498 THE HORSE. 



his back, and a bit forced into his mouth, before he is suffered 

 to rise from the ground. Such is the effect of the formidable 

 missile, which, in all these countries, is used to capture the 

 horse and other animals, and which incessant practice from 

 childhood teaches the Guacho to use with matchless dex- 

 terity. The very children, we are told, begin the practice of 

 the lazo almost as soon as they can run about, entangling 

 all animals that are so unfortunate as to come within their 

 reach dogs, pigs, poultry, and the everywhere-persecuted 

 cat ; so that, by the time they are able to sit on horseback, 

 they are dexterous in its use. Not only the wild but tame 

 horses are seized by this formidable engine, and the latter, 

 who have experienced its effects, regard it with terror. The 

 Guacho, it has been said, secures by it the wild horse which 

 he wishes to subdue. Nay, sometimes when pursuing a jour- 

 ney, he supplies himself in this manner with fresh horses, 

 and pursues his course on an animal which had never before 

 bent its neck to servitude. Approaching the wild animal, 

 the lazo is cast upon him with unerring aim, and in a mo- 

 ment hurls him to the ground. Before the animal can re- 

 cover the shock, the Guacho springs upon him, and snatching 

 the cloak from his own shoulders, wraps it round the head 

 of the prostrate animal. He then forces into his mouth one 

 of the bridles of the country, straps a saddle on his back, and 

 bestriding him removes the cloak, when the animal springs 

 upon his legs, and, by a thousand efforts, endeavours to free 

 himself from his new master. His efforts are vain : the 

 Guacho keeps himself firm in his seat, and, by the force of 

 his arm and dreadful spurs, reduces the animal to entire 

 obedience. The subjection is complete : the Guacho pur- 

 sues his journey on the captive horse, who, finding resistance 

 vain, yields himself to necessity, and becomes the slave of 

 man. These horses, though not very fleet, have amazing 

 powers of endurance. In this their state of sudden bondage, 

 they are sometimes ridden sixty, seventy, nay, it is said, a 

 hundred miles, urged on at speed by the spur of their bar- 



