RESTIVEXESSj OR TA:vnNG HORSES. 55 



EESTIYENESS, OR TAMING HOKSES. 



IVIr. Catlin lias publislied an account, the 

 veracity of which is unimpeached, of his travels 

 among the North American Indians. ^'He coils 

 his lasso on his arm and gallops fearlessly into 

 the herd of wild horses. He soon gets it over 

 the neck of one of the number, when he instantly 

 dismounts, leaving his own horse, letting the 

 lasso pass out gradually and carefully through 

 his hands until the horse falls for want of breath. 

 The Indian advances, keeping the lasso tight 

 upon his neck until he fastens a pair of hobbles 

 on the animals two fore feet^ — then passing a 

 noose round the under jaw by which he obtains 

 great power over the affrighted animal, that is 

 rearing and plunging when it gets breath. By 

 this means he gradually advances until he is 

 able to place his hand on the animal's nose and 

 over its eyes, and at length to breathe into its 

 nostrijs, when it soon becomes docile and con- 

 quered; so that he has little else to do than 

 remove the hobbles from its feet, and lead or 

 ride it to the camp." 



