42 MALDONADO. [CHAP. irt. 



beef, the other of boiled, with some pieces of pumpkin : besides this 

 latter there was no other vegetable, arid 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 laud, 

 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 Avritten 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 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, gene- 

 rally having a diameter of about eight feet. This he whirls round 

 his head, and by the dexterous movement 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 tinited 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 hitched. 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 them. The balls are some- 

 times made of iron, and these can be hurled to the greatest distance. 

 The main difficulty in using either lazo or bolas is to ride so well 

 as to be able at full speed, and while suddenly turning about, to 



