TAMING HORSES. 99 



of breaking horses in a few hours. AVhenever I 

 have had a heifer or young cow to gentle, (it must 

 be observed, that they are much wilder here than 

 in the northern states,) I have made it a practice 

 to have them tied by the horns to a post, and have 

 made a servant begin to handle them well all over, 

 speaking to them uninterruptedly; and this he did 

 for two or three mornings, before milking them, 

 always finishing by giving them a little salt. At 

 the end of three or four days, they never failed of 

 becoming gentle, and could be milked without 

 being tied. Though I have seen by experience, 

 that horned cattle, especially bulls, are much less 

 sensible to the touch than horses, a part of which 

 may possibly be owing to the thickness of their 

 skin, yet even with them I have done much. Let 

 any one who will, do more. 



THE ASTONISHING MANNER IN WHICH I 

 TAMED OR GENTLED A WILD DEER. 



The second day after my arrival in the town of 

 Tantoyuca, I presented myself to the first Alcade, 

 or chief magistrate of the town. I showed him the 

 documents I had brought Avith me from the Presi- 

 dent and other authorities, and expressed a desire 

 of putting in practice, in that town the ability I 



