PATAGONIAXS. 723 



bone in his body. There he lies motionless, while his fore 

 and hind feet are secured. 



At length restored to consciousness, after some convulsive 

 plunges he again gets on his feet, and is led by a further 

 relay of Gauchos to a post, where he is saddled and bridled 

 in spite of his struggles. Regaining his strength, he plunges, 

 .kicks, and bites in all directions, the Gauchos nimbly getting 

 out of his way. The dormador, watching his opportunity, 

 now leaps into the saddle, and signs to his companions to 

 cast off the leg-lasso. Immediately the colt, finding his legs 

 free, jumps straight off the ground, and then commences to 

 back, plunge, and dash furiously out. The dormador, how- 

 ever, sticks on ; and another Gaucho, coming behind, admin- 

 isters a lash with his long cutting whip, which makes the 

 poor animal start off at full speed, with a snort like a scream. 

 A mounted Gaucho rides on either side of him, to keep him 

 straight. Off he goes over the level country for miles, occa- 

 sionally stopping to baekT and kick ; but each time his efforts 

 grow fainter, till at length he is ridden back, with eyes 

 bloodshot, covered with foam and blood, and perfectly be- 

 wildered, when he is unsaddled and tied to the post. " Poor 

 beast!" observes Captain Kennedy, who describes such a 

 scene, "he looks as much broken down as broken in." Few 

 of the Gauchos, however, can overcome a horse after the man- 

 ner of the one whose feat he witnessed. 



PATAGONIANS. 



The chief tribe of Patagonians who inhabit the region as 

 far south as the Strait of Magellan, go under the name of 

 Pehuenches men of tall and muscular stature, with thick 

 black hair, high foreheads, and broad faces, but in no way ap- 



