26 Reminiscences of 



for the Mexican riders, fearless, and expert in the 

 casting of the lariat, to siorround a grizzly bear found 

 in the open, and to hold him secure by numerous lines 

 kept taut. Despite the enraged and frantic efforts of 

 the bear, he became powerless while held by so many 

 lariats straining in various directions from the pommels 

 of well-cinched saddles, directed by the intelligent 

 mustangs and their riders. When exhausted, the 

 bear was despatched with a few shots or dragged to 

 some stockade for a future bull and bear fisjht — a 

 sport common in early days. 



The Mexican vaqueros, in early days, when more 

 plentiful than now, cherishing a prejudice and dis- 

 like of American invaders, and relying on their skill 

 attained in the field in throwing the lariat, often 

 illustrated their proficiency in this line by lassoing 

 strangers who, travelling in an isolated manner, 

 were met with. These, once being circled by the 

 tightly drawn hide cord, were dragged from their 

 footing or saddle over the rough ground imtil in- 

 sensible, when they were despatched, and their bodies, 

 after being rifled of any valuables, were thrown in 

 some obscure place. Early Califomians ■«-ill remem- 

 ber the frequency of such events, and a number of 

 bodies were found so despatched in the region about us 

 during our mountain sojourn. 



This condition put us on our guard in this re- 

 spect, and I had reason to believe one day, when I 

 was passing mounted along a valley trail of solitary 

 aspect, that I was an object of interest to a rascally- 

 looking Mexican, who was following me in saddle 

 with his lariat coiled at his pommel head, and I in- 

 creased my speed only to find that his was increased 



