. HAI. TX.] WILD HORSES. 181 



stormy, with much hail and snow. AVo rode across the island to 

 the neck of land which joins the Eincon del Toro (the great 

 peninsula at the S.W. extremity) to the rest of the island. From 

 the great number of cows which have been killed, there is a large 

 proportion of bulls. These wander about single, or two and three 

 together, and are very savage. I never saw such magnificent 

 boasts; they equalled in the size of their huge heads and necks 

 the Grecian marble sculptures. Capt. Sulivan informs me that the 

 hide of an average-sized bull weighs forty-seven pounds, whereas a 

 hide of this weight, less thoroughly dried, is considered as a very 

 heavy one at Monte Video. The young bulls generally run away 

 for a short distance ; but the old ones do not stir a step, except to 

 rush at man and horse ; and many horses have been thus killed. 

 An old bull crossed a boggy stream, and took his stand on the 

 opposite side to us ; we in vain tried to drive him away, and fail- 

 ing, were obliged to make a large circuit. The Gauchos in revengo 

 determined to emasculate him and render him for the future harm- 

 less. It was very interesting to see how art completely mastered 

 force. One lazo was thrown over his horns as he rushed at tho 

 horse, and another round his hind legs : in a minute the monster 

 was stretched powerless on the g found. After the lazo has once 

 been drawn tightly round the horns of a furious animal, it does not 

 at first appear an easy thing to disengage it again without killing 

 the beast ; nor, I apprehend, would it be so if the man was by him- 

 self. By the aid, however, of a second person throwing his lazo so 

 as to catch both hind legs, it is quickly managed : for the animal, 

 as long as its hind legs are kept outstretched, is quite helpless, and 

 the first man can with his hands loosen his lazo from the horns, 

 and then quietly mount his horse; but the moment the second 

 man, by backing ever so little, relaxes the strain, the lazo slips off 

 the legs of the struggling beast, which then rises free, shakes 

 himself, and vainly rushes at his antagonist. 



During our whole ride we saw only one troop of wild horses. 

 These animals, as well as the cattle, were introduced by the French 

 in 176i, since which time both have greatly increased. It is a 

 curious fact, that the horses have never left the eastern end of the 

 island, although there is no natural boundary to prevent them 

 from roaming, and that part of the island is not more tempting 

 than the rest. The Gauchos whom I asked, though asserting this 

 to be the case, were unable to account for it, except from the strong 



