THE MUSTANG. 413 



into the saddle ; upon which the man who holds the horse by the halter 

 throws the end to the rider, and from that moment no one takes any 

 further notice of him. 



" The horse instantly began," Sir F. Head writes, " to jump in a man- 

 ner 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 every- 

 thing 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 the} 

 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." 



In the Estancias, or establishments dedicated to the breeding of 

 cattle on the pampas, large numbers of these horses are required, and in 

 order to secure a good supply of colts, to make good the wear and tear 

 of the year, herds of brood mares are kept, which yield an annual supply. 

 The small herds are called mantidas, and consist of from twenty-five to 

 thirty mares, and over them presides the father of the family. They are 

 parted off from larger herds, and are shut up in the corral for the night, 

 where at first they seem to feel their separation from their old friends 

 and companions. At sunrise they are let out, and a peon, or Indian 



