TAMING HORSES. 85 



in his first attempts upon a mule. In the first 

 place, it is absolutely necessary to have a halter 

 upon the mule, of that kind called a jaguima, in 

 the Spanish language. Now, when I draw nigh 

 them, as is indicated in the manner which I follow 

 in coming up to a wild horse, for the first time, I 

 always take up the rope, which is tied to the head- 

 stall of the halter, and then approach with much 

 precaution, but without any signs of fear, &c., &c. 

 Now, as I write for the timid, as well as for the 

 courageous and intrepid, and as I look upon a 

 mule as a most treacherous animal, I will here state, 

 that all these precautions may be rendered unneces- 

 sary, by making a pen just big enough to put the 

 mule in, and so high that it cannot jump over it; 

 and let the bars be far enough apart to pass your 

 hand between them and handle the mule. The 

 pen must be uiade in such a manner that you can 

 go around it on each side, as well behind as before, 

 and be able to get upon it so as to saddle the mule, 

 when you find it sufficiently gentle to proceed thus 

 far. Then continue the operation as with a horse, 

 but with this difference: you ought always to load 

 the mule with bags of sand^ or the like, and exer- 

 cise it before you ride it. A weight of about two 

 hundred pounds is not too much for the first time. 

 As for any thing further, do as you would with a 

 horse, &c. 



