THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 199 



wheel. In consequence, many men have been killed ; 

 for if the lasso once makes a twist round a man's 

 body, it will instantly, from the power of the two 

 opposed animals, almost cut him in twain. 



" In Chili I was told an anecdote which I believe 

 was true, and it offers a good illustration of the use 

 of a well broken animal. A respectable man, riding 

 one day, met two others, one of whom was mounted 

 on a horse which he knew to have been stolen from 

 himself. He challenged them ; they answered by 

 drawing their sabres and giving chase. The man on 

 his good and fleet beast kept just ahead ; as he passed 

 a thick bush he wheeled round it, and brought up his 

 horse to a dead check. The pursuers were obliged 

 to shoot on one side and ahead. Then instantly dash- 

 ing on right behind them, he buried his knife in the 

 back of one, wounded the other, recovered his horse 

 from the dying robber, and rode home. For these 

 feats in horsemanship two things are necessary ; a 

 most severe bit, like the Mameluke, the power of 

 which, though seldom used, the horse knows full 

 well ; and large blunt spurs, that can be applied 

 either as a mere touch or as an instrument of extreme 

 pain. I conceive that with English spurs, the slight- 

 est touch of which pricks the skin, it would be im- 

 possible to break a horse after the South American 

 fashion." 



"Nothing is done on foot by the Guachos that can 



