MEXICAN HOUSES. 179 



chance ; converting their best and handsomest 

 steeds into saddle-horses. 



Their race of horses is identical with that 

 which is found running wUd on the Prairies, 

 famiharly known by the name of mustang. 

 Although generally very small, they are quick, 

 active and spirited : and were they not com- 

 monly so much injured in the breaking, they 

 would perhaps be as liardy and long-Hved as 

 any other race in existence. i?ome of then: ca- 

 oallos de silla or saddle-horses are so remarkably 

 well trained, that they will stop suddenly upon 

 the shghtest check, charge against a wall witli- 

 out shrinking, and even attempt to clamber 

 up its sides. In addition to this, a complete 

 riding horse should have a peculiar up-and- 

 down gait, affording all the exercise of the 

 most violent trotter, while he gets over the 

 ground so slowly as to enable the caballero to 

 enjoy tlie ' pleasures' of a fatiguing ride of 



hours, without losinsr sisrht of his mistress 

 balcony. 



The httle attention paid to the breeding of 

 horses in New Mexico, may perhaps be ac- 

 counted for from the fact that, untH lately, 

 when the continued depredations of the hostile 

 Indians discouraged them from their favorite 

 pursuit, the people of the country had bestow- 

 <^d all their care in the raisins- of mules. This 



■&3 



animal is in fact to the Mexican 

 camel has always been to the Arab — ^invalua- 

 We for the transportation of freight over sandy 

 deserts and mountainous roads, where no 



other means of r^nnvPT-iince rould be used to 



