THE CAPTURE AND BREAKING IN OF WILD HORSES. 



309 



" was quite full of Horses, most of which were young ones about two or three years old. The Capitar 

 (chief Gaucho), mounted on a strong, steady Horse, rode into the corral, and threw his lasso over the 

 neck of a young Horse and dragged him to the gate. For some time he was very unwilling to lose 

 his comrades ; but the moment he was forced out of the corral his first idea was to gallop away ; how- 

 ever, a timely jerk of the lasso checked him in the most effectual way. The peons now ran after him 

 on foot and threw a lasso over his fore legs, just above the fetlock, and twitching it, they pulled his 

 legs from under him so suddenly that I really thought the fall he got had killed him. In an instant 

 a Gaucho was seated on his head, and with his long knife, in a few seconds, cut off the whole of tht, 

 Horse's mane, while another cut the hair from the end of his tail : this, they told me, was a mark that 

 the Horse had been once mounted. They then put a piece of hide in his mouth to serve for a bit, and 

 a strong hide halter on his head. The Gaucho who was to mount arranged his spurs, which were un- 

 usually long and sharp, and while two men held the Horse by his ears, he put on the saddle, which he 

 girthed extremely tight. He then caught hold of the Horse's ear, and in an instant vaulted into the 

 saddle ; upon which the man who held the Horse by the halter threw the end to the rider, and from 

 that moment no one seemed to take any further notice of him. The Horse instantly began to jump in a 

 manner which made it very difficult for the rider to keep his seat, and quite different from the kick or 

 plunge of an English Horse ; however, the Gaucho's spurs soon set him going, and off he galloped, doing 

 everything in his power to throw his rider. Another Horse was immediately brought from the corral ; 

 and so quick was the operation that twelve Gauchos were mounted in a, space which, I think, hardly 

 exceeded an hour. It was wonderful to see the different manner in which different Horses behaved. 

 Some would actually scream while the Gauchos were girding the saddle upon their backs ; some would 

 instantly lie down and roll upon it ; while some would stand without being held, their legs stiff and in 

 unnatural positions, their necks half bent towards their tails, and looking vicious and obstinate ; and I 

 could not help thinking that I would not have mounted one of those for any reward that could be 

 offered me, for they were invariably the most difficult to subdue. It was now curious to look around 

 and see the Gauchos on the horizon in different directions, trying to bring their Horses back to the 

 corral, which is the most difficult part of their work, for the poor creatures had been so scared 

 there that they were unwilling to return to the place. It was amusing to see the antics of the Horses ; 

 they were jumping and dancing in different ways, while the right arm of the Gauchos was seen flogging 

 them. At last they brought the Horses back, apparently subdued and broken in. The saddles and 

 bridles were taken off, and the young Horses trotted off towards the corral, neighing to one another. 

 When the Gaucho wishes to take a Wild Horse, he mounts one that has been used to the sport and 

 gallops over the plain. As soon as he comes near his victim, the lasso is thrown round the two hind 

 legs, and as the Gaucho rides a little on one side, the jerk pulls the entangled Horse's feet laterally, so 

 to throw him on his side without endangering his knees or his face. Before the Horse can recover 

 the shock, the rider dismounts, and snatching his poncho, or cloak, from his shoulders, wraps it round 

 the prostrate animal's head. He then forces into his mouth one of the powerful bridles of the country, 

 ips a saddle on his back, and bestriding him, removes the poncho ; upon which the astonished 



Corse springs on his legs, and endeavours by a thousand vain efforts to disencumber himself of his new 

 ster, who sits quite composedly on his back, and, by a discipline which never fails, reduces the 



Corse to such complete obedience that he is soon trained to lend his whole speed and strength to the 



ipture of his companions." 



WILD HORSES IN AUSTRALIA. In Australia, as well as in America, the Horses imported by the 

 colonists have escaped into the wilds, and reverted to their feral condition. They are known as 

 " Brumbies," and are a serious inconvenience to the stock farmer, because they entice away his Horses 

 and spoil his carefully selected breeds. The animal develops wonderful sagacity in avoiding the sports- 

 man, and his keenness of scent and vigilance are certainly as great as in any other animal which seeks 

 in flight safety from man. These Brumbies were described by Anthony Trollope, himself an ardent 

 Fox-hunter, as being perfect marvels of ugliness. These animals are found in enormous numbers in 

 some districts. In 1875, for example, no less than seven thousand are stated to have been shot in one 

 station in New South Wales, still leaving plenty behind to perpetuate the race. 



THE Ass. Four species of Asses and three of Zebras are described by naturalists, but our 

 domestic animal is probably descended from one alone; the Asinus teniopus of Abyssinia. In Great 



