216 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
ranch, and the work is continued from day to day until fin- 
ished. All the rodeos of a neighborhood are usually held in a 
regular and close connection. The rancheros from a distance, 
therefore, stay until they have attended all the rodeos in a 
district to which they suppose that any of their cattle have 
strayed; and they are usually the guests of the man upon 
whose ranch the rodeo is given. 
‘When a cow is driven out, her calf follows. Every ran- 
chero knows his cattle by the brand, which law and custom re- 
quire him to use. Of course, when a man has four or five thou- 
sand head of cattle, he cannot recognize them all by sight; he 
can only distinguish them by marks. He knows his cows by 
their brands, and his calves by their following the cows. 
The spring rodeos are the busiest seasons of the rancheros, 
and are for them the chief occasions of general meeting, exci- 
ting adventure, conversation, aud festivity, in the course of the 
year. Frequently three or four hundred men will meet at these 
places, mounted on their best horses, and ready for fun. All 
the work of the rodeo is exciting. Lively scenes are enacting 
at every moment, and in every direction. Calves will try to 
get away from the herd, and escape to the hills. Cows which 
have been driven out will endeavor to get back. These must 
be chased by the horsemen. Frequently the lasso must be 
used, Many of the vaqueros are fond of showing their skill 
before so many spectators, and astonishing feats of horseman- 
ship are performed. 
When a ranchero returns from a rodeo, with his cattle which 
had strayed away, he drives them into his corral, and brands and 
marks his calves; so that if they should return to their former 
range, he will know them the next year. Ifthose that have been 
on other ranches are too numerous to he branded and marked 
in one day, some of his vaqueros stay with them on horseback, 
and herd them until all can be marked. When a cow has be- 
come accustomed to a ranch, she likes to return to it. After all 
the calves are marked, the owner does not care much whither 
they go, provided that they do not stray beyond the limits of 
