and not even a morsel of bread. For drinking, 

 a large earthenware jug of water served the whole party. 

 Yet this man was the owner of several square miles of land, 

 of which nearly every acre would produce corn, and, with 

 a little trouble, all the common vegetables. The evening, 

 was spent in smoking, 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 surcingle, which fastens together the compli- 

 cated 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, generally 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 

 united 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 revolving through the air. The balls no sooner strike 

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

 and become firmly hftched. The size and weight of the balls 

 varies, according to the purpose for which they are made : 

 when of stone, although not larger than an apple, they are 

 sent with such force as sometimes to break the leg even of 

 a horse. I have seen the balls made of wood, and as large 

 as a turnip, for the sake of catching these animals without 

 injuring tnem. The balls are sometimes made of iron, and 



