RAREY ECLIPSED. 145 



chiklren now surrounded the old and young horse. The ground 

 became softer as they neared the river, and we thought that botli 

 horses woukl get swamped. The hoy got off the old horse, and 

 led him to where a woman was standing with the strong thick 

 mats. It was a strip of bulrush swamp, which is always soft at 

 bottom. The woman laid down the mats and shifted them to 

 the front of the horse as he walked alternately on each. Attracted 

 by his companions in full sight on the other side of the river, and 

 deceived by the success of the old horse on his flying bridge of mats, 

 the colt took the same direction, when his legs disappeared in the 

 swamp, and all farther progress for him was rendered impossible. 



?)19. — Rarey's plan is nothing to this. There were no legs 

 swinging about to hurt any one ; the colt could not batter his 

 head on the ground ; the very babies could jump on his back with 

 perfect safety, and they were not slow to avail themselves of the 

 opportunity. Their little naked feet danced along him from 

 mane to tail ; the women sat on him, the men got astride him, 

 and put a little log under his tail, and handled his head and ears. 

 When all had had something to do with him, and a great deal to 

 say to him, the chief produced a very ugly looking overcoat, 

 made of rough shaggy flax, and took it to the colt's head. He 

 first rubbed his head and body all over with it, then beat or 

 dusted him with it. The women shook their dresses in his face, 

 and put their hands over his eyes. The chief opened his mouth 

 and put his hands in it, and sat on his neck. 



320. — Two men were now put to dig a road for the colt to 

 get out, and others to fetch brushwood. Whilst they did this 

 the chief put a piece of long strong flax fibre into the colt's 

 mouth, and tied it loosely round the lower jaw. Another piece 

 was put over his head and tied to the mouth piece, so as to form 

 a complete bridle. A long line of the raw flax leaf was tied to 

 the loop round the jaw, for a lounging line. 



321. — As soon as a few feet of the soft black earth was 

 removed from the front of the colt, and a brushwood and clay 

 road substituted, the old horse was brought up to the river end 

 of the road with a naked boy on him, and the colt driven after 

 him, the chief holding the flax line. 

 K 



