THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE 55 



keeps the noose open ; then, throwing it, he causes it to fall 

 on any particular spot 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 

 is chiefly used for catching ostriches, consists 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 thongs 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, taking aim, sends them like chain shot revolving 

 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 apple, they are sent with such 

 force as sometimes to break the leg 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 greatest 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 turning 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 whirling the balls round my head, by acci- 

 dent the free one struck a bush ; and its revolving motion 

 being thus destroyed, it immediately fell to the ground, and, 

 like magic, caught one hind leg of my horse; the other ball 

 was then jerked out of my hand, and the horse fairly se- 

 cured. Luckily he was an old practised animal, and knew 

 what it meant ; otherwise he would probably have kicked 

 till he had thrown himself down. The Gauchos roared with 

 laughter; they cried out that they had seen every sort of ani- 

 mal caught, but had never before seen a man caught by 

 himself. 



During the two succeeding days, I reached the furthest 

 point which I was anxious to examine. The country wore. 

 the same aspect, till at last the fine green turf became more 

 .wearisome than a dusty turnpike road. We everywhere saw 



