40 FOREIGN BREEDS OF HORSES. 



reward that could be offered me, for tliey were invariably tlie most diffi- 

 cult to subdue. 



' It was now curious to look around and see tbe Gaucbos on the 

 horizon in diffei^ent directions, trying to bring their horses back to the 

 corral, which is the most difficult part of their work, for the poor creatures 

 had been so scared "there that they were unwilhng to return to the place. 

 It was amusing to see the antics of the horses ; they were jumping and 

 dancing in different ways, while the right arm of the Gauchos was seen 

 flogging them. At last they brought the horses back, apparently subdued 

 and broken in. The saddles and bridles were taken off, and the young 

 horses trotted off towards the corral, neighing to one another.' 



The manufacture of the Gaucho's boots is somewhat singular : — ' The 

 boots of the Gauchos are formed of the ham and part of the leg- skin of a 

 colt taken reeking from the mother, which is said to be sacrificed for the 

 sole purpose, just at the time of bearing', when the hair has not begun to 

 grow. At this stage, the skin strips off easily, and is very white and 

 beautiful in texture and appearance. The ham forms the calf of the 

 boot ; the hock easily adapts itself to the heel, and the leg above the 

 fetlock constitutes the foot ; the whole making a neat and elegant half- 

 boot, with an aperture sufficient for the great toe to project through.' 



^Vlien the Gaucho wishes to take a A\dld horse, he mounts one that has 

 been used to the sport, and gallops over the plain. As soon as he comes 

 sufficiently near his prey, ' the lasso is thrown round the two hind legs, 

 and as the Gaucho rides a little on one side, the jei'k pulls the entangled 

 liorse's feet laterall}-, so as to throw him on his side, withoiit endangering 

 his knees or his face. Before the horse can recover the shock, the rider 

 dismounts, and snatching his poncho or cloak from his shoulders, wraps it 

 round the prostrate animal's head. He then forces into his mouth one of 

 the powerful bridles of the countiy, straps a saddle on his back, and 

 bestriding him, removes tlie poncho ; upon which the astonished horse 

 springs on his legs, and endeavours by a thousand vain efforts to dis- 

 encumber himself of his new master, who sits quite composedly on his 

 back, and, by a discipline which never fails, reduces the horse to such 

 complete obedience, that he is soon trained to lend his whole speed and 

 strength to the capture of his companions.' 



These animals possess much of the form of the Spanish horse, from 

 which they sprang ; they are tamed, as has been seen, Avith far less diffi- 

 culty than could be thought possible ; and although theirs is the obedience 

 of fear, and enforced at first by the Avhip and spur, there are no horses 

 who so soon and so perfectly exert their sagacity and their power in the 

 service of man. They are possessed of no extraordinary speed, but they 

 are capable of enduring immense fatigue. They are frequently ridden 

 sixty or seventy miles without drawing bit, and have been urged on by 

 the cruel spur of the Gaucho more than a hu.ndred miles, and at the rate 

 of twelve miles in the hour. 



Like the Arab horses, they knoAV no intermediate pace between the 

 walk and the gallop. Although at the end of a day so hard, their sides 

 are horribly mangled, and they completely exhausted, there is this con- 

 solation for them, — they are immediately turned loose on the plains, and 

 it will be their o"wn fault if they are speedily caught again. The mare is 

 occasionally killed for food, and especially on occasions of unusual festivity. 

 General San Martin, during the war for independence, gave a feast to the 

 Indian allies attached to his army in which mares' flesh, and the blood 

 mixed with gin, formed the whole of the entertainment. 



On such dry and sultry plains the supply of water is often scanty, and 

 then ti species of madness seizes on the horses, and their genei-ous and 



