THE GAUCHO. 121 



ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



he chooses. The lazo, when not used, is tied up in a small 

 coil to the after part of the recado. 



The bolas, or balls, are of two kinds. The simplest, which 

 are chiefly used for catching ostriches, consist of two round 

 stones, covered with leather, and united by a thin plaited 

 thong about eight feet long. The other kind differs only in 

 having three balls united by the thong to a common centre. 

 The Gaucho holds the smallest of the three in his hand, and 

 whirls the other two round and round his head ; then, tak- 

 ing aim, sends them like chain-shot whirling through the air. 

 The balls no sooner strike any object than, winding round 

 it, they cross each other, and become firmly hitched. The 

 size and weight of the balls vary, according to the purpose 

 for which they are made : when of stone, although not larger 

 than an English apple, they are sent with such force as some- 

 times to break the legs even of a horse. I have seen the 

 balls made of wood, and as large as a turnip, for the sake of 

 catching these animals without injuring them. The balls are 

 sometimes made of iron, and these can be hurled to the great- 

 est distance. 



The main difficulty in using either lazo or bolas is to ride 

 so well as to be able at full speed, and while suddenly turn- 

 ing about, to whirl them so steadily round the head as to 

 take aim: on foot, any person would soon learn the art. 

 One day, as I was amusing myself by galloping and whirl- 

 ing the balls round my head, by accident the free one struck 

 a bush, and its revolving motion being thus destroyed, it im- 

 mediately fell to the ground, and like magic caught one hind 

 leg of my horse ; the other ball was then jerked out of my 



